The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-04-23

had to cover her lips, nose and eyes, al
most in scented linen cambric
"Well, you see. auntie," said the lit
tie blue hat, recalling to the former top
ic, father isn't rich-indeed l dom
think he is as well off as he seems to be
and the family is large-all girls, too,
just bill of expense you know and l
don't like to have father furnish me with
music lessons any longer, for know he
can't afford it. But | wouldn't give up
my music for the world only l want to
pay my part of the expense myself.
Father isn't able-he looks more and
more careworn every day. l am really
afraid" and the voice fell and became
serious, 81 am really afraid things are
going wrong with him. Besides, want
to be doing somethng-I'm a better
girl when | feel that l am not a drone
and dependent. Yes, auntie, l must and
will have a school-there Will you
help me %
The brown bonnet caught the girls
enthusiasm and promised.
You must have known, reader, from
the brief description of my friend Kel-
ley, that he was the town Superintend-
ent. Who else was so well qualified to
look after the interests of the public
schools ?"
One morning at o'clock-my friend
rises at five and has a good fire in his of
flee and an appetite for breakfast at Ska
rap fell upon the outer door. Kelley rose
and opened it.
d" Good morning, ladies, walk in"
The brown bonnet said good morn
ing" with dignity the blue hat pro-
nounced the same timidly. and both
passed in.
"My niece would like to be examined,
to take the school in our district"
" Certainly" said the town superin-
tendent, laying the poker on the table.
" Certainly, your aunt-beg your par
don, your niece shall be examined, mad
am. Warm morning, ma'am," wiping
the perspiration from his face with a
sheet of writing paper.
Bless you, it's the coolest morning
we've had this fall" said the astonished
aunt. Why Mary's face has been like
penny, all the way, ridin' in the wind.
Jest look at it.''
There was no need, for my friend had
seen something more than the blue hat,
some minutes before.
" Certainly, madam, very red-I mean
very cold, indeed, ma a'am, very.
The town superintendent was not long.
however, in getting better possession of
his faculties and at length the examina-
ton commenced
Your residence, if you please" said
Kelley, blandly.
Milwaukee," timidly.
May | ask where you were educa-
ted ?" continued the questioner, looking
for once into the ewes, which were spark
ling, despite the blushing, embarrassed
features.
In the public school, sir
Did you graduate ?"
Yes, sir"
May look at your diploma %
The lady handed him a roll, tied with
blue ribbon. Kelley tried hard to unite
it, but soon got the knot into a very bad
fix. The pretty fingers of the blue hat
were called into requisition, and the knot
was conquered close before him, under
his eyes. Opening the roll, he read
Mary Denver"
d" Is that your name 20
/" Yes, sir"
Your fathers name ?"
Charles"
Merchant ?"
Yes, SIR"
"Why, | was clerk in his store when
you were a child. He was the noblest
employer ever had. lie made me all |
am. | mean he made me upright-for
: that is all | am anyway.
Kelley promised certifcate-and he
would bring il over the next day which
he did.
During the whole term he was very
faithful in official visits TO the school ;
and just before the close of the sessisn,
my friend said
Mary. | wouldn't teach any more =
Oh, | must. like it; and besides |
have not accomplished half what | want
to yet
What do you want TO accomplish ?"
want To continue my music
What else ~
want TO clothe Minnie"
What else %
/ want 10 feel that | am useful-that
| am doing something"
i want to hire you, Mary and Twill
pay you wages that will enable you 10 do
this"
You want 10 hire me! What can
do for YOU -
Keep my house and be my wife, Ma
ry."
And the town superintendent got his
arm around Mary's waist, and held her
tight, though she struggled a little at
first.
Let me so and will tell you"
lie released the little figure, aud Mary
stood before him, trembling, blushing,
twining the strings OF the blue hataround
her fingers, looking down upon the floor,
glancing once into his earnest eyes, her
breast rising and falling till the cameo
swayed like a ship on the billows.