Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-04-13
q % U SIN JOHN. .

ulCo' AISl eAciteu Dy her name, was fast wearing
away, walked to the little schOol-house which
was for the time to be the scene of her Iabors
motley collection Of urchins male and female,
were grouped about the door, waiting with ca
gerness the approach Of the school Una am. Ida
looked at the undisciplined troop with some
mlsgivings as to her ability to keep them in
order. " However" thought She g there's no
turning back now. / might as well put bold
face upon it, -
John parted from hear at the door, leaving
her to enter unattended the temple of learning,
wherein, for three months she was to reign ab-
solute mistress, accountable only to the school
committee, with whose dignifed 4" cheermsn'
she had already made acquaintance. At one
end of the room stood a rickety table, evidently
intended for the sole use of the school ma am
Owing TO the circumstance Of one leg being
shorter than its brethren, il was necessary to
exc out Its deficient length with a chip. At
last such was the suggestion offered by a red
haired young lady, who introduced herself as
Miranda Tbbetts.
Ida had never before been inside Of a district
schOOl-hOuse. The Oddity of her surroundings
and the thought OF how horror-struck all her
fashionable friends would be 10 see her in her
present position, struck her so forcibly that it
was with the utmost difficulty she could restrain
her risibilities. But something was to be done
The scholars stood about her with expectant
faces, and 1t was absolutely necessary that she
should begin school. Anxious to proceed ac-
cOrding to rule, Ida beckOned to her side the
ed-haired young lady before mentioned.
How do they usually begin school, Miriam
ia ?" she inquired.
Quite elated at the idea Of being applied to
by the school ma am for information, Miranda
answered:
Well, ma am, the first thing is to ring the
bell and make them take their seats"
But" said Ida, % l don't see any bell -
The schOol-ma' am is expected to bring her
own bell, believe, said Miranda
. dldn { know that, replied Ida. "In
bring one tomorrow. But what shall 1 do
nOwl''
Il dunno returned Miranda, "unless you
pound on the table"
Ida was obliged to take up with this advice
After the school had been called to order.
Ida spent nearly all the forenoon in classifying
her pupils. with the aid of Miss Miranda lib
belts, whose vanity was not a little increased
10y the prominent position to which she was ell
eTated as a confidential adviser of the school
ma am. However, Miranda had in the main a
very good understanding of the way things
should be arranged, and her counsel was not
without value. When, at the close of the day
Ida was ready TO return home, she found John
at the door waiting to accompany her. With
this arrangement Ida was not at all dis satisfied
Cousin John, she had discovered, was very
agreeable as a companion. She could not help
wondering whether he, rs well as his father
had ever felt a desire TO bring into the family
his cousins inheritance. Curious upon this
point, she yentured to inquire if he had seen
his cousin Ida recently.
He shook his head. Neither recently
nor remotely, / believe he replied "Her
life runs in an entirely different channel from
mine L may have seen her as a boy. but |
recollect nothing of her. At all events, it mat
ters little to me. The fashionable life which
she leads IL not at all to my taste. We have
been ~ differently treated by fortune that il
IL scarcely possible there could be much COM
munity Of feeling between us'
- w hat would he say, thought Ida, '!if he
knew that his fashionable cousin were at his
side I''
She was little piqued at the indifference
manifested by Johns speech, though such il the
Inconsistency Of human nature, he rose higher
IN her estimation for this very ayOWal.
' At all events" she thought, /" he is not mer-
cenary.'
Of Ida's experience as a school mistress, we
do not design to say much Her pupils were
rough and undisciplined and ignorant enough
20 afford her ample field for exertion. Miranda
IIbbetts. however, became valuable auxiliary.
She was large strong girl, Of a resolute char
aeter. Luckily for Ida. she chose to array her
self on her side, and materially assisted her to
keep IN check the turbulent sciOns of young
America Of whom she had charge. Unaccus-
toned to labor of any kind, Ida's exertiOns did
not fail to fatigue her. Yet she felt much hap
pier than she had ever been In the city, when
she had nothing more serious TO occupy her at
tentlon than the hue Of 4 ribbon or the choice
of a dress pattern.
How much the young doctor had 10 DO with
her contentment, it would perhaps be danger
Gus To conf njecture. Ii is undeniable that his at
tentlons To Ida were very marked. At half past
four when her school closed, he would generally
manage to be near at hand in order to accom-
pany her home. At first he had some excuse
ready; but by and by it became established
thing, ard he did not think it necessary to offer
any.
Time flew rapidly. Only three days remained
before Ida's school would close 1t was with a
eountenance graver than his won't that John
prepared 20 escort her home
Where do You intend going Mis- Hail. when
your school has closed ?' he inquired.
think OF returning to the city
And will you return"
Perhaps 80. II l thought should be wei
come"
Can you doub: it?'' exclaimed the young
man. warmly. Then carried AWAY by an ire
sIstible impulse, he added - You do not. can.
not dream how much you have endeared YOUR
self u some Of US -
Ida's face flushed She was not displeased
They were very long in walking home that eve
nng- When they at length reached the farm
house, John Hayden, the Young VILLAGE doctor
had offered his hand and heart TO Miss Jerusha
Hall, the schoOl-mistress, and she had promised
u take his proposal into consideration At her
request, he was 20 make known the proposal to
his parents that evening
The young doctor sat in the family sitting
room with his parents. Ida, complaining of ia
ugue, had retired TO her room.
= 30 Miss Hall Is going to leave US" remarked
tbs doctor, abruptly.
les, said Mrs. Hayden. I'm sorry for
it. She j. a likely girl >
Likely repeated her SON Cant you
give her higher compliment than that? ?''
Why, John, what's got into you % said
M mother, in some surprise. Don't you
think she's likely girl -
should say, mother, that she is charming,
and that any man might deem himself fortunate
in securing her for a wife"
lou iSu don I mean To marry her yourself, L
nope said his mother suddenly
=. StN Gnu why do you hope not, mother %
hnt vnn "a god girl enough, for that matter,
"u SEu ought to look higher ~