The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-02-11

proud to claim as q son" Miss lion.
ton was wont to ;. assure all whe
could be induced to receive the assur.
ance, Zone of the few men whom socie.
ty has formed in tho most perfect
mould which has thus far been reached
in the history Of tho worlds civiliza.
tion."
The void agreed with Miss Ironton
that the Hon. Augustus was or had
been a model aud living example Of
what society can do for individuals
for without one spark of genius. one
original idea, he was so educated that
he had been honorable; unbending in
biz integrity, as in his person an en-
cyclopedia of useful knowledge mod.
el of temperance and untiring indus.
try with all this, richly, gifted with
the eentlest domestic qualities. He
had represented his district in the Ia.
tional councils, compiled and written
useful books, loved his country, his
friends and his family, bequeathing
to them the legacy of good name
His niece, who was named for him and
educated under his supervision, believ-
ed and said his mantle had fallen on
her. She believed eho had a mission
in the great work ef the age-"form-
ing society" TO her mind "the indi-
vidual is as the grain of sand on the
sea shore, and society the basin which
compasses the ocean of tho Infinite. j."
10 alter, amend, scoop out aud fll in
this basin so as to form it into perfect
circle, was the business of civilization,
and to advance the cause she had dcdi-
Gated all her powers. These powers
bore closer resemblance to those of
her honorable relation, in all save the
affections. In her these had been left
out, aud mind and body worked With
the precision Of machinery uuw,rped
by the, weakness of love. In person
she was tall and muscular, broad, square
shoulders and firmly knit joints, with
square, strong jaws, lar.c regular white
teeth, thin, prominent nesc, cold,
searching gray eyes, a medium fore.
head, long face and gray hair-her ap-
psarance was such as to command the
respect Of strangers and the dread of
those whose wants required tenderness
at her hands.
AS she entered, she looked at Mrs.
Void and Becky With quick glance of
authority, and snquired: "Have you
been stuf6ng that fellow = ain ?"
Mrs. Void made no reply, but pass
Cd to another bed. Miss Iraoinaton went
to Peter and drawing the cover rough
ly down demanded to know where the
water camo from which had fallen on
the platform in the schoolroom direct
ly at her feet, and under. that part Of
the floor where his bed stood.
To shield Peter, Mrs. Wold turned
and said:.
"You see, Miss Irontop, it has been
raining. The roof leaks and there,'
pointing to tho vet floor, 'is where tho
water came from, I suppose"
With sneer, the other turned upon
her:
"Oh, you have found voice, have
you? But this boy shall answer me-
Where did the water come from which
ran down by my desk ?" !:
"Pease mum, I doesn't know" -.
"Peasc, mum, again?" she respond
ed, giving him box on the head with
her hard hand. "Win you never learn
to say please?"- s.: "
Az she struck the child, Mrs. Void
caught her arm, saying:
II cannot. allow this interference; I
cannot, indeed! This is cruel! The
child is very.sick."
II. Margaret had never seen anything to
the expression Of scorn with
which the iron woman turned on the
gentle pleader. and replied
"Hou cannot allow =! And who may
you be; pray!"
"No wonder you ask, for you sppear
to have forgotten that::..I. am matron
here, and that yousbave, no right to in
terfere outside Of your schoolroom."
:. The: reply to this was too violent for
This was continuation Of
q standing conflict. Of authority, in
which Miss 1ronton had daily lashed
herself into = fury over the. "weak in:
diligence and want Of order Of. the
matron. She now ransacked the room
for evidences Of disorder, and soon dis.
covered the bundle tucked under tho
corner Of Peters bed. Drawing it forth
and displaying its contents triumphant
ly, she declared h,r intention of
preserving them for the inspection Of
the managers. There were four sick
children in tho room, and to all
and each she administered some sharp
roproof, but Peter appeared to be the
especial object Of .displeasurs. When
her tour Of fault-fudiug brought her to
Margaret's bed, she looked at her with
neiattompt Of concealing an expression
Of disgust and contempt, saying:
t"Well, girl, how are you :" .
~ There was no:answer,:: and. the calm
eyes looked steadily into hers.
:. aBrazen but you appear to have