The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-09-30
\ Queer COurtship.

to brother Joshua away down East hun
dreds Of miles from here, and happened to
tell him, among other things, that the
widow lady that helped teach school here
and boarded with me was going away. l
didn't say word one way or the other
about Mr.. Steele, for what did it matter to
me whether he was a tyrant or not2 l
only wanted to tell him I'd been at good
deal of expense in fitting up the room, and
[ didn't mind her board money so much
as did to have the chamber idle again,
and nobody about the house but myself,
though she was poor company at the best,
being sickly in constitution and low in
spirits the most of the time, and after a
while nearly driven crazy by the continual
badgering and pickering of Mr.. Steele.
She used to come home at night that worn
out, what with the wickedness of the chill
dren and the eternal nagging of the school
master, that I've seen her put her head
down on the table and cry fit to break her
heart. She said she couldn't please him,
do what she might, and it was running her
nerves to see him beat the boys in the way
he did-she was sure he'd break some of
their bones. I tried to cheer her as best
could, telling her that the boys bones were
tough, and the little rascals deserved to be
paid up for some of their deviltry. After
an hour or two she'd come round again and
be comfortable, but la me what was the
use ? The next day, perhaps, she'd be
worse than ever, and the creatures health
began to fail SO was glad when she gave
up and went away. She was very down.
hearted, Sam Riley, the stage-driver, said,
all the way down to the train, and gave it
as his opinion that Mr.. Steele was no bet
ter than black-hearted tyrant.
Sam is such good-natured fellow that
it quite wore upon his mind, and he stop
ped bit with me on his way to the even
ing train to talk it over. wanted him to
get some little things for me at Pikeville,
and while | was making out the memoran-
DUN Sam told me how he pitied what
ever poor body was to take that poor crea-
ture's place.
You can Just fancy how felt when Sam
drove up to the door that night andI went
out to get the package, to see brother
Joshua's daughter Jemima on the seat with
Sam, chatting and laughing away as merry
as cricket. l was powerful glad to see
the child, but drealfully mortified to find
her tucked up there with the driver. I
told Sam pretty sharply that he ought to
know better, for there was plenty of room
inside, and l didn't know what the boarders
over the way would think of it.
'She was bound to ride outside" said
Sam, "and a willful woman must have her
way"
"Why, it's all the fashion up our way,
said Mime. 'The summer boarders swarm
all over the tops of the coaches like SO
many lovely bees; but if it hurts anybodys
feelings I'm sorry. A good school l-marm
must mind her p's and q's."
"a school-marm," I said wondering
what the child meant.
Then she told me she'd come out to take
that poor little woman's place; that she
had written to Mr.. Steele as soon as my
letter was read at home, for she could no
get along with the school there.
'It would take saint to put up with
: their airs and their interference, and yor
know like to have my way" said my
niece Jemima
| eyes, said, for had known Mime
), temper from child. Any body could SCI
from her hair how fiery she was; but th
dear child was just as the good Lord hae
: seen fit to make her, and for one neve
hold red-haired people accountable fo
freaks of temper; only you see how ridicu
! lous it seemed to me for her to teach unde
: Mr.. Steele "Out of the frying-pan int
the fire, Mime" I said. ''The school
master has it all his own way here and he
. little better than brute. I've seen unde
my own eyesa woman's heart almost broker
with him."
Then I went on to tell how he'd tor
mented that poor widow woman into Civ
ing up the place, and how I'd seen he
} worry and fret till the skin fairly droppe
off her bones.
'Pooh! pooh!" said my niece, 9Th
I skin won't drop off my bones, aunty.
And I couldn't help thinking what pity
would be if it did, for whiter, finer an
e wholsomer skin I never did see. 1t wa
the kind that 30 often comes with red hail
and lovelier color never was in blossol
e than bloomed in Mines cheek when sh
cried out, 'Tve got to fight it out somehow
) aunty; let him mind his own business an
D I'll mind mine J"
My heart fairly warmed to the girl as sh
f sat opposite me at the table, cr1nching slic
S after slice Of toast between her whit
: teeth, and devouring the dainties one b
7 one. The little widow was SO dainty and