Weekly Trinity journal., 1866-11-24
How 1 Bought the Master.
BY MRS. ELLEN FINLEY.

q The boys must not look at the girls, and
the girls must look on their books" said the
sehoolmaster at least dozen times one cold,
frosty morning in mid-winter, where but few
scholars had dared to brave the cold. But
Notwithstanding the masters commands, my
eyes wnked and blinked at the boy-lover who
sat so cozily in his seat just across the aisle
for Phil Benton was complete in my esteem at
least ! thought so then.
- Hattie May' cried the master. | started
so abruptly in my seat that l certainly showed
strong signs of guilt, and | hastily erased the
portrait which had drawn of Phil so faithfully
upon my slate. " Hattie May y he repeated
again, s.ifI see you looking at Phil Benton
so much | shall place you in the same seat with
him.
Very wroth was 1 when the master repeated
those words to me-
Seat me with the boys l, indeed, sir!
You will get very much mistaken if you attempt
that with me- for am not at all fond of coercion.
But then, knew Just as we'll that the master
was match for me | knew it the first time |
sat my eyes on him and there was something in
his eve now that told me had better behave
was not in mood for collision that morn
ing so, for once, | did behave.
/ was an only child and orphan. Ny pa
rents died when was very young, and, being
left to the care of a very ndulgent guardian, of
course grew despotic. had always lived in
the city of Boston, but my guardian, a few short
months before had received an appointment from
the new administration just in power. to Eu-
rope: and as he had concluded 10 take his wife
with him, and thought it not convenient to take
me also, he had concluded to send me ont to his
good brothers, who lived little way out
from Greenvil,1. and had taken up the plow and
nruniug-hool for his means OF livelihood. /
was not at all sorry, for was delighted with the
idea of living in the country. 1t would not be
long for had an uncle who had been living in
Europe, who was to return SOON and 1t had
long been decided that should live with him
His home WAS in South Carolina but it was
not then. as now, the land Of the Rattlesnake
aud Palmetto trees, for General Jackson, like
the great ST. Patrick of Ireland, had banished
them for a time at least from the land
shall never forget how delighted was with
nv first experiences Of farm life. had not been
there q week before was upon the best of terms
with all four-footed beasts, as well as the
bipeds upon the domain. The hens
tonished as hustled them one side, stealing out
the fresh, warm egg before they even had time
to proclaim the glad tidings themselves. The
gray old sheep, TOO, looked on with perfect con-
fidence as | took their lambs in my arms, and
sung to them a sweet lullaby. But enough, am
wandering away from my theme.
I had become acquainted with some Of the
neg hboring children; and, BY the way, was
perfect lion among IHclQ. lN CtOlueS vert Oi
the finest make, but my city airs was what sur
prised them. Some Of the girls were somewhat
disafIected at my arrival, for had borne off the
palm of honor Immediately Phil Benton was
the handsomest boy in all the country around
Then he was the only son Of" Squire Benton, the
wonderful expounder of the village laws. -
Phil was very much taken with me, and | was
somewhat taken with him, but thought him
rather conceitcd. l always had a disgust of
vanity in any
q ''School begins tomorrow, and you must go,
my dear" said Mr. Lovejoy, my present guard
ian. q We have a very good school, and are
expecting an excellent teacher.
"Yes,'' said his wife, q I heard neighbor
Grimes say he was from most excellent
family, but extremely poor. He has q widowed
mother and deformed sister to support, but he
had always such thirst for knowledge that,
somehow, he has con,rived to gain an education.
He has been teaching few terms, and is sooD
to enter college,
1t was a cool but clear morning, and with din
ner-b basket in hand started quite early. All well
remember that old brown school-house,
nestled cozily beneath the tall elm trees, whose
branches dropped low in winter time that their
long cicles dangled upon the snowy roof
Then in summer the birds sang so sweetly in
their loftiest boughs. Very happy was /, as,
for the first time, Phil Benton was there and
had succeeded in securing mea scat near his own.
The schoolmaster was expected, and many an
anxious face was looking from the window, but,
before any of us was aware of it, he had enter
ed the hall and stood in the doorway.
~ shall not be afraid Of him." whispered
Phil in my ear, as he walked 20 bis seat with
the air of perfect desperado
We all entered our seats Immediately, and /
sat looking at him long time with curious eyes
He was rather fine looking upon the whole, but
his clothes were rusty and threadbare. Ihls
excited my young scorn and contempt, Tor )
was very fastidious in my notions Of dress. ana
had pretty high notions Of cast, and slightly
elevating my nose pronounced him" no great
at my first scanning. But, afterwards rs ! no
ticed him more carefully, and observed MS no
BILE figure and noble cast of conntehance,
broad. massive forehead, shaded by aafe, ohes ,
nut hair. and noticed the firm gaze OF DIS ueep-
set eves 7 felt at once that had met my master,
p. vac not TO be subdued at once. ana Would
certainly rebel at his authority. ne seemed a
little surprised at the contrast between me anu
nv schoolmates aud, one morning, as stood
b.. his side in the desk with some puzzling
sum to be explained, he ventured to ask me as to
my origin ohoo,
and somehow, got it in my head that the master
admired nv spunk ; for had seen a suppressed
;r.hr,lpara lurkino about the corners of his