The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-06-08

thanks for my kindness. 4 am very fortunate
walk ...-,
'You were, Mr.. Grsyson7 ? with quick
upleap Of the shy brown eyes and then
read the next thought which struck her
that had called about the washing.
y sm On abrupt sort Of man, Miss Mathews
and will explain my errand at once. l
have q friend and college classmatc, from
whom yesterday received letter inform.
ing me that be wished to obtain teacher
for the English department in the seminary
Of which he Is principal. This is rare
opportunity for one who is disposed to ac-
cept u, as the school is located few miles
from New York, In the midst Of most de-
,licious scenery. My friend, his wife, and
their half dozen teachers, form q company
Of highly cultivated Christian people, such
as one is not often thrown amongst. The sal
ary for the nine months Is FIVE hundred dol
lars. Il struck me that the situation might
please you-at least, there can be no harm in
offering It to you.'
%, Mr.. Grayson, how can thank you p
She broke down here, and | let her cry
sonly.
| had, three weeks before, visited my
classrnate for day, and heard himself and
his wife discuss the probability Of vacan-
cy's occurring in the English department Of
their school. was revolving In my mind
some method in which ] might serve my
little heroine Of the wash-tub, when this
conversation recurred to my mind, and !
wrote to my elassmate Immediately. He
was under some obligations TO me, and there
was no difficulty in procuring the situation
for Janet Mathews.
We had reached the gate Of the little
yellow cottage before she spoke again.
'Will you come in? And knew that she
desired II.
Il was little old fashioned parlor, cor.
responding. with the exterior Of the house,
into which she ushcred me. A dark ingram
carpet, q few chairs, a lounge, and a table
strewn with books, were the chief features
of the parlor furniture. We sat down here
togther, and talked just as IL We were old
friends. learned her history in few words.
Her father had been merchant, and the
sudden discovery Of his failure and business
ruin through the rascality Of his partner had
occasioncd his death. Janet was his only
child, tenderly beloved and cared for, es.
pecially SO, because she was the image OF
the mother whom she could not remember.
The young girl was le0 entirely dependent
on her own resources. She had come To
her fathers only surviving sister, whose
husband had died few years before, leay-
ing her in declining health, with nothing
but the little yellow-brown homestead which
had sheltered his boyhood. knew the rest
of the story-how her aunt had gradually
become a confirmed invalid, how the acade.
my had absorbed her school, until, with
poverty, we'll nigh starvation, staring them
In the face, Janet had applied to the hotel
for some wasbing.s All this she told me,
that summer afternoon, sitting with her
sweet, earnest face looking up to mine, till
the longing and the ycarning to gather II
up close to my heart was almost more than
! could bear. 0, Janet, Janet!
"And you arc well pleased with this situ-
alton, and | may write to my friend that you
will accept it?"
81 did not suppose that the future held
anything so good in store for me; and now
can hire girl to remain with Aunt Mi
neiva, and 90 out into new life and work.
She said this more to herself than to me,
with her hands lying in her lap, and her
slender, small. l.jointed fingers fluttcring In
and out amonst each other, like young birds
irving their wings for tho first time.
"The term does not commence until the
first Of September, SC. you have more than
two months of leisure on your hands, during
which should like TO engage yodr services"
"As your washcrwoman, Mr.. Grayson Z"
! ,houg ght that was duly in,alled in that
position" And laugh ran out Of her eyes
and CLEANED about her lips. showing me
what springs Of light and gladness there
were in her nature.
"But | wish, with your permission, to
change II. You have studied Frcnch?"
ayes"
"And I do not even read It. Will you
consent to take me for your pupil, twice a
week, during the next two months Z"
She hesitated and blushcd, and an inward
smile made kind Of fickering light and
sweetness about her lips. But 1t was oil
satisfactorily settled before left, and ! was
Janet Matthew's pupil after this-not simply
in French though, for | think VIC did not
make very rapid progress in this, but was
her pupil in that vast kingdom Of emotions
and intuitions Of feeling and affections
where woman's strength and glory lie, and
where mans pride must ever learn Of her
humility. And SO | came, unsaddled and
reyerent, before the threshold OF true wo-
mans soul, and, day afier day, new springs
few back, aud walked under stately arches,
and through graceful corridors, and among
trees hanging thick with gold and purple
fruits, until began to have some concep-
ton Of the true measure and stature Of per-
fected womanhood. o, Janet, my little cot
tage girl, Janet Matthews! She had no
idea Of all she was doing for me during
those long summer days, which are like
great censers hung up in my memory, and
sending their fragrance over oil the years.
We had frequent rides and raTbles into
the woods, and here, sitting under the shad.
ows Of the forest trees, or near some little
stream, whose crystal skeins were tangled
and frayed by tho stones over which they
wound, Janet Matthews and talked togeth-
er. see her now, her sun bonnet on her
lap, and her restless fingers at play with the
strings, while that fair, pale, wistful face Is
looking up to mine, bright or tender, rever.
ent or sad, as was the topic we conversed
on, for we talked on every conceivable sub
ject, from the scenery about us, the glimmer
Of sunshine, or the Autter Of birds wing,
and Of the world, and the great and solemn
problems which underlie all dcstinies, OF life
and death, Of things present and things TO
come, and Of God, in whose knowledge and
love all things shall bo made plain and per.
fected. But she was not always grave-my
little country girl. There we're quick cur
rents Of gladness and mirth 10 her nature,
which flashed out more and moro a. her lie
took on fairer hucs, and her low, running
laugh would bubble over her lips, and the
echoes among the bills would catch u up
and toss Il back and forth as though they
loved il. She was full Of quick impulses,
but these had become living principles, ana
her character rested on solId foundation OF
Iu,h-,ru,h In action, In heart. Shc was
not perfect, but her life was nou,ishcd from