The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-05-08

ADJUSTED MS eyeglasses. he started
slightly as he began to read the list, and
his expression, as he proceeded, varied
from astonishment to amusement; he
looked over his glasses inquiringly at
Amy, who regarded him steadily with a
grave dignity. Then he read aloud as
follows: 1.-TWO canary birds, six house
plants, order at florists for fresh flowers
twice q week, six children to dance, q
wood fire in the school-room, battle
door and shuttlecock, new piano"
The battledoor and shuttlecock, -
said Amy, care the French verbs. ]
throw verb, you know, at Miss Mar
tina, and she catches it and throws il
back to me. In this way we go through
the lenses, and they become impressed
upon the memory without the tedium of
leaning over the book"
"Well," " said Mr.. Rainor, pleasantly,
81 don't know that I should object to
such a French exercise. Matte has
bad some trouble with her verbs. But
how about the children for the dance is
it necessary that we should have six chill
dren, Miss Jennings ?"
Yes" answered Amy, decidedly,
because each child will bring it's own
defects and it's own graces the defects
will be warnings, and the graces will be
models, and the correction of many blum
ders will make more complete order,
as failures build up success. 1t took
forty women, have heard, to suggest
the modelling of the Greek Slave.'"
Mr.. Rainor did not perceive the pre-
else application of this illustration but
Miss Jennings evidently did 80 that
point was settled, and they returned to
the list. "And the flowers" she said,
"are to be copied in water-color, and
to exhilarate us at our tasks. 4"
"And the piano?"
"It has all false notes false note
makes trouble in house. 1 think that
g false note, even one, puts everything
that it reaches out of tune, Mr.. Rainor,
lam sure that you sing"
"Singp Oh no. 1 haven't sung for
years. He paused, and strange bright
light came into his kind eyes. He added,
hesitatingly, "I believe there is pile
of my old music packed away in the
house."
"Iknew it" said Amy, "and it would
be very good for Miss Martha if You
could sing with her. I can play accom-
paniments, and we could have music
evenings"
81 feel inclined" said Mr.. Rainor,
after studying the list more carefully,
and with a mere serious air tkan at first,
"to accede to these requests. And
books ?"
"Books9" repeated Amy, rather dis
mayed. "Really 1 forgot; in fact, we
haven't gone so far yet as the books.
Mr.. Raynor," she said, rising to bid him
goodnight, and faltering from her dig
nifty with genuine tremor of difidence
that was not ungraceful, that was, in
deed, for some reason, irresistibly
charming, 81 think-perhaps it will be
the best-perhaps, if you allow me,
l will lean upon you a little about the
books"
"Well, declare, said the cook, fort
night after Amy's arrival, "if this amt
the surprisin'est governess! La sakes,
don't she make a good missus, though!
Always a-smilin' and serene. And she
knows what she wants, and what's what.
And Miss Martha chimes in-my! how
she does chime in!-as no un could have
bethought. If missus don't come back,
I'll stay right on, and no questions
asked, so will"
'Yes, Miss Jennings is surprisin'," !"
said the seamstress. "And to hear Miss
Martha layin' down the law to her is as
good as play. Now 1 ought to do
this, Miss jennings and Now it is time
for me to do that, and you must be
strict with me about this Miss jennings
And the new governess, though she's
fresh as a rosebud, and much more of
a baby in looks than Miss Martha is,
has her own way through all. I can see
that. But it's a nice way and bright
way, so it is. It's as good as going to the
theater to hear her talk. And when she
goes laughin' and singin' through the
house, my machine spins, so it do"
"What has come to me?" thought Mr..
Rainor. Age must be tenlperiag me, I
feel so light. hearted, so well, of late.
And Matte, my precious little Matte
L begin to think that she will make a
glad, strong girl yet. wonder if there
is any thing in Miss Jennings's idea of
sun and fragrance, music and color and
stirring life? Amy Jenningsl What
strange woman she isl-a child almost,
and yet a woman quite. She is a sur
prise to me-everyday a SURPRISE"
Surprise That was the word which
Amy seemed to have written upon the
whole house. But the greatest surprise
of all befell Mrs. Edgeley on her return
home. She came day before she had
written she would come, for some reason
of her own. Perhaps she expected to
be surprised; if so, her expectation was
realized.
The cab rolled up to the door at nine
o'clock of clear moon-lit winter night;
and Mrs. Edgeley, satchel and blanket
shawl, exactly as she left, had come
back. But at the very door step of the
cab she stood motionless, as if transfxed
by a shock.
The house was lighted from attic
tO haRamant The white hlinds vJara