The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-01-03
THROUGH THE SNOW.

ed in black satin and fowery cap-comes
from her housekeeping room (where she
has been consulting with Betty, her cook, }
into the study Of DR.. Tubbs, her husband,
who, up later than his amiable spouse,
breakfasts leisurely, and reads his letters
grimly on this snowy December morning.
He is by no means prepossessing looking
gentleman, though his coat is super6ne
and his waistcoat large.
"I've ordered Betty" said Mrs. Tubbs,
linking into chair, "to make the fellow
mall suet dumpling-no plums or cur
ats in it-Dr. Tubbs; and sent with
rasler Of bacon. The fat bacon, DR..
Tubbs the ham-lke lean l keep for the
parlor for if ushers will stop during the
holidays where they amt wanted, they
must take the consequences.
"Of course, my DEAR" answered inbos,
pompously, aud at the same time Wlnklng
terribly (for he has q visionary defect
which always keeps his eyelids movlngl.
"Your remark is most judicious. Indeed,
if the truth be spoken, even this pruden-
tial arrangement will be unnecessary; lot
| I think of giving Gray notice at once, ana
getting rid of him this very morning. I.
For-for-this getting-on rapid system, OF
his will never do. If it continues, Mrs.
| Tubbs, we shall soon cease to be master
and mistress Of the Goshen House; Tor
here's letter froln Bailey's father, prals-
| ing his boys rapid progress in arithmetic.
Here's another from Wigget's uncle to say
that Toms general advance is excellent;
and TO crown all, here's third letter, from
the Rev. DR.. Pike, canon of Diddleberry
cathedral, to say that his grandson's pro.
rress in the classics is remarkable (youu
remember, my dear, that there are four OF
these lads ,, and that they've learnt as
much Greek and Latin in the half as at
some schools they would have done in
three years.
"Mind this, my dear. Now, Of course,
boys getting on in this way will soon leave.
Instead Of having six years out of 'em
apiece, two will be enough under such a
forcing plan. There were the Fieldings,
too; why did they leave? Why, that they
could draw trees well, when they should
have been still in lines and Guides. I've
told Gray Of all this, time and often; but
but" adds DR.. Tubbs, with pathetic dig
nifty, q" he minds me no more than those
who call me 'Old Winker.' He talks
about moral honesty and trash of that
sort, instead Of paying attention to my be-
hests. So rs this is the case-and it don't
do to let boys education get on like a
rteam engine-Tll dismiss him-and-this
very morning. True, I must give some
equivalent, as our arrangement was 9
months notice on either side, and gratis
board and lodging during the winter vaca'
ton. But better lost pound than thai
this evil should make further head.p
ga pound We shall save double thai
in the fellows board. Why! it wants YET
five weeks to the end of'the vacation, and
this-say at ten shillings a week-will be
two pounds ten. Go and do it at once
DR.. Tubbs, while I dress for church. And
make haste we can drive them off, and be
spared the nonsense of good-byes.' Or
my way upstairs, shall countermand the
suet dumping"
| Not without some little hesitation wher
his wife's eye is off him-for his con:
science, scared as it is, points how base his
conduct is TO one like Robert Gray-Dr
| rubbs draws certain sovercigns and shil-
lipgs from his private drawer, and goes
| forth to his school-room, where, by q most
economical scrap of fire, sits the gentle,
manly usher. His slippered feet are OF
the hob, little HIschylus in his hand, 6
short pipe in his mouth; behind him lie!
the wide high schoo-room beyond tha
the bare windows and the snowy Yorkshire
landscape Of wooded heights and barreI
nioorS.
"Faugh smoke smelling like tavern !; ,
are DR.. Tubbs's Introductory words; an(
then, taking distant chair, he proceeded
to business. 1t is soon effected-as mos
base things aro-and to his infinite but
secret chagyin, for he expected demul
and entreaty, his usher's manner expresse!
a sense of relief and release. True, were
the pompous pedagogue reader of human
hearts he might have detected q Vibration
of desolate despair cross the clear, bright
manly eye when the first words Of dismis
sal came but it is gone like an electric
flash, and he sees nothing before him bu
the serenity of elf-reliant manhood. Hur
rying over his gruff adieus, pocketing hi.
receipt, and basely oblivious of all Gray
noble efforts to increase his school, which
when he came year ago was sinking
to the verge Of ruin, the pompous ant
shallow pcdagogue makes his exit to go tt
church-a hollow conyentionalist, not &
sincere worshipper. 4..
Resolute and brief, as young men are
Gray gathers up his few books from of
the scbool-room shelves, hastens up stairs
packs his portmanteau, and directs it tc
the nearest railway station, puts the rest
} of his things in knapsack; and then
going down stairs he scatters few shil.
J lings amongst the servants, visits the old
yard.dog in his kennel, gives one look
round the playground where he had
passed so many sad and weary hours, anc
} then goes his way, his knapsack on hi:
| his shoulder, good oaken stick in hi:
hand. There are some worthy souls tt
: speak to in this primitive Yorkshire vii
lage-the parish clerk, the cobbler, tht
carrier-then he hurries onward Will
brisk step towards the moors, which lie 81
high and far away; they must be crosset
to reach the railway by which ne INTENDS
to go.
Turning by and by out of the more
| beaten highway, he proceeds down liant
with high banks and hedge rows on elthe
side. It lies deep in snow, though ira
yersed by recent wheels, and winds away
presently toward woodland and rive,
scenery of exquisite beauty, though
wreathed in snow and crisped by frost
Here is cottage, old fashinned and sub.
stantial, an exquisite garden round it, and
clothed with glowing pyracanthus. The
berries are masSed in coronals; the leaves
lie around in beds Of richest green. But
the windows-at least toward the lane
are suffered; no one seems keeping
Christmas within.
But as Robert Gray leans upon the
paling, looking toward a little window that