Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-02-17
Ten Years Experience.

BN JULIA DAY.
la the State Of New York, within sight OF the
Rutland Hills, on small hut well cultivated
farm, stands very humble but neat looking
farm house. The front is nearly covered by
climbing rose, and beneath few small trees
there are tall lilies growing in the grassy yard.
LII tins house, one pleasant Summer morning.
ten years ago, two young ladies sat by the open
window, busily conyersing. From that window
were seen, not the road the gate and the lilies,
but The W. II sweep, the beehive, the meadows
where the heavy grass was every moment fall
ing before the sharp scythes Of the mowers, and
woods and hills in the distance.
IL was not the scenery or the hay -naking that
occupied the thoughts Of the two friends. Lot
tie Stevens was the Oldest child Of the farmer
whose home We have been describing She had
always been a tlnaghttul, studious gilI, aud
having Just completed the course of study iu the
nearest seminary, was expecting soon To leave
home again for one OF the Western States, where
iriend had procured her situation as teacher
Louise Clark, her visitor, was beautiful and
lively gnl about her own age. Her home was
hall mile distant; her father, Squire Clark as
he was called, owning Il Large farm upon which
he had erected muc Ii the finest house in the
neighborhOol. Louise hal also graduated from
school; though not so well velsed in some things
which require hard study, she hal made con-
siderable proficiency in what are considered or
| namenta branches, and had better knowledge
| oil history and more general information than
many girls fresh from school,
Lottie and Louise had been intimate from
| early chihooii and IS they were TO be separat-
/ ell for some time, they were unfolding TO each
/ other their hopes and plans for the future. Lot
| tie intended, Of course, to be successful as
teacher; she hoped to assist somewhat in the ed
ucation OF her younger brothers and sisters; but
! that was by no means the whole scope Of her
| alnbition-she was determined to do great
work somewhere; what, she hardly knew. Cal
+; ifornia, she had heard, was Paradise Of teach
ers; perhaps she might, in couple of years, set
ont 10 make her fortune there, open an academy
OF her own, purchase home near one Of its
growing cities and possess library which
| should be the delight of her heart and the ad-
mration oi her friends, while her school should
| be wonder and blessing to the community; or
| she might teach there half-dozen years, and
| then return to spend period Of leisure and
study in ono OF our Eastern Cities She bad some
dreams of authorship, and thought she might
| by-and-by, influence more minds through the
press than by her efforts in the school ROOM
| "Or, may do something better" She sad;
and with this last sentence, there passed before
| her mental vision the picture of a group OIL board
a small steamship just leaving pot; on shore, a
| crowd offrends with fearful eyes, waving their
| handkerchiefs, and taking last look at those
who are going to be foreign missionaries. She
hesitated 10 speak Of this, not feeling sure that
| her pety was strong enough Tor sueh fancy
might to seem absurd 10 her friend.
Louise would never la, guessed such pre-
pect from Il words "somcthing BETTER" SO
without inquiring further, she commenced ex
pressing her own day dreams
"Father does not wish me TO teach, and all
glad Of it; but am tired of just staying al home
In this duh neigbborhood! As Cousin Alice Il
coming to see me, / hope TO finish up the Sum
ner very well;wl go to town frequently aud ex
pore the country, and have gay times if possible
Next winter shall spend with my aunt In Bos
ton. You may expect letters filled with lescrip
tions of my new acquaintance. I'll send you
written accounts of the parties attend, ant
printed reports of the lectures | hear. l hop'
to see Paris, Switzerland and sunny Italy befar
you achieve distinction as a teacher"
Ten years have passed, and our two friend
have met again in the old homestead where ",
first saw them. Lottie has been busy teaching
while at the West; them going South 10 atten'
upon her oldest brother. who was Tor some tim
sick in Southern hospital; she remained afte
his recovery doing what she could for .tlcr sui
ferers next came few months of rest at home
then she returned South to teach II large schoo
among the freed people of Tennessee. Afle
nearly two years work in this field, she cam
North to attend her wedding, and finding h.
mothers health poor, and her own presence de-
sirab!e concluded to remain at home.
Louise was married couple of years sfte
: the commencement ofour story. She had re