The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-01-13

'sIf he persists,' said, ''you'd better give
up. He's 80 set In his way, there's no use cross
ing him"
didn't She went on with her pictures on thu
blsc board for full week or more, till one nigh
there was rap at the stting-r room door, and il
gave me quite a turn to see the long bony figure
OF the schoolmsster standing on the threshold
Mime started up, q hot color leaping into bel
face, aud stood there confronting him like
| young Jezebe.
The man looked pale, as If he Was quite tired
and worn like, and be seemed beat out in some
way; fol. though he fixed bis eyes savagely OF
Mime, there was something in 'em that looked
tired and hunted.
81 have come here to remonstrate with Won,
niece, madam, he said TO me, Though I've found
il of very little use and profit heretofore. but
| however capable and efficient che may be- and
however jucioeus it may seem 10 retain her ser.
vices, her spirit of characterization lie too danger.
GUS an example to the naturally reb ellious and
hesdstrong temperament Of youth. She must
eonfine herself strictly to the rules that govern
Don't put it on the trustees" broke in Mime:
and was glad she took IL upon herself to an
| swer him, for couldn't make out head or tail of
| what he was saying. what with his long words,
aud the fluster / was in. Trustees are mere
| lay figures for you to dress your petty schemes
OF conceit and tyranny upon"
He waved his hand impstiently and went on ::
Ut is the will OF the trustees that you shall put
hetu1 ZIG pu6T1l6 anu TbpTeDFUe1DI8 course YOU
have taken IN exciting the imagination and Gre
ating frivolous and miaohievous emotions. The
pursuits OF my own class have been interrupted,
their attention distracted"
"Why don't your class mind their own bust.
ness ?" said Mime. "Why do you look at me. or
listen to me, or bother with me at all It s not
your class that is disturbed, MIR. Steele, it ia
you" The schoolmasters face suddenly red
dened. then grew paler than before he wiped
the Precipitation from his long, high forehead,
and his bony fingers actually trembled on his
knees. l don't wonder he was mad, for Mime
went on in the most outrageous way. Her
spunk was up, and hhe wasn't bit afraid of
him.
E"You can't bear to see knowledge made easy
and pleasant" she said. you'd knock every
new idea into the brain with sledge hammer:
you hate TO look over at the children and me and
see us making light Of our task; it's gall and
wormwood to you, mr. Steele"
Hush, Mime," l said for l could see that he
was getting more aud more excited, and did
not know but what he'd fling the lamp at her
head, or something. But he mastered himself
word
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
schoomaster take every ridiculous shape that
she could. Her eyes shone and her cheeks
glowed, and l didn't wonder Sam couldn't take
his eyes off her face.
''Say the word, Mme," said Sam, "and I'll
punch Inc lQ1OtS n6Au,
"Who are you calling an idio2" said Mime,
turning straight upon SAM "If you had the |
part Of his intelligence, you might be
glad"
II thought you called him so yourself" said
Sam, meekly, for he was head-over- ears in love
with the young termagant.
"lf did, /" said Mime, sit was absurd and Ill |
never do 1t again. No, Sam, I'll beat him with
bis own weapons. I'll go to the trustees myself.
II he can wheede and coax them. 40 can T: and
I'm ma I 1r HAT <s
''You can do anything" said poor Sam.
And soon after that Mime said she was tired
and sleepy, and sent Sam off, as cool as you
please. Then she got upon her feet and walked
sbout the floor, and could see she was terribly
'ut out and excited by the schoomasters visit.
You'll wear yourself out for nothing" said
or 1t vexed me to see her all in fret that way
rom pure spite. =" He'll break your health and
vas here before you"
II don't believe all these stories about that
Woman, aunty. I've found out she had heavier
roubles than those put upon her by the school
master . Ion mustn't believe all that you hear"
That was the way with Mime-she was that
ontrary when she was vexed that she'd swear
lack was white, and take the part Of the evil
ne himself.
She began from that time out to light hard for
er own way. aud it got to be pretty well known
he was winn ng over the trustees. The chill
rem had never liked anybody rs they did Mime. I
nd little Bin Pritehafd, #he used te play truant |
alf the time, and would rather take beating /
ny day than be pent up in school, went there {
8 regular as clock. work now, and began to marx
Nv horses and dogs with stump Of pencil !
imseir, and Mr.. Pritchard, he was one Of the /
,ustees. ana thought the world and all Of my
iece Jemma. q
But somehow or other, just as l said, the con- b
nual worriment of it fretted Mime, and she got Q
lin and lost her pretty color; and the night she
ame home and said she had got the best OF the &
,hoomaster, aud the notice had been served on b
i'm that day that he was to let her have her own b
ay OF teaching, that night made up my mind il
was about time it was settled in me way, for f
lime was morei fidgetys anu contrary than b
YER; and don't believe everything would have /,
lrned out as 1t did ii Mime had been in her o
ober senses. The girl was about half wild, and q
don't believe che knew what she was about
" it stands to reason she must have hated the h
and when began to glory over his q
efeat, and say how glad Sam Riley would be, p
he shut me up In minute. +
"sam Riley, and Mr.. Steele" she said. fare g
NO very different men," &
should hope So / said.
"Sam ia made of different stuff" she went a
q 10 say. The little pricks and torments that Il
ing the soul of MIR. Steele to madness would be 9
tterly unfet by Sam. Sam is good fellow" Ii
Thank you for SAM" / said, for she was "
1ough to provoke saint. r.
But he has not the capacity for suffering that fl
II. Steele has; and oh, aunty, he does suffer @
Serve him right, the monster said; and v
Id scarce got the words out OF my mouth when II
lere a rap at the door. / went over think. Z,
e it was Sam Riley, when there was the thin, o
aunt face of the schoolmaster again. O.
He came in and bowed as grave as an owl, and a.
It down on chair by the door; his cane rolled b
own beside him on the floor and for full min 81
70 or so he couldn't find word out Of that long Il
ctionary in his head. I,
was glad to see that Mines spunk came back o.
the sight OF him. Her eyes were as bright as Il
ey could be, and her cheeks like the heart Of b
hollyhock. 81
" My errand here, Miss Jemma," he began, q,
altogether friendly one. You have SO much o.
irit and determination that think your pres. "
It subordinate position is unfit for you. I know v
one that will be shortly vacant, which you can
with great credit to yourself and all con- e.
rned." h
I'm much obliged to you" said Mime, her il
70 beginning to curl, and the color In her al
eeks deepening to q flame, sbut I'm quite sat- q
led where am. can we'll understand that q
nd be glad to get rid Of me, but must beg to
cline. I'm not going away from here" al
. But am going away from here" said the r.
hoolmaster, getting upon his feet +" 1t is nay q