Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-03-23
THROUGH THE SNOW


Mrs Tubbs-ffty, fat, and frosty, dressed in
black satin and fowery cap-comes from her
housekeeplng-room (where she has been con-
sulting Betty, her cook into the study of Dr.
TIbbs, her husband, who, up later than his
aniable spouse, breakfasts leisurely, and reads
his letters grimly, on this snowy Christmas
morning, He is by no means prepossessing
looking gentleman, though his coat is superfine
and his waistcoat large.
I've ordered Betty" says Mrs. Tubbs. sink
ing into chair, - 10 make the fellow q small
suet-dumpling-no plums or currants in it. DIR.
Tubbs; and send it in with a rasher of bacon.
The fat bacon, DR.. Tubbs the ham. like lean /
keep for the parlor; for if ushers will stop
during the holidays where they amt wanted.
they must take the consequence
"Of course, my dear, :" answers Tubbs. pom
Pously, and Mt the same time winking terribly
(for he has a visional defect which alwa VS. keeps
his eyelids moying) Your remark is most
judicious. Indeed, if the truth be spoken, even
this prudential arrangement will be unneces-
sary; for l think of giving Gray notice at once,
and getting rid of him this very morning
For-fOr-fOr-this getting -on-r rapid system of
his will never do. If it continues Mrs Tubbs
we shall soon cease to be master and mistress
of Goshen House; for here's letter from
the Baiieys' father, praising his boys rapid
progress in arithmetic. Here's another from
Wiggets uncle, to say that Toms general ad-
IL, u
third letter from the Rev. DR.. Pike, canon of
Diddlt bury Cathedral, to say that his grand
sons progress in the classics is remarkable
tyou III remember, my dear, that there are four
of these lads :. and that they've learnt as
much Greek and Latin in the half as at some
schools they would have done in three years
Mind this, my dear. Now, of course bows
getting on this way will soon leave Instead
of having six years out of 'em apiece, two will
be enough under such a forcing plan There
were the Fleldings, too; why did they leave
why. that they could draw trees we'll when thew
should have been still in the lines and cubes
I've told Gray of all this, times and often: but
but, adds DR.. Tubbs, with pathetic dignity,
he mil ds me no more than those bows who call
me Old Wlnker. He talks about moral honesty
and trash of that sort, instead of paying atten-
tion to my behests. So as this is the case-spd
1t don do to let boys education get on like a
steam-engi gine-I' II dismiss him, and-and-tbis
very morning. True, [ must give some equiv
LEM, as our arrangement was a month : notice on
either side, and gratis board and lod ging during
the winter vacation. But better a lost pound
than that this evil should make further head
"A pound We shall save double that in the
fellows board. Why, it wants vet five weeks
to the end Of the vacation, and this-say at ten
shillings week-will be two pounds ten Go
and do it at once, DIR. Tubbs, whilst / dress for
church. And make haste; we can then drive off
ana De spared the nonsense Of good -byes' On
my way up stairs, doctor, | shall countermand
the suet-dumpling.
Not without some little hesitation when his
wife's eye is off him-for his conscience, scared
as t Is, points how base his conduct is to one
like Robert Gray-Dr. Tubb's draws certain
soverelgns and shillings from his private drawer
and goes forth to the school room, where, by a
most economical scrap Of fire, sits the gentle
manly usher. His slippered feet are on the hob.
little pocket Kschyius in his hand, short
pipe In his mouth; behind him lies the wide
high school-rOOm, hey ond that the bare windows
and the snowy Yorkshire landscape Of wooded
heights and barren moors
Fsugh. smoke; smelling like a tavern" are
pr. Iubb 8 introductory words; and then. tax
Ing distant chair, be proceeds to business. 1t
Is soon enected-as most base things are-and
70 ms INFINITE but secret chagrin; for he expec-
ted demur and entreaty. His usher's manner
expresses sense Of relief and release. True.
were the pompous pedagogue a reader of hum an
hearts, he might have detected one yiration of
desolate despair cross the clear, bright. manly
eye when the first words of dismissal came: but
IL Is gone like an electric fash, and he sees
,notning before him but the serenity of self-re-
liant manhood. Hurrying over his Sruff ad;en
poe cketlng his receipt, and basely Oblivious of
all Gray noble efforts to increase his school
Whicn when he came year ago wassinking to
the verge OF ruin, the pOmpous and shallow ped
agogue making his exit, to go to church-shol.
ion con'entionaiist, not sincere worshipper.
heso!ute and brief as young men are, Gray
ea'nerS u MS Few books from off the school
room sneives, hastens up stairs packs his MORT
manteau, and directs it to the nearest railway
station, puts the rest Of his things in knap-
sack; and then going down stairs he scatters
Few snliinSs amongst the servants visits the
OLD yard dog IN his kennel, gives one look
round the playground where he has passed so
many sad and weary hours, and then goes his
". knAnSAck
oaken stick in his hand. There are some
worthy souls tospeak to in this primitive York
shire yillsge-the parish-clerk, the cobbler.
the carrier; then he hurries onward with a
brlsk step towards the moors, which lie 80 high
and TAR away; they must be crossed to reach
the railway by which he intends to 90.
Turning by-and-by ont of the more beaten
highway. be proceeds down lane with high
oanks and hedge-rows on either side 1t lies
deep In snow, though traversed by recent
wheels, and wind away presently towards wood
iand and river scenery Of exquisite beauty,
though wreathed in snow and crisped by frost.
nere Is cottage, old-fashioned and substan.
usli an exquisite garden round it, and clothed
"i'n glowing pyracanthus The berries are
massed IN coronals; the leaves lie around in
peos OF richest green. But the windows-at
least towards the lane-are suffered. mo one
seems keeping Christmas within.
But as Robert Gray leans upon the paline
0DS so"cAuS u ntto window that is
bowery with scarlet and green-in summer
with the myriad waxen trumpets of the yellow
jasmine man plods by, and touches his hat.
III yer wanting Mr.. Watson, sir, +" he saws,
you won't find him at home to-day. Him
and the missis be gone to see their youngest
SON Old Tab the maids mindinR the house:
out shes upstairs dressing dussay now"
well, Mr.: Watson deserves a holiday.
Gone for long,"
NO L reckon they'll be home tomorrow.
MiS marrisnna, the daughter, amt VII 'em.
sne,s gone to Master Fielding's across the
moors, to keep holiday wi the Children. She's
spartic lar favorite there-a sort O. cousin to
tn missis.' ''. ="
proceeds. A'' N"'' anu
when the honest fellow is out of siebt Grav
opens the gate gently, and steals in. Then
IRON the aforementioned bowery window he
cuts q spray Of pyracanthus with his Knife
ana coming forth again hurries away like one
guilty Of serious sin. When he is far out Of
sight OF the cottage, on his path again to the
highway, he looks at it long and tenderly, and
then opening his knapsack, lays it within.
This shall 90 with him far and far away: il
grew about her bowery window-she whom he
has met once or twice in country homes-sbe