The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-09-26
How Love Built q New School House.

In a village neal Chicago, the school
directors of the primary department
were sorely annoyed in securing a per-
manent and desirable teacher. -Four or
five ladies had successfully been en-
| ployed, but after teaching two or three
months on q six months engagement
they had surrendered to the attacks of
Cupid. Plenty of gentlemen offered to
take the vacant position, but it was de-
cided that ladies only were adapted to it,
and that unless one could be obtained
the old schoolhouse should be unoc-
cupied. The logs of this "tcmple OF
learning" were rottiug down, the
benches and seats were d%ilapidated, the
we'll had caved III and the roof leaked.
Yet, strange to say, none advocated its
repair by a dollars expenditure.
The old schoolhouse was %tenantless
when Miss Ranney appeared. She was
a Vermonter, and a teacher by profess
sion. How she could have travelled
along singiy for twenty-six years was a
mystery, for she owned two bright, af-
f~ectionate eyes, an exceedingly winning
countenance and a graceful figure. The
directors held a meeting to decide if the
lady should have the school, and, under
the influence of their cratic and obstin-
ate chairman, unanimously decided that
unless Miss r. would obtain surety, i'll a
bond of one thousand dollars. to keep
the school for six months, she should not
have the desired position. Her uncle
resided a few miles off, and it was in
ferred he would become her bondsman.
Now, the lady vas exceedingly DESTROYS
to secure the Office, and, having not the
remotest idea of matrimony at the time,
besought her uncle to be her surety. He
acceeded to her wishes, the bond was duly
duly filed and the new mistress installed.
For about two months everything went
on charmingly. The directors and pa
irons of the school fancied they had a tlast
secured q permanent and most desirable
teacher. But, alas for the insufficiency
of human foresight, who should arrive
in the village one evening but Ned Brad
ford, sou Of the old squire. Ned had
left Illinois three years previous to en-
nance his estate in California, and had
there been successful in increasing his
worldly goods. He was probably thirty
four or five years of age, and was a fine
specimen of a stalwart son of the great
West. Now, Miss Ranney boarded at
the old squire's, and, as a matter of
course, the young man s0on fell in love
with her, and Miss r. recognized the
affinity. Ned was Impatient for III early
marriage, and was startled and surprised
when Miss R. informed him that months
must elapse ere they could be united
that she and her uncle were under bonds
for one thousand dollars that she should
teach to the end Of six months. Young
Bradford had lived in California long
enough to be capable of forming sudden
resolves. So he asked the lady if she
would marry him at ono if he would
orange with the directors about that
bond. An affirmative answer was re-
ceiyed. Ned Immediately posted to the
directors and arranged for meeting them
all together the next day on important
business. When assembled with them
he asked if they would release Miss
Ranney's uncle from the penalty of the
IL thousand dollars bond if she mar
ried him.
"Release Miss Ranney's uncle? Is
the lady going to marry you? Confound
it 4! will we never be rid of the bother of
these marrying schoolmarms? No, sir,
We won't release the bond" was the re-
ply Of the most influential director.
"Well, then" said Ned, 81 will pay
the bond. for Miss Ranney must be
mine within a month. But I would like,
gentlemen, that the one thousand dollars
/ shall pay you be devoted to n specific
purpose-the building of a new school
house"
The directors we're vastly pleased with
the proposition, and soon agreed to nc
ccpt it. The money was paid and bond
destroyed. Within the next ten days
Ned and Miss r. were married and start
ed East on q visit to the lady's relatives.
In less than three months the village had
the handsomest little schoolhouse for
many miles around.