Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-12-24
except the chair behind the masters ta-

ed to place him behind his table, when his
eye was greeted by standing army"
composed Of old veterans, half drilled mil
itia, and poor little me to represent the raw
recruits. | don't think | was noticed until
the salute" had been accomplished, and
the ranks had fallen into place again How
hot the blood was in my face, when | saw
those two gray eyes llok down upon me-
and then turn slowly to every seat in the
school room, as if meditating upon the
possibility of slowing me somewhere
The search seemed to be vain, not single
vacant seat appeared.
Little girl, you may come and sit III
this chair here by me, if you will be very
good girl, alI winter" Aud he ,liced
the extra seat at one end of his own table.
Was it possible for me to walk across the
room under the weight of this great honor?
/ did accomplish the feat. but had only one
shy look for that lofty pedagogue- While
he made his opening speech lqaite as diff
cult an affair, car assure any one, as
., ltician has to undertake when he comes
before his constituents stared straight at
| him, but did not hear much of it. was
specializing upon tho reason why he had
put me there by his side, instead of that
tall handsome Mary Brown, who wore
{
only plain green flannel one. 1t Was be-
yond my conception, and thought wo'd
be very good, so as to be sure and keep the
place all winter. How we all learned to
1--we that man. Alfred Murray set us The
pattern, ana we all followed in his steps
Not many DAYS past before | was chosen
| by the tall master for his constant compau
! ion in his walks from school. At first !
/ dreaded to hear him say, Come Nelly, it
is timo to go home" | would have liked
! the walk with some of my mates better
| For several days | would not dare to talk
| To him. | would now and then think had
! gained courage enough to speak and give
/ one | 'ok up in his face to assure myself,
| but | always stopped their attention. | had
| always talked at home without fear. |
| suppose was rather spoilG child in
those days never could perceive any
reason why | should remain silent that
/ older people might talk-perhaps natur-
| al wont of reverence helped to bring about
/ this state of mind but such it was. and it
/ would rise above the great fear | had o!
/ displeasiDg my master, and thus being dis
/ graced by losing my place of honor at his
! right hand. At length with Choking in
my throat, | called out:
''Mr.-Mr. SchoClmasterw | could not
/ Think of his name
What do YOU wish ?"
Il want to know why You let me sit by
your table instead of Mary Brown? She
Is SO large, and-and she wears-O, such
/ a beautiful dress ! should think you d
/ want tc lave her set there"
"She is too large" said Mr.. Schoclmas
/ ter.
TOO large. Can anybody be too large,
sir?" And my eyes opened to their larg-
est extent, and lIuked the tall mao full in
the face. Unfortunately just then step
/ ped upon a piece OF ice, and down tell
into the snow. Mr.. SchoClmaster picked
me W and shook the snow If my CLOAK
and hood. and then answered:
20, yes, it is very common for peOl lie to
be be too large, could not have picked
yru ~ just now"
But if had been larger. sir, should
not have fallen down while | was looking
at you"
"Don't look at me again then, or you
will fall aga.u."
But shall look at you. l shall look
at you now, aud when | am--O, ever So
much larger, too :"
There it was-that spirit: and the mo-
ment | said the words | was sorry. for he
looked down on me and thought he look
ed very sad bu: l could not say another
word.
Here our paths separated. Not lot g
after, as school was dismissed at night,
ran cut with the other girls to see Alfred
Murray climb the Lightning rod, instead OF
waiting FOR MIR. Schuomaster. Alfred wa,
higher than our heads-higber than the
first windows-higher than the door-tht
3 ] he EafU ha t,r
were we stood, and the belfry. The mas
ter appeared.
Come, Nell, ready to go?"
mo sir, l cannot 90 yet. | want to SCI
Alfred Murray come down. He will z
home with me-"
The master turned away. lie never
asked me 10 90 home with him. | wa
glad, for | could join the group of a duzer
or more children as full of fun and frolI'
as | was and merry snow balling u,atche
we had night after night on our home.
ward way. The winter closed. | neve
had another walk aud talk with the mas
ter.
The schoolmaster never returned to gu
school Years passed on One after an
other of the pupils left the school. Aliret
hurry was just ready to make his first voy
age at sea. We are walking home frou
school together.
> "N,Il, do you remember Mr.. Schoolma:
ter.
ITO be sure do. loved him too we
to forget him-though think he was fool
= sh to be angry with little giIl becaus
she would not leave her sport to walk HON
: from school with him"
D $50 do |. But Nell | should be almOs
y angry, if you should refuse 70 walk hom
!, with me-
e You are different you krww, and al
a large giIl now. | remember telling tn
: master | would not look at him when wa
= large, whether he wished it or not. l di
d DOT think that he might 60 away before
e was large | wish be would come and Sc
u us, 1t is long time since he was hcre.
would look at him then"
L Look at me, Nell. love you. war
II you to be my wife some day."
did look at Alfred aud he looked s
II honestly at me, aud loved hin so wei
y that said | would be his wife some day
q and so we plighted ourselves walking HON
g from school that wiRter'S afteIn Jon, All
= shook hands in token of 1t.
d The next day he started upon the vOyas
!, , which was to separate the two young lo'
ers They never met again. Before Ii
d hills were covered again with pure sno
his bones were resting in some valley und'
= the sea- What bitter tears | shed whe
< the iidiugs came. i told my mother of III
u pledge then, and she folded me in her arm
= aud wept tears With ne.
Two years after | wept alone over tt
u graves Of my father and mother lis t,
u sad task to recall those bitter hours.
10 the midst Of my grief came an imrressi'
'e question: What shall | do TO earn liz
l ing? Very imperfectIy educated. dare
or 20 .b;,,k 1f ,encb,n, ,Sss siakaned
-, the thought of any other emp!oyment-
d MANY of nv schoolmates had founi plea
:, ant homes, they TIL me in Lowell The
l. couId earn money there-they wished