Weekly Trinity journal., 1866-11-24
NUMBER AZ.

month as he witnessed the cool defiance with
which received the slight punishments which
he from time to time inflicted. For he had
nulled my ears made me sit in the same desk
with him. ard threatened to set me with Phll.-
But knew he wouldn't do it, for he always look
ed angry at me, even out of school hours when he
saw how intimate were. I supposeit was
because he thought we were so foolish.
One day | was extremely rebellious, so much
so that my masters ire was terribly aroused
1t would never do to punish such glaring often
ces lightly He had several times ferruied
lareer'eirls than myself, and some of the parents
had found fault for his being partial to me
Hattie May p said the master in a firm, de-
cided voice, ''you may stop after school with
me-"
nodded defiantly, and, after school had
finished and all the scholars had gone-all but
Phil, who fingered about the door, half deter
mined to storm the old fort entered the mas
ter's desk and stood beside him. noticed he
sighed deeply, and, after replacing his books,
he took his heavy ruler and, turning to me,
commanded me to hold out my hand. did so ;
and taking the tips of my fingers, the blows
fel-once, twice, thrice. | cannot tell how
angry | was, for l had of those natures
which a blow hardens, but a kind word softens
and subdues. jerked away my hand, and,
snatching away the ruler from his unsuspecting
grasp, | hurled 1t the length OF the school-
room.
The hot blood flew into the masters face,
swelling and tightening the veins upon his fore
head but he did not speak until the tempest of
passion was subdued; then he fixed his firm, un-
bending eyes upon mine and said
"Hattie May, bring me that ruler, Immediate
lyr ! obeyed. | don't know why did So
When replaced it in his hand he said calmly,
never taking his eyes from mine
q Hattie May, you have forfeited my respect,
but have no power or desire to punish such
rudeness as it deserves You may be excused; -
and he turned sadly away.
Very crest-fallen was | when | walked slowly
from the school-room, never answering word
to Phil. who walked home by my side; and
when he left me he looked as though he thought
had not been punished enough.
Weeks passed on, and knew that | had for
feited his respect, for | missed the kindly words
and the gentle, qtiet attentions that the master
had shown to me in days gone by. never knew
before how kind he had been to me. never stood
by his side before but what his hand rested
lovingly upon my head. And whenever he ad-
dressed me- his voice fell low and softer than
before. There strange, misty look in his
ewes too. whenever they rested upon me, which
| could not quite understand. As for me, was
for the first time real unhappy. Phil and
quarreed, too, for was out OF sorts with every
one, except the master, who, for the present was
extremely obedient to, and thought him very
ungrateful man because lie was not SO extreme
ly kind to
Time passed on, and felt that could endure
this no longer. | knew very well that | had
been unlady-like and had forfeited his good opln-
ion so at last I determined to apologize.
One night after school had closed, and the
master remained to fill out the copy-books for
the scholars to write the next day, stole back
from my schoolmates unperccived, and entering
the door softly, stood beside the master in his
desk before he aware of it, lie seemed a
little surprised when he saw me, but said in =
cold, quiet way:
What 90 you wish for, Hattie p
| hung my head for moment, while toyed
with his cap which lay upon the desk. then said
abruptly:
Sir was very rude to you the other day,
and have been very unhappy ever since. VIII
you please forgive me, sir? l think that shall
never be guilty of the like again. 1t has panied
much to lose your respect-more than
you can TELL sir.
Tears were standing in my own eyes, and
thought that detected them in the master
but perhaps it only the reflection of my
own.
would not for the world tell you all he said
to me that night how readily he forgave me-.
and how ready | was to be forgiven. How he
told me about his widowed mother and dear
little, afflicted sister; how hard be had struggled
to get an education how ] wept and sympa-
thzed with him, declaring that | should love
his sister and mother as my own how he then
said Well there I'll not tell you another
word of what he said But, reader, if you and
all alone, and you would promise never to
tell would tell you all he said.
Well, went home that night feeling rather
smart for it was something of an item, let ne
tell you, for young lady of fifteen to be engag-
ed, and to a man with whiskers, too Of course,
Phil was in the shade
Very pleasantly the winter passed away, and
then there a long vacation. | was very
lonely then-used to sit up nights and watch the
moon read love verses, and on, until the
Fall term brought the master again, then my emp
JOY was full.
The last term passed pleasantly away, and the
master and | were married. When, 10 and be-
hold my South Carolina uncle returned lie
was perfectly astonished to think of my marry
ing Il Yankee school.master He raycd and
scolded, and raved and scoded he declared the
wedding should never come off, for neighbor
Grimes had told him that the master was a
:. darned abolitionist " and would steal all his
niggers.
Well, niggers or no niggers am comfortably
married and am living in Boston. Bat, II ever
the master attempts to ferufe me again, IL seceoe
1 from the union.
L1NcoLx-One of Mr.. Lincolns secretaries !"
bis {. White House Sketches tells of person.
! al peculiarity in him which we have not seen
! done when alone,