The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-08
and lots Of little kniokknacks In worsted work

be less clumsy at trimming a bonnet than
would, and as for worsted work"
Il suppose So" said, for l could see she
| was determined to teach.
| The next morning she went to school, and
for month or 80 everything went right. and
didn't hear word Of complaint from her.
She made fun enough Of the schcolmaster,
and said he did not know how to manage the
boys, and made himself more trouble than
was necessary; that coaxing word Of hers
| went further than a dozen slashes with that
rod OF his. but every one had their own way,
and IL was none Of her business She was
getting along splendidly, and the smaller
children were quite delighted with the way
, she had Of pcturing out things on the black
board Mime was quite ready with her pen
| Gil, and had made us laugh-Sam Riley and
j me many time by scawling Off funny con
/ ceits on paper. Sam Riley began to drop in
at night and noticed he was quite taken
with Mime. Sam was well-to-do and outside
of this line of stages owned a fine house down
on the main road. Sam didn't mind being hit
| off himself once in whie-him and his
horses and passengers and all; he used to sit
back in his chair and laughed till the tears
| rolled down his cheeks and look over at me
! winking and blinking, and whispering under
| his breath what wonderful woman she was,
"Shes as fresh and handsome as a rose" he
would say, when Mime was out OF the room ;
| and what health and spirits she's gotW
| / could see how things were going. Dear !!
dear used to sit and picture it all to my
| self. and think how nice 1t would be to have
Mime settled nearj me for life SO when she
| came home one afternoon from School, with
a bright spot burning In either cheek, and an
| angry flame In her eyes, and said To me that
war had begun between her and Mr.. Steele,
didn't so much mind, for thought the sooner
she got discouraged the better. She was well
| on tp thirty. and though Mines skin made
her look younger than she was, there wasn't
| 50 much difference as you'd think between
| their ages.
He's forbidden my illustrations on the
blackboard aunty," said Mime; and though
| didn't know one bit of board from another
could see by the way she felt about it that it
was great spite to Mime. ''He calls them
perncious and exciting to the imagination,
and injurious to more practical require
ments," said Jemima. And / couldn't quite
get the hang Of his objections for every word
Of the schoolmasters was as long as the
moral law, but | could tell 1t was some i'm
position of his. Hes a narrow minded idiot,
and | shall tell him so II he persists In this
notion" said Mime.
"If he persists" | said, "you'd better give
it up. He's SO set in his way there's no use
crossing him."
81 won't let him cross me-" said Mime; and
she didn't.
She went on with her pictures on the black
board for a full week or more, till one night
there was a rap at the sitting-room door, and
itgave me quite a turn to see the long bony
figure Of the schoolmaster standing on the
threshold.
Mime started up, q hot color Ieaping into
her face, and stood there confronting him like
a young Jezebel. The man looked pale
enough himself, sinking into the chair / set
for him as Ii he was quite worn and spent
like, and he seemed beat out In some way, for
though he fixed his eyes savagely on Mime,
there was something In them that looked
tired and hunted like.
Il have come here to demonstrate with your
niece, madam he said to me, Though I've
found 1t of very little use and profit hereto
fore; but. however capable and efficient she
may be, and however iudicious 1t may seem to
retain her services, her spirit of iDsubOrdina-
turally rebellious and headstrong temp erment
OF youth. She must confine herself strictly
to the rules that govern the method OF in
struction. The trustees
don't put 1t on the trustees, I" broke In
Mime; and was glad she took upon herself
to answer him, Tor ! couldn't make out head
or tail of what he was saying, what with his
long words and the fIutter | was In. 1.-THE
trustees are mere lay figures for you to dress
your petty schemes OF conceit and tyranny
upon"
He waved his hand impatiently, and went
on.
1T is the will of the trustees that you shall
put aside the puerilc and reprehensible course
you have taken in exciting the imagination
and creating frivolous and mischevOus emo
tions. The pursuits of my own class have
been interrupted, their attention distracted ~"
said M%e G why do y ss look %kn at P me
or listen to me, or bother with me at all? 1t
is not your class that is disturbed, Mr.. Steele,
it Is you"
The schoolmaster's face suddenly Redeemed,
then grew paler than before; he wiped the
perspiraton from his long, high forehead,
and his hony fingers actually trembled on his
knees. | don't wonder he was mad, for Mime
went on in the most courageous way. Her
spunk was up, and she wasn't a bit afraid of
him.
You can't bear to see knowledge made easy
and pleasant" she went on. you'd like to |
knock every new idea into the brain with the |
sledge-hammer; you hate to look over at the
children and me, and see ua making light Of |
our task-it's gall and wormwood to you. Mr. |
Steele"
Hush, Mime!" said; for | can see that
he was getting more and more excited, and |
didn't know but what he'd fling the lamp at |
her head or something. But he mustered
himself, and up he got and went away with
out another word, and pretty soon Sam Riley
came In.
/ thought we'd have nice evening for
Mime was in high feather, and sitting down
to the table, she caught up pencil and made
the schoolmaster take every ridiculous shape
she could. Her eyes shone and her cheek
glowed and didn't wonder Sam couldn't
take his eyes off her face.
"Say the word, Mime" said Sam, "and Ill
punch the idiots head"
who are you calling an IDIOT" said Mime,
turning straight upon Sam. IF you had the
part of hislintelligence, you might
be glad
81 thought you called him 50 yourself"
said Sam, meekly, for he was head-over-ears
In love with the young termagant
If did, said Mime, IT was absurd, and
III never do 1t again. No, Sam. Ill beat him
with his own weapons. I'll go to the trustees
myself. If he can wheedle and coax them, so
can and II he can bully them, perhaps |
can do that, too"
you can do anything" said poor. Sam
Md ftar hat i,,a lob, |
and sleepy, and sent Sam off, as cool as you
please Then she got upon her feet and walk
ed about the floor, and / could see she was
terribly put out and excited by the school
masters visit.
You'll wear yourself out for nothing" !
said for 1t vexed me to see her all in a fret
that way from pure spite Hell break
your health and spirits, like he did the
other poor little body that was here before
you"
Il don't believe all those stories about
that woman, aunty. I've found out she had
heavier troubles than those put upon her by