Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-05-16

Another school Meeting, with a Good
Ending.
The friends of education in the village district
of meetings have closed, and that the directors
may now go to work making their plans for the
year, without any serious detriment to the inter
ests of the schools. While the mechanics and
lsboring men who have children in our public
schools, were busy at their tasks, unable
to be present. the men of wealth and
leisure came in large numbers, their announced
object being to ''cut down the expenditures"
In the preliminary proceedings it appeared at
one time as though the widest measures for cut
ting down the appropriations would receive favor
and ready passage. But this tide was speedily
turned when a proposition waspresented to raise
but $4,000 sum which would involve the cut
ting down Ct every teachers salary, even the
teachers in the intermediate and primary schools,
the discharge Of one of the assistants 10 the high
school, which would altogether destroy its char
acter and the emitting off of musical instruction.
This proposition was voted down. u to &c. which
was triumph for those who believe in main
tanning the integrity OF our schools. The sum of
5000 was then voted which although not as large
the original that the directors asked for vet
in their hands, with udcious disbursement will
be made to do duty without seriou-ly impairng
the usefulness and efficiency of the schools. So
the gentlemen who made the foolish and I'M
reasonable upon the cause Of popular educa-
ton, have had opportunity to show their mean
less without accomplishing the purpose for which
they started. They have rolled in the dirt for
nothing. and are welcome to the reflections they
may have upon their achievement.
The Hen and Kittens, which IL not a
Fable.
An event took place in this city few days ago
that makes another important item of quite remark
able things that have trsnspired in the world of
the lower animals. There is something ludicrous
about this, too, as well as strange. certain hen
and there are good many of this kind at this
time Of the year,-teok q notion into her head
that, providing she could find the necessary eggs
she would find time to nestle upon them, thereby
at some future day, causing increase in the
feshered world To be brief the hen wanted to
set. Now the woman who owned this hen had
another path laid out for her than that Of setting
neither had she the eggs to EMPLOY in this drec-
ton, and therefore discouraged the hen In her
movements. But she. Che hen) was not to be
shut of IN this way. She had set her mind on
setting, and she was going 10 seton
something. In the barn with the hen there was
cat. At this time the cat was the happy mother
of four little kittens. but a few davs old. One day
the old cat left the kittens snugly hudded in their
box, while she went ont to take the air. Now
the hen had. for a day more, entertained
thoughts concerning these kittens Upon this day
she watched the old cat go ont and then in much
gee FASTENED to the box She took the kittens
from their place, and bore them to a nice little
corner upon the hay. Was she one to be told
that her motherlv nature must be abused No;
as the sequel will testify. For she gathered these
little kittens under her wing, and there thew were,
II from sight when the old cat returned. In vain
the distressed mother searched for them, and cried
for them; she could not hear the feeble waling
of the kittens and the old hen knew no pity; she
had gained her end. And there is no knowing
how long the hen would have sheltered the kit
tens, bad not the woman who owned her. later in
the day. discovered what had taken place and
restored them to their rightful mother And
this, rs is said above, is no fable.