The Morning herald., 1877-08-17

His voice was so persuasive, so dis
tinct, it must have been a pleasant voice
to listen to at the school even if the
poor little blockheads could make
neither head nor tail of his meaning.
Hooked l at Mr.. Slade, then out of the
window, whereAhe mellow light of the
sunset shone, and | thought how, such
a little while ago, it was spring land
scape, bathed in tenderest green, and
now it was autumn, the grass was sere
and brown, leaves falling, the branches
like skeletons against the sky. a
"Madam-my dear Mrs. Sweet" said
the voice of the schoolmaster, 81 beg
your attention to these few first rules.
1t is distasteful to me to leave you a
prey to the coarse habits of these vii
lage women, who flaunt their finery in
IN obstructive and unbecoming maner,
and grldge you the poor reward for
your labor
"Sle said the seams were crooked,
and perhaps they were," l said, for l
anew he meant Mrs. Chapel. "I'm
Aot very good at sewing, or-or at any
hing Then two big tears rolled out
If my eyes upon Charley's slate, and
blurred the schoolmaster' pretty
figures, which 50 distressed him that he
rot up and took turn about the room.
Chen he came back to his place at the
able again.
"Dcar Mrs. Sweet" he said, implor-
nglv. I'll you would only maze up your
lind to master these first rules! A mali
Old his farm for $3.50 DOL"
".lnd I'm sure he got good price
or it." broke in; "and whatever he
rot 10: his house, it must have been all
was worth. As for his store don't
:ant to know anything about it; can't
en that it's any of my business, Mr..
.5lsde, and | can't bother with it just
now. If it was house alone, or a store
.llone, or q farm-but to cut them all
up and put them together again like a
patchwork quilt is impossible for me to
think of, Mr.. Slade. / can't do it, |
never could, and it's ridiculous to ask
me to do such thing, Mr.. Slade. All
l can do after you go away is to 60 on
working for Mrs. Chapel till drop
dead; and only for Charley I wouldn't
care how soon."
Then put my head down on the
table crying ready to break my heart.
[ couldn't help it. I was the most
wretched creature in the word, and my
heart was full. l couldn't help crying
and Pm glad now that couldn't.
For suddenly | felt his strong arm
tremble on the back of my chair.
at is so sad and terrible" ! said, "to
have the seams always crooked, and
Mrs. Chappel-"
"Colifusion to Mrs. Chapel and to
her crooked seams! Tell me madam
Mrs. Swcct-tell me, dear little heart.
would it not even be better to give over
your future to grim old pedagogue
like me? 1t shall ut least be free from
crooked seams and puzzling problems. "
hravcd little sigh of relief as felt
his arm closing shcltcringly and ten.
Icrly around me.
"lf Heaven will vouchsafe to me, "
ne sal getting back to his dear old
Noily way, your sweet companion
ship for all the days to come, | can even
iud it it in my heart to be grateful to
,lrS., Nhrp:,i, and wish her well.'
don't nnow what said, but every
Joly knows hat [ never could see any
;au!t in Mr. S!ale, and .don't'to this
lay. lie fills his professors chair, and
have eyer so many comfortable ones
a1 hone. Charley is Il splendid mathe-
natitian, aild there is little fellow
Just crcrr:ug into fractions, and ne
amr to me the other day, his dear
little bruins muddlcd with puzzling over
mat same sum.
"Anl please, mammal he begged, E,
"a man sold his farm for S73O dollars,
and fourteen nfteenthS Of this is"
Go to your papa, darling," | said ;
che found out the cost Of it all long,
long AGO; but a3 for me, dear, Pm glad
to s,v, never could make it out
never