Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-04-02

looking out OF the window, INDUCED ina long
and protracted stare at Ida.
' Are you going to Pinovillo, ma am y he
at length inquired.
Hardly knowing whether to be amused or
indignant at this unceromonious address, Ida
quietly answered in the affirmative.
3" suppose you amt Miss Jerusha Hall,
arc you?' further inquired her companion
Ida could scarcely forbcar laughing this
being the first time she had been called by
her new cognomen.
" calculated you was" continued her
companion heard you was coming to-
night. suppose you don tknow who am, -
he added, drawing himself up in conse-
quential manner.
" must confess my ignorance" said Ida,
secretly amused.
"Well, said he, with considerable i'm
portance, " I'm the choerman of the school
committee. My name is Nichols-lchabod
Nichols. 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
bashfully.
Have you ever taught district school
before :" he inquired.
" No, sir said Miss Hall
Never mind" said Squire Nichols, en-
couragingly there's got to be beginning
to everything Your schools going to begin
Monday OF course you'll have to be exam
incd first. The other members of the com
mittee," said he with some pomposity. gen
orally leave that to me As we've got to
ride five miles further alone, and havn't got
anything else to do, could do it just as well
now as ever, if you're ready"
Yes, sill" said Ida, whose sense of the
ludicrous character Of this proposition nearly
destroyed her gravity, I'm just as ready
now as ever shall be-"
Well then" said Squire Nichols. "sup-
pose we begin. There's no need of reading.
as we havn't any book to read out Of III
ask you some questions in geography. Which
is the largest city in the world ?"
London, l believe" returned Ida.
You amt quite right there, returned the
squire, London is pretty large place, l
know. but it don't come up to New York.
New York's gone clean ahead of it, Howov-
or, you wasn't very far out of the way. Can
you tell me where the Crimca is-thc place
where they're having a war :"
1t is a peninsular in the southern part Of
Russia
care you sure it isn't in Turkey :"
Yes, sir, quite sure"
Well, perhaps you arc right; I'll look
when ! get home. I'll ask you something
about spelling. How do you spell Sobasto-
pol;'
Ida spelled it out
You're pretty near right" pronounced
the squire "but there's two p's in it.
think you only gave one"
didn't know there was but one" said
Ida. suppressing her propensity to laugh
The best etymologians, said Squire
Nichols, dwelling imprcssively on the last
word, 'use two ps.'
Ida didn't think it worth while to refuto
this assertion. She was next asked to spell
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. Shortly after, the driver, with prelim-
mary flourish of the whip. drew up in front
Of the public house in Pineville. and Ida pre-
pared to get ont,
She was congratulating herself on having
reached her iourneys end, when a Young man
stepped up to her and inquired II she were
not Miss Hall.
Ida answered in the affirmative.
Then. he continued. ''allow me to intro
duce myself as John HAYDEN. cousin of your
friend. Ida Claiborne. Ny father. with whom
you will board, has requested me to convey
you to his house. A chaise is waiting. You
must be fahgued with your long ride. Per-
haps we had better not DELAY"
SO this was her Cousin John. Ida gazed
at him furtiyely with some curiosity. for il
will be remembered that she had not seen
him for several years. The result of her
scrutiny was, that he was a very well-lookine
Young man. Further than that she could not
be expected to Judge until after further ac-
quaintance.
:" Did you have any fellow-passengers :" /
inquired her cousin, when they were in the
chaise.
q" Only one-Squirc Nichols" was the re
ply.
- Indeed But how did YOU know him?
asked John. in surprise.
" He introduced himself as .cheerman' of
the school committee" answered Ida. laugh
ing, land wishing to save time, proposed to
examine me on the instant"
just like him." returned John, Joining in