Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-04-11
VOL. TX.

4" Well, said he, with considerable impor
tance, " m the cheerman of the school com
mittee, My name is Nichols-Ichabod Mich
OILS Sometimes people call me Squire Nichols. ;
The squire paused to see what impression
his words had made on the new school ma am
She was looking down, as he thought, bash
fully.
9 Have you ever taught deestrict school be
fore2" he inquired.
NO. SIR said Miss Hall.
Never mind" said Squire Nichols, en-
couragingly: :" there's got to be beginning tC
everything Your schools going to begin Mon
day. OF course, you'll have to be examined
first. The other members of the committee,
said he, with some pomposity, generally leave
that to Inc. AS we've got to ride five mile
further alone, and haven't got anything else t.
do. could do it just rs well now as any time
Yes. SIR" said Ida, who sense of the ludi
crous character of this proposition nearly de-
stroyed her gravity, " m just as ready now a:
| ever shall be,
"Well, them said Squire Nichols, "sup
pose we begin. There's no need of reading, as,
we haven't any book to read out of. I'll ask
you some questions in geography. Which is
the largest city in the world,'
- London, L believe" returned Ida.
:'You aint quite right there" returned the
squire, 8 London is pretty large place,
know. but it don't come up to New York
you WASH t very far out of the way. Can you
tell me where the Crimea is-the place where
they re having war;
at is a peninsula in the southern part OF
Russia"
Are you sure it isn't in Turkey"
"Yes; sir, quite sure"
Well perhaps you re right; I'll look when
| get home. I'll ask you something about
spelling. How do you spell Sebastopol?'
Ida spelled it out.
= You re pretty near right, ;" pronounced the
squire; = but there's two p's in it. 1 think you
only gave one"
= l didn't know there was but one," said
Ida. suppressing her propensity to laugh
. The best etymOlogians, said Squire Mich
OILS, dwelling impressively on the last word
Z" use two p's."
Ida didn't think it worth while to refute
this assertion, She was next asked to spell
Massachusetts,, which the squire allowed to
pass unquestiOned, probably because he did
not feel quite certain about it himself.
We will not trouble the reader with further
details of the examination. The remainder was
OF similar character to the specimen already
given. The squire at length very graciOusly
informed Ida that he guessed she'd do Short.
ly after, the driver, with preliminary4dour-
ish Of the whip, drew up in front of the public
house in Pineyille, and Ida prepared to get
out
She was congratulating herself on having
reached her journeys end, when young man
stopped up to her and inquired if she were not
Miss Hall
Ida replied in the affirmative,
g Then" he continued, - allow me to intro
duce myself as John Hayden, cousin of your
friend, Ida Claiborne. My father, with whom
you will board, has requested me to convey
you to his house. A chaise is waiting You
must be fatigued with your long ride. Per-
haps we had better not delay"
So this was her cousin John. Ida gazed at
him furtively with some curiosity, for il will be
remembered that she had not seen him for
many years. The result of her scrutiny was,
that he was very well-lOoking young man.
Further than that, she could not be expected to
judge until after further acquaintance.
- Did you have any fellow -passengers?' in
quired her cousin, when they were in the
chaise.
"Only one-Squire Nichols was the reply.
Indeed. But how did you know him!''
asked John, in some surprise.
q He introduced himself as the I" cheerman"
of the school committee answered Ida, laugh
ing, - and, wishing to save time, proposed to
examine me on the instant"
Just like him. returned John, joining in
her merriment. - lie is wonderfully pulled up
by the post to which he has been elevated-a
post, may add, for which he is entirely untitled
passed the examination satisfactorily"
Quite, so L believe, notwithstanding my
unfortunate blunder in supposing London to be
larger than New York, and that SebaStopol
was spelt with only one p.
My father lives here, =" said her companion
pointing out with his whip farmhouse, which
a turn in the road revealed.
1t was a square, two-story house, fanked by
Out-buildings, and altogether presenting q
pleasant picture of substantial comfort. Avail
ing herself of her cousins help to descend from
the chaise Ida accompanied him up the gray
elled walk to the front door 1t was thrown
open before they reached it by her aunt, who,
with genuine New England hospitality, was in
tent upon making her feel at home as soon as
possible.
Ida felt some apprehension lest her aunt in
spite Of the years which had elapsed since their
meeting. might discover something familiar in
her appearance. but the first words addressed
to her by Mrs. Hayden treasured her
. am glad to see you Miss Hall. Come in
and sit down by the fire. You must be cold
riding such distance. When did you see Ida
last? hoped she would come and see u.s. but
she writes that she will not be able TO do so ut
present"
Miss Hall, for we must now call her by that
name. answered these questions in satisfac-
tory manner, as she was being ushered into the
large sitting room, at one end Of which glowed
a wood fire in a spacious fireplace. She had
scarcely seated herself, when in walked Far
mer Hayden. She was introduced to him in
due form as Miss Hail. She was gradually
getting accustomed to her appellation.
GTO BE CONTINUED IN OUR NRxr.l