Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-12-23
Somebody's Something.

L aV0r stood the center OF q merry laugh
ing group, evidently the life of it, the
of which were casting sharp
nothings back and forth at each other
in the most good natured manner posi-
BILE. when some one called out:
Miss Favor: do you propose attend
ing school this winter %
"Oh, yes" answered Mertie. live
not outgrown the towu-school, yet
"What do you think Of the teacher %
was asked.
''Not having the honor of his acquaint-
ance, am not prepared to state, but I've
no doubt he is stupid enough our teach
ers always are. %
A burst of laughter greeted this rath-
CT sharp answer, and Mertie noticed that
a most amused look fingered in the eyes
of a tall stranger, who stood near-after
the general laugh had subsidized.
"What shall you study, Mert?" ask
ed schoolmate, thinking to turn the
tide of the conversation.
ooh shall review my old study
mischief--perhaps add blank books, if
the teacher thinks me equal to anything
more
Again merry laugh, and the amused
look in the eyes of the stranger grew in
to broad, peculiar smile, as he turned
and walked away.
NIertie was used to being laughed at,
so she did not mind it much still she
thought to herself ''That man laugh
ed at me queerly;'' but she probably
never would have thought of it again,
had not the schoolmate who questioned
her in regard to her studies, said
"There-Mertie Favor-I never saw
your equal guess you've done it now. "
"Done what?" asked Mcrtie in aston
ishment, ''wbat have | done %
"Why, got yourself into a pretty
scrape by calling the teacher "a stupid,
for that man with the long beard-that
stood at your rights Mr.. Harrison,
our teacher for this winter
"Oh, merciful '' exclaimed Mertie,
under her breath, land he is looking
right straight at ne, now. Why, he
looked so sedate, | thought he must be
a professor, or something
''And so he is; but as the winter
term of Broadsea Academy gives way tc
the town schools, our Committee have
succeeded in engaging him for us.
'Oh, dear! Well, | have said it
haven't l? | wish [ could keep my
tongue under lock and key. l wouldn'
care a snap if he looked like the rest o
the teachers, but he is such fne-look
ing man, am sorry. 1t was too bat
for Sue Gray to ask me what [ though
of him she knew | should say SOM
horrid thing"
Here Mertie ventured to glance acros
the room, and in so doing, encountereC
again the eyes of Mr.. Harrison, and sh,
saw that they still held in their brown
depths the look of amusement that sh
had before observed.
"I'll face the music, if it kills me,
she thought, and as usual, without stop
ping to take a second thought, she spran
lightly off from the little platform o
which she was standing with her CON
panions, and much to their astonishment
walked quickly across the room, In on
moment she stood directly in front Q
Mr.. Harrison, bravely confronting thos
merry eyes.
Holding herhand out frankly, she said
at was too bad for them to draw m
out so, they knew l should say som
abominable thing always do; but
you will excuse it, l will be good gil
! all winter-if / cam
"Do not feel badly, Miss Favor; you
remark was not so very unjust, perhap
= Schoolmasters are apt to be stupid
Mertie saw at once that he meant
, tease her little, and as this was takin
, her on her own ground, her courage ros
so she tried to look demure, but answer
: ed wickedly:
81 know it-but it is not always a
lowable to tell them so.'
l Evidently, Mr.. Harrison was not O
Tended at her answer, for he made roo
for her to sit down beside him, saying
Come and tell me something abo,
: the school that | am to commence
J. soon-are many of my future pupils lii
J. you-having the same studies ?''
: Mertie flushed warmly at this refe
L ence to her studies, but answered quic
o ly:
: ooh, no I'm not specimen tn,
: are real splendid girls, all of them;
= know you will like them. Good schc
ars, too and study for the sake of kno,
. ing something. I wish | was more lii
. them And Mertie sighed little pc
e itent sigh that would have been qui
a touching if she had not looked SO b
. witchingly roguish. Mr.. Harrison W
}. evidently pleased with this bright lit
1t specimen, for he kept her by his ST
, for long time, questioning her abo
the school, the scholars, and the peoI
10 oauarallv amopr whom, ba UaC to FL