The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-12-23
a. DE road made an ahrapt ONO

hung Ike a bridal veil above the falls.
The water eircling around for a mo-
ment in the whirlpool, shot onward
with the velocity &C an arrow when
il leaves The bow. 4 short distance
below it struck huge ledge Of rocks
and glanced TO the right, from
whence ii could be seen winding its
way amidst rocks and trees, while the
reflection Of the RAYS efthe morning
sun on its broad bosom caused it TO
CLEAN and glisten Ike a band OF
FURNISHED silver.
A few rods further on they came
suddenly upon The school house,
nestled down as if seeking protection
from tie bitter storms Of winter Of
the old giants that lowered above II.
The wind mufmured lightly through
the pines. a robin sang bis CHEEKY
Hotes amid the scarlet aad gold
leaves ola neignboring maple, while
q small gray rabbit, bis big, brown
eyes opened wide 10 surprise, gazed
with open-eyed curiosity at The new
teacher. The boys catching sight OF
poor bunny, with a w~hoopand a yell
dashed into the thicket in hot pursuit,
while their b~oisterous shouts, mingled
with the hoarse roar Of the waterfall,
were borne back to the group gath
orcd around the school house door.
During the FIRST week Bill Burton
and bis set tried 10 create a distur-
bance. but Miss Mary's kindly tone
and manner soon disarmed their OPP
position; these rude, rough, boys on
whom harsh treatment had no effect,
were readily won TO submission by a
kind word and a thankful smile.
The school progressed finely that
winter; never before had the scholars
iearped so rapidly, while it was very
generally remarked that never before
had there been SO orderly q school IN
the district, and that there never was
a school where the scholars loved,
respected and obeyed their teacher as
much as these children did-s school
that bad hitherto been considered
one Of tho hardest to govern in the
county-and many and hearty we're
the compliments paid Miss Mary at
her success.
But it was not only by her success
a. q teacher that Miss Mary won and
retained the love Of these good peO-
pie. If any were sick, it was Miss
Mary's hand that soothed the aching
brow or held the cup to the parcbed
lips. In their joys as well as sor-
rows she was not forgotten. Was
there a wedding, she was consulted
as to how the bride should be dress
ed, and no "husking bee or "%snitzen"
was considered complete without
her.
One pleasant afternoon she took
The children on a picnic excursion to
neighboring grove. The larger ofthe
put up a swing, gathered nuts
aud made a FIRE on which they boiled
the coffee, while the small children
at hide and seek behind the
trees. till tired and worn out they cast
themselves at her feet aud listened
entranced to her stories of knights in
coats of mail, wonderful flying horses
and of the still more wonderful magi-
clans lamp.
With such pastimes as these to re-
lieve the monotony Of school life, the
time slipped rapidly by and Christ
mas was approaching. Miss Mary
and the scholars were busy making
preparations tor a grand exhibition,
the first that had ever been held 10
the village. There were to be decla-
nations, essays, tableaux aud a grand
spelling match With a neighboring
school.
Thursday night the preparations
We're completed. A stage had been
built Of rough pine boards, a curtain
hung in front of it and the walls fes-
TONED with wreaths Of spruce and
running pine.
With Mrs. Haughton, Mary attend
cd the little village church Christmas
morning. The pastor, a venerable
old man who had passed the three
score and ten allotted TO man, chose
as his text Faith, Hope and Charity,
these three but the greatest Of these
is Charity" As be proceeded be be-
came deeply interested in the subject
his voice dropped its accustomed
tremor, and somewhat Of the elo-
quence Of his youth returned to him,
as be closed with the following words
sBut there is another and still higher
degree Of charity. A charity that
does not consist in giving from your
abundance, but a charity which caus-
es US to overlook the faults Of the
erring, which teaches Us to forgive
and forget injuries" The voice Of
the, pastor died away. The rear Of
the falls came nearer, while a voice
from its din Of waters said, the
greatest Of these is Charity"
Christmas afternoon, after the Gnal
rehearsal, the children, with the ex-
ception Of little Lily, had gone
home. Miss Mary sat at the desk
her cheek upon her hand.
She was thinking of her home, Of her
patient, loving mother, Of an invalid
and of the merry times size
was accustomed TO have during the
Christmas season with her brothers
and sisters; merry, rosy checked
children, who possessed great love
for their elder sister.
As she sat thus musing a shadow
fell across the door. Hastily looking
up, her eyes encountered those Of the
stranger who had just entered.
Large, luminous eyes they were,
with a depth Of sorrow and longing
in them. The stranger stopped ir-
resolutely when half across the floor.
Miss Mary was the first to break
the silence.
"You here! Why do you haunt
me! Why leave the side of her for
whom-for whom-.n Unable to
finish the sentence, She bid her face
in her hands.
For whom you were jilted," said
the stranger slowly. at is q hard
word, but vet it is true. | do not
come to ask You to give me back the
love / so %shamefully abused, but to
ask your forgiveness. l viii not ask
you TO have faith in me or nv prom
ises but oh, Mary let me hope that