Connecticut western news., 1877-08-24
VOL. VII.

ooCCOA H NAdAAcy dlu l were u0du
 "What has happened?" ?" said Mr. Slade; and was ashamed when I saw look of alarm on his face.
 ''It is very sad,' said, ''to burn the crust of nice pie all to a crisp.''
 ''Do you think so?'' said MT. Slade. "Now for me it is most excellent mis- chance. Of all things in the world revere the burned crust of pie. I have hesitated to declare this predilec- tion, because I know it is remarkable one, and not at all likely to be shared by the majority of people; but fortune has favored me to-day. Mrs. Sweet, let LIS have the pie by all means" .
 And he actually lifted the horrible black thing to the table and ate it-yes he did, he ate it-which was the most perfect and graceful piece of martyr dom I ever saw in a man. And then 1 got courage to tell him how I burned it; that Mrs. Chapel must have that dress, and the machine had begun to squeak in the most terrible way; that oiled it and fused with it, but all to no pur- pose, and how 1 was to finish that dress of Mrs. Chappel's, with that dreadful. noise distracting my poor brain, I didn't know. ...:s
 "We'n look at it,'' he said, in that, resting, comforting, soul-cheering way of his; and as I followed him into the sitting-room I knew in my heart that he would exercise that squeaking demon from the machine. And he did.
 "It's the ball." he said; Cit becomes smooth from friction, and if you'll bring me a little flour or meal, Mrs., Sweet-stay! here is piece of chalk, which is better than all;" and with that little whife lump that he took from his waistcoat pocket he made the ma chine perfect in five-in two minutes.
 Now how could help watching him from the door again, as he walked away to school; and let his coat tails fly as they may, or he be knock-kneed to eternity, how could I help sending after him my heartiest benediction and blessing.
 And can it be wondered at that when, only two or three months after, he told me he was going away, I was like one stunned and bewildered? We were sitting in the little front room, and was finishing off that diagonal overskirt for Mrs. Chapel. Charley had gone nutting to the woods, for it was already autumn, and an early frost had set the leaves aflame. A breeze from the west blew my hair into my eyes, and I put it back with trembling hand. The soft warm day of golden light suddenly seemed to cloud over, and become one of moody sadness.
 "Why, MT. Slade," said I, q never got beyond the first four rules of arith- metic ill all my school days"
 "Andupon these depend everything,' he replied. ''Put by your work, and let us see what we can do.'
 It was of no use to refuse. He was one of those masterful natures that always conquer. Half an hour after, was sitting by his side at the table, with Charley's slate under my blurred eyes, and Charley's pencil in my tremb- ling fingers. The rosy evening light streamed in upon us, the soft south wind bringing resinous odors from the woods where Charley yet fingered.
 s'I have an opportunity for an ad- yancement in my profession" he said, (which it would i'll behoove me to put by. In my native town is offered me a position of trust and confidence-no less, may say to you, dear madam, than professors chair.''
 1 hadn't the least idea what he meant. I knew that one chair differed very much from another, and whereas one was comfortable, easy, and enjoyable, another might be for the time being a seat of torture, but wherein profes- sOr's chair excelled I could not at that time imagine. I sat quite still, and the ruffle fell from my hand; my foot rested on the treadle of the machine, and sat and stared at MT. Slade like one demented. t -N-- ''And it has occurred to me-" he went on, ''that the position have held here, which is an exceedingly easy and pleasant one, might profitably and suitably be filled by one of the other sex; the duties are not at all arduous, and could be performed more readily, it appears to me, than those pertaining to the needle. have spoken to the com mittee ill your behalf, and with little attention on your part to the simple mechanical requirements necessary, and little help upon mine you will be ready to fill the position at once!''
 "Who? I, MT. Slade? Why, you must be crazy!'' Then feeling that this was not very respectful way to speak, added that his kindness for me led him to overrate my capabilities.
 ''Now, my dear Mrs. Sweet,' said MT. Slade-and the very gentleness of his tone, the tender rendering of my name, made me shiver, for I couldn't get the thought from my head that when he was gone there was no one left to deal tenderly with me or mine-"now pray try to give your thoughts to the subject in hand. It is the simplest thing in the world; and those rudiments once con- quered, the rest will follow. Now, a man sold his farm for 8,730 dollars, and fourteen-fifteenths of this is seven- ninths of the cost of his house, and the house cost three times as much as the store; now what was the cost of the house and store?''
 His voice was so persuasive, so dis tinct, it must have been pleasant voice to listen to at the school even if the poor little blockheads could make neither head nor tail of his meaning.
 looked at MT. Slade, then out of the window, where the mellow light of the sunset shone, and I thought how, such little while ago, it was spring land