The Oxford intelligencer., 1861-01-16
,oo. She's good enough fora ministers la

w, Ars- Sobcs NJ" SOusu Jou sAy soSh
things to stranger, or TO any Que r. ex-
claimed Miss Linda, looking really distressed.
."What must the gentleman have thoughtr
"Oh you know mast talk when I once
get started,"' said Mrs, Jones, "and don't
suppose he thought anything about it. +" He
started pretty socn after thst aud thought
he was going to visit the school, for he went
straight towards it.n - iai .ste g 80 Wis
The remembrance Of the man who had
frightened little Lilly rushed across my mind,
and l turned my steps hoineward, after. bid.
ding goodbye to Miss Linda, who kissed me
with very, very graye face. "Who could
that man with the black beard be r. thought,
as trippsd along. Why did he frighten
Lilly, and why did he ask questions about
our school and Miss Lindap The old fairy
tales had conucd upon winter evenings
arose before my mind, and Ithought Of the
ogres and giants, who all had black boards
and a propensity TO devour little girls and
carry young hdics away by their long tresses.
"What hair Miss Linda had for the purpose !
How giant would rejoice in those great,
golden wayesl" / thought; and just then
raising my eyes, they encountered, to my
horror, the very person Of whom had been
dreaming-the tall man with the long black
beard, himself uttered a scream Of terror,
and the tall man put his hand on my shout
der. r SO. .." ..s-l,- !. ! ,ls .au
"Don't be frightened little one" he said,
"rm very fond Of little girls" ..t ,l,,
"Does he mean he likes to eat them T. /
thought; aud looked up into his face, cx-
pecting to meet sardonic ogre grin, but
instead, encountered such sweet smile.
that gained confidence in moment, and
stood quietly beside him. uaa.. at
"Sit down here" said the stranger, al
want to talk to you. Look, here is some
thug nice y aud he drew handful OF con-
fectionery from his pocket Eat it while l
talk to you ib .4rrgs 4.r ID s i.
held my little pinafore to receive the gift
aud sat down, and the man with the black
beard sat down beside me. ...,'. I-5.
allow old are you y he said
"Just six years. ] answered.
"And where do you 60 to schoolF he
asked. '"
"On the hill, at Miss Linda's," an.
swered. a' H.u @
"Have you nice teachcri Do you love
herr inquired the stranger. ,. ,.f
"very much," answered; Every much,
indeed" .........
Aud to my great amazcment, the gentle
man with the dark beard covered his face
with his hands, and calculated:
"God bless her! who could help it. Dc
you think she is happyr he went on. docs
she smile and laugh, or does she ever seem
sad tell me, little onep HH.
"I think Miss Linda is very happy" ! an
swered. IL never saw her cry" peal '.
The tall gentleman arose and paced TO and
fro, and heard him mutter: F
'"Hsppy Is she happyi Ny selfshnes'
shall never break in upon her quiet; l vii
never arouse the sleeping past to gricve th'
happy present."
The heart under my little pinsfore beat
wildly with alarm, and my confectionery wa
forgotten. In q few moments be turned to
wards me. tr' '"h 't
~Good-bye, little one!' he said. |" Rur
home, now, and never tell your teacher tha
| have been talking about her; and yoi
would never do that, know" '-
l gave a ready promise and ran JOYFUL!
away; and as the weeks passed by, and
saw no more Of the gentleman with the 'blacl
beard, soon almost forgot tina: such bein:
existed. And still "our minister" visited tn
school, and looked at the teacher, and still
the gossipping tongues of the village fore
told that Mss Linda would be the minister
lady yet.
One dsy-a bright, cool Autumn after
noon, it was-Miss Linda and were alon
in the school-house. was practising tn
scales on piano in the inner room-for
was the day on which always took my mu
sic-lesson-and Miss Linda vas writing a
her desk in the outer room. There was n
sound save the nonotonous "one, two, three,
which l uttered, until quick step fell upo
the grass without, and, raising my eyes,
saw the young minister pass the window an
enter the school-room. He had scarcel
done so, when another shadow fell upon m
music-book, and saw the tall gentlema
with black beard glide after him, and stan
motionless in the shadow Of the school-hous
porch. l played on stiIl, but very softly, an
NV eyes were turned toward the other room
The young minister and Miss Linda stood i
the centre Of the apartment and he wa
speaking psssiOBately, but softly. Then h
strove to clasp her hand in his, but she DIRE
it away and stood further from him, nearc
to the doorway. Then heard his voice
husky, it was, and tremulous a..
"Linda, dear EndaI.- he said, "you ca
never tell how much / love ycu. You d