The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-04-06
BIDDEFoRD, ME-, FRIDAY MORNING,
with show ofspirit which must have been
quite amusing.
"Tbey will not dethrone me"

with u show ofspirit which must have been
quite amusing.
"They will not dethrone me !"
"AhW
He was, indeed, much amused, for he
looked in my face for full moment, as If to
gather from it food for his merriment. At
that grew queenly, or at least what tho't
to be so, and drew myself up as though there
was question OF honor to settle, Just then
the cars came to full stop, and the con-
ductor gave his call ''Lestcr 80 that did
not have chance to answer-not his words,
for they were simple enough in themselves
but his manner.
81 wish you much success" he said, as
left the cars.
"Thank you; your wish shall prove a
prophecy"
That was the first that heard Of my les
ter school, and need notadd that my spirits
were somewhat dampened. But that should
conquer the unruly SGT of masters and misses
did not doubt for moment.
"They'd do we'll enough ifit warn't for
the doctors boy, my good-natured boarding
mistress said when | questioned her concern
ing my pupils. "He is the ringleader of'em,
and always has bcen."
That was enough for me to know. would
make friends with the doctors son at the
beginning. But that was easier said than
done, may us we'll confess at once. There
was mischief enough in him to have stocked
u little million of commonly roguish boys.
Gain an advantage over him in one way, and
he was doubly sure to gain one over me in
another. If flattempted to reason with him,
his answers would set the whole school in q
hubbub, and If 1 threatened to punish him,
look Of sheer defiance settled upon his
bright face. lie troubled me 80 deeply that
l could not rest night or day, in school or
out. That ] grew pale and thin is not to bo
wondered ut.
When my trial was at its height, I chanccd
to meet my acquaintance and prophet Of the
cars. Who he was, or what he was, ] did
not trouble myself to think. / did not even
care. had hoped to meet him again, but
preferred to have 1t at the time Of my victory,
not at my vanquishment.
"And how are you pleased with your
school?" he asked, walking by my side in an
easy, careless way, rs though he was an ac-
quaintance of years.
al am delighted" answered. 81 cannot
express to you how much so."
lIo laughed heartily. Looking into his
face at that moment, thought | could trace
a very strong resemblance between him and
the doctors son, Frank Eldridge. A most
unpleasant idea dawned upon my mind. A
little angered determined 10 make the most
of it.
"Thc scholars are very well,"I said, hall
maliciously. al suspect that She trouble
lies with their parents. The ringlcader of
all the mischief seems to have grown up in u
most unheilthy atmosphere. l should say
that his father was not a very devout friend
of Sabbath schools, and that would be u
mild saying, indeed, and a charitable one on
my part"
My words took immediate effect. A l;ttl.
flash of color appearing suddenly upon the
genllcman's face, spoke palmer than words
could have done. Seeing my advantage |
continued, in tantalizing way:
"People tell me that this Eldridgc boy has
not known mothers care since his earliest
infancy. That is selfevidcnt. have been
more lenient, remembering this. But If it is
a mothers care that he needs, would advise
his father ,most heartily, to make an attempt
to secure to him the care OF some good true
woman"
"You would?"
He looked me fully in the face rs hc asked
the question. was not equal to the ordeal.
grew suddenly confused, and trying to
answer him, stumbled upon three or four an
swers at the same time.
"YOu ur advice is most excellent, Miss Ia.
kin. lhope the unfortunate gentleman will
be able to act upon it,"
$50 do l, most sincerely" l answered,
blushing beneath his strange, questioning
glance. "For the boys sake, he would do
we'll to make the matter one Of importance
until ho succeeds" added, moro because |
would not allow myself to bo silenced by his
gaze. than because cared TO speak.
"Pcrhaps you would be willing to MD the
gentleman in question, since you were the
first to suggest the idea?' Would you ?"
al am no philanthropist," l answered,
CURLY, believing that he was making an at
tempt to quiz me. IL think too much ofmy
life"
hesitated. saw that was going too
far. The gentleman smiled. Wewerc close
by tic school-house door, and the conversa-
ton could go no further. With "good
morning he turned away, while entered
the schoOl-room.'
"Who was that gentleman ?" asked Of a
child, standing by the door.
"Dr. Eldri'lsc, Frank Eldridgs's father"
was the reply.
knew that well enough before, but hear
ing it verified by the child's liIs sent my
blood throbbins and beating loudly at my
heart.
The day that followed that morning was
not pleasant one to me. Not that my
scholars were unusually rude or boisterous-
to the contrary, they were quicter than had
ever before known them; but somehow my
conscience troubled me. Thinking of the
motherless boy before me, saw that in deal
ing with him had put away from my heart
that blessed charity which suflereth long and
is kind. had called anger justice, and by
IL dealt with him. had forgotten how
warm human words sink through the con-
gealed surface of the heart, touching and
stirring its purest depths.
had blamed the father. And there was
wrong again. OF the world. woman. had
the best right to look straight through his
indulgence, to the fathcrly tenderness that
could not givo birth to a reprimand or
rebuke to the love that could not, because
Of the mother resting in the grave, mete out
the Justice that the child meritcd.
How the tender hands OF pity brought
these overlooked truths before my eyes, until
blinded by tears could not see!
The next morning met DIR. Eldridgc
again, and again he kept me company to the
very door Of the school.room. Ills tantalizing
humor had not left him, and with sly look
in his clear, grey eyes. he assured me that
the father Of my unruly pupil had, indeed,
taken my sace advice 70 heart. Was glad