The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-04-19
WASHINGTON, D. C, THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1855

was my little friend, who appeared absolutely
10 oetest the poor woman-and strange, this
was responded to by continued kindness. She
was patient with all, but in this she returned
each instance of unkindness with some pleasant
act, and made presents even, that must have
drawn heavily upon her miserable salary. !
ventured ON more than one occasion to remon-
strate against this uncalled-for evidence of ug-
2pess, but only received in reply the schoolgirl
3AASWer OF, " detest her-what is she always
king about me for 2" and SO / desisted. Ii
heation can'he,helped or injured by example,
ne educahon ndame Duponts was in a
4 perlious condlfaon: The girls were treated upon
the presumpuoH that they were rogues-and
listening at the y-holes followed by unexplain-
ed punishment, with continual life of petty
deception, made up pretty much the system of
the place. The scholars were promised rewards
for doing their duty-and threatened with pun
lshment for not understanding their instructors
caprices. give, as specimen, an instance out
OF thousand, that my readers may say wheth-
er harshly attack the French schools or not.
One of the pupils received. from former inmate
OF the establishment a very insulting, coarse
letter. This was opened-as all letters intend
ed for the pupils were opened and read by the
principal-and afterward re-sealed and given to
the child. The little thing was very much hurt,
and showed it to her mother in her next visit to
the school, which caused considerable excite
ment. The teacher was alarmed. Calling the
recipient before her, she said: at was very i'm
proper, Louise, for one to send or you to receive
this letter. And when Madame - comes.
you must say that you have not read it."
"But have read it." was the naive reply.
my child, said this guardian of youth, :" it
is proper, nay, necessary, that children should
obey, without question, their superiors."
The little girl, in presence of her instructor,
said very demurely that she had not read the
letter alluded to; but subsequently heard her
in the garden rating the offending party sound
ly for sending so impertinent a mssive. She
had both obeyed her teacher and her own prop
| er impulses.
| looked back at this revival of my school
days with mingled feelings of pleasure and re-
| greet. 1t was pleasure to be thrown with so many
| generous, impulsive, hearts, as | found in a
majority of the Young ladies. And l am indig-
nant when | remember what perfect sham the
entire concern was, looked at as a school. The
children thought of nothing but their Sunday
evenings, when a miniature ball or reception
was enacted for the avowed purpose of instruct
ing them in department. Quite unnecessary
this; they, one and all, were adopts in what is
considered necessary to make the ballroom at
| tractive.
At one of these noticed, while seated near
the window, the thin, careworn, and anxious
face of the English teacher, looking into the
room with so much earnestness that my eyes
followed hers until they rested upon the little
creature l have spoken Of. / could not under
stand why the poor woman should be looking
through the window, when she probably thought
herself concealed in place of Joining the COM
pany, or why she should regard so intently my
little friend. There was mystery about the
affair that greatly excited my curiosity; and as
| looked at her, | saw the tears gather in her
eyes, and, with them glittering on the lids, she
turned away.
This mystery was greatly augmented by an
event that followed nearly month after.
was in the room of little Sophie my energetic
friend, advising with her upon the moplentous
question of headdress that was to improve
| her small share of beauty at some private the
atricals in neighboring school; and after the
child left, feeling fatigued, / threw myself upon
the bed to rest. / had lain but half an hour,
when a concealed door in the wall at one side
of me suddenly opened, and, to my utter aston
ishment, the English teacher entered. In any
other house, or with other persons, should
have started, or have been frightened; but as it
was, l could only stare at the apparition, who
evidently was not aware Of my presence, for she
| hastily crossed the room, took from its place
above the mantel the miniature, and pressed it
to her lips; then fell upon her knees, kissing the
picture, while perfect storm of sobs and tears
burst forth. My situation was exceedingly en-
barrassing, and j, probably, in my attempt to
think of something to relieve me, would have
ended in remaining quiet; but she began MUIR
muring something that was probably improper
to listen to in this manner; so, rising, | touch
| Al
ed to her feet, dropping the miniature, and for
a moment stood staring at me in perfect aston
ishment 1t was piteous to see her trembling
with fear while attempting to speak-and, with
out uttering a coherent expression, she ended
by abruptly e e1SRom.
Here was zeal life, and it excl
/ ted NV curid Extent, that sought
| an opportui IN III hme Dupont some
thing of the English instructor
! She gave it me " o9itation-indeed, with
much huency-and favored me with such eulo-
| gies and such minute particulars, that began
| to suspect that she knew nothing whatever, or
very little, of the subject. These suspicious
were confirmed by Mademoiselle Therese, one
of Madame Dupont's familiars, to whom after
ward appealed. favoripsnNGuGIith history quite
: : ! . ! ]
| After all. | begaI feature
door, the wall
an English po
near my oAper
sion to pass
city, violent
the carriage
SUI HI 5os0{ Sieepfng
II EEv kened from a
d n Pc b6t, had the satisfac-
tor he Of Madame's familiars, hay
| ing EN- n6ome unknown source, busy
rummag possessions. - -
NY ~ eties were all resolved
some 8Yenture, by the myste-
uEion "a entered my room
ned that woul
brought aD6S
hd under al