The Van Buren press., 1878-09-03

drawing an arm chair near the fire and
placing footstool for Miss Jennings,
resumed his place at the table and ad
justed his eyeglasses. He started slight
Iy as he began to read the list, and
his expression, as he proceeded, varied
from astonishment to amusement /; he
looked over his glasses inqniringly 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 week, six children to dance, a
wood fire in the school room, u battle
door and shuttlecoek, new piano."
The battledoor and shuttlecock," F"
said Amy, .'afe the French verbs. |
throw verb, you know, at Miss Mar
tha, and she catches it and throws II
back to me. And this way we go through
the lenses, and they become impressed
npon the memory without the tedinm oi
leaning over the book
"Well,' said Mr.. Rainor, pleasantly,
h l don't know that should object to
such French exercise. Matte has had
some trouble with her verbs. But how
about the children for the dance? is ii
necessary that we should have SIX chill
dren, Mis- Jennings p
"Yes," answered Amy, decidedly.
because each child will bring its own
defects and its own graces; the defects
will be warnings, and the graces will be
models, and the correction of many blum
der will make more complete order, as
failures build us success. 1t took forty
women, have heard. to suggest the mo-
delling of the Greek Slave
Mr. Rainor did not perceive the pre-
else application of this illustratlon but
Miss Jennings evidently did; so thai
point was settled, and they returned to
the list And the flowers she said
.are to be copied in water color, and te
exhilerate us at our taaks."
"And the piano p
1t has all false notes, false not'
makes trouble in house. l think tina
a false note, even one, puts everything
that it reaches out of tune, Mr.. Ralnor,
am sure that you sing,'
"Sngp Oh no. haven't sung fol
years. He paused, and a strange brigh
light came into his kind eyes. He added
hesitatingly, "I believe there is pill
of my oh music packed away in th
house"
az knew it," said Amy, "and it woul'
be very good for Miss Martha If yo,
, could sing with her can play accom-
panments, and we could have mus
, evenings"
"I' feel Inclined" said Mr.. Rainor
after studying the list more carefully
! and with more serious air than at first
, 'to accede to these requests. An
books?"
!, .as4ss RanLs 2o rnDaatad4 A nss,.s ratl,er dis
mayed. "Real.y l forgot; in fact, W
haven't gone so far yet as the books
Mr.. Rainor,' she said, rising to bid hin
good night, and faltering from her dig
dity with genuine tremor of diflidenc
that was not ungracefnl, that was, in
deed for some reason, irresistibl'
charming, " think--perpaps it will b.
the best-perhaps, il you allow me,
; will lean upon you little about th
books"
"Well, l declare, said the cook, fort
night after Amy's arrival, "if this ain
the surprisin'est governcss La sakes
don't she make good missus, though
Always a.smilin' and serene. And sh
. knows what she wants, and what's what
And Miss Martha chimes in--my! how
she does chime in AS no un could hav
bethought. If missus don't cume back
I'll stay right on, and no, questions ask
} ed, so I will
, "Yes, Miss Jennings is surprisn',
said the seamstress. "And to hear Mis-
Martha layin' down the law to her is a.
good rs a play. Now l ought to d.
his, Miss Jennins,' and Now it is tim
for me to do that, and You must b
strict with ne about this Miss Jennings
: And the new governess. though She
fresh as rosebud, and much more o
baby in looks than Miss Martha is
has her own way. through all. ! can Sc
. that But it's nice way and brigh
} way, so it is. It's as good as going to th
thcater to hear her talk And when sh
goes laughin' and singin' through tn
house, my machine spins, so it do"
. "What has come to me p thought Nj
r Rainor. Age must be tempering me.
feel so. light. hearted, so well o. late
: And Matte, my precious little Matte
l begin to think that she will make
glad, strong girl yet. l wonder il ther
is any thing in Miss Jennings's idea o
sun and fragrance, music and color an
: stirring life' Amy jennings! What
strange woman she is IA child almost
and yet woman quite. She is sur
, prise to me--every day surprise"
Surprise! That was the word whi,l
Amy seemed to to have written upon tn
whole house. But the greatest surpris'
J of all befell Mrs. Edgeley on her return
t home She came day before she ha'
written she would come, for some reaso
Of her own. Perhaps she expected t.
, be surprised; if so, her expectation wa
realized.
, The cab rolled up to the door at Mint
o clock of a clear moon-lt winter night
and Mrs. Edgcl,y, satchel and blanket
shawl, exactly as she left, had com
back. But at the very doorstep Of tn
cab she stood motionless, as If transtix
} ed Ivy shock.
The house was lighted from atti
to basement. The white blinds wer
drawn, but lamp light streamed throug
them into the street, and shadows movo'
t across them in swift chase. Scum
of music, played by piano, violi
i, .u1 b,rn ovconad "a distinctly a