The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1860-06-09

in most unhealthy atmosphere. 1 should
say that his father was not very devout
friend of Sabbath schools, and that would
be mild saying. indeed, and charitable
one on my part"
NY words took immediate effect. a little
fash of color appearing suddenly upon the
gentleman's face, spoke palmer than words
could have done. Seeing my advantage,
continued, in a tantalizing way:
% People tell me that this Eldridge boy
has not known a mothers care since his
earliest infancy. That is selfevident. l
have been more lenient, remembering this.
But if il is 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 as he
asked the question. was not equal to the
ordeal. l grew suddenly confused, and
trying to answer him, stumbled upon three
or four answers at the same time.
Your advice is most excellent, Miss La
kin. hope the unfortunate gentleman
will be able to act upon it,
$50 do I, most sincerely" / answered,
| blushing beneath his strange, questioning
glance. "For the boys sake. he would do
well to make the matter one of Importance
until he succeeds" added, more because
would not allow myself to be silenced by
his gaze than because cared to speak.
Perhaps you would be willing to aid the
gentleman in question, since you were the
first to suggest the idea? Would you %
81 am no philanthropist," l answered,
CURLY. believing that he was making an at
tempt to quiz me. 81 think too much of
my life"
hesitated. I saw that was going too
far. The gentleman smiled. We were
close by the school house door, and the
conversation could not go further. With a
;. ''good morning" he turned away, while l
entered the school-room.
Who was that gentleman ?' 1 asked of a
child, standing by the door.
cdr. Eldridge, Frank Eldridge's father, :"
was the reply.
I knew that well enough before, but hear
ing it verified by the child's lips, sent my
blood throbbing and beating loudly at my
heart.
The day that followed that morning was
not a pleasant one to me. Not that my
scholars were unusually rude or boisterous
to the contrary, they were quieter than
had ever before known them but somehow
my conscience troubled me. Thinking of
the motherless boy before me, I saw that in
dealing with him had put away from my
heart that blessed charity which sufereth
long and is kind. I had called anger JUS
tice, and by it dealt with him. 1 had for
gotten how warm human words sink through
the congealed surface of the heart, touching
and stirring its purest depths.
! I had blamed the father. And there
was wrong again. Of the world, I, wo-
man, had the best right to look straight
through his indulgence, to the fatherly ten
derness that could not give birth to a repri-
mand or rebuke; to the love that could not,
because of the mother resting in the grave,
mete out the Justice that the child merited.
/ How the tender hands of pity brought
these overlooked truths before my eyes, IN
til blinded by tears could not see
The next morning l met DR.. Eldridge
again, and again he kept me company to the
very door of the school room. His tanta-
lizing humor had not left him, and with a
I sly look in his clear, gray eyes, he assured
me that the father of my unruly pupil had,
indeed, taken my sage advice TO heart. Was
glad to hear it?
%. yes l answered, in sober, quiet way.
''Let one fact console you, Miss Lakin, Z"
he said, earnestly, "you have succeeded
admirably with your school, and quite to
, the satisfaction of the villagers. There is a
, talk of having the summer term continued
into the fall, since there is a stout fund of
school money on hand.''
Dear heavens!'' I said, 81 shall go
, crazy %
mo. hope not. unless you will consent
beforehand to engage me as medical ad
, WISER"
did not answer him. l was in a poor
mood to bear his teasings. Indeed, could
hardly keep back the tears at the thought of
the many weeks of torture that they were
! planning out for me. For six weeks (half
of the summer tern) had been trying to
: keep down the rebellion, and had hoped
to worry THROUGH the rest of nv allotted
!. time without serious outbreak. But now,
J I could not hope for it. "War was inevi-
my good resolutions of the day before van
ished like empty air. If to be mistress of
the schoolroom I must use stick, whip and
rule, then I would WELD them. l would
conquer or be conquered. l did not re-
solve upon this fully until was informed
that the school would be heightened out six
weeks into the autumn, allowing vacation
of one week in the meantime
So the days dragged along, not one pass
ing without DR.. Eldridge making his ap-
pearance somewhere in my way. Some
times was pleased to see him, perhaps al
ways; but he had strange, mischievous
!, way with him that worked against my tenn
per constantly. I think he liked my little
!, fits of passion, however, or he would not
have provoked them continually.
: And the school Dear me, what school
. it was The trial of it wore me thin as
shadow. But affairs came to a climax one
day. This was the way it was brought
J about. While hearing recitation, one hot,
sultry afternoon, l drew my chair into the
middle of the floor, where there was a faint
show of a breeze. l was directly in front
of one of the aisles, and so seated that
could not see what was going on behind me-
r After dismissing the class, I made an at
tempt to rise. when to my utter dismay and
horror found myself, or my dress, made