The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-02-16

hymn-book for children says, forbade
such degradation. Whether it is deg
radiation remains still an open ques-
ton. Of the two, should much pre-
fer it to semi-starvation and teaching;
and l should prefer it for my daughter;
but Jehiel and Sary Jakeway did not.
Their dear girl had been from one
public school to another, till she had
entered normal school. where she
was fast wearing out the last remains
of her strength and health. One day
her admiring parents were invited to at
tend some sort of exhibition at that in
| stitution.
| 1t was necessary to 90 on the early
train to reach Rockfield in time, so
mis- Smart" as usual, prepared for
an early breakfast.
This morning she had it ready at
half-past four; for the Rockfeld train
ran from a station three miles from
Dover, where they lived, and Jehiel
had not only to drive over there, but to
but up his horse at the nearest house,
a mile away-for it was only flag
station, and no houses near-and walk
back.
1t was six o'clock of cold April day,
by Jehiels big silver watch, when they
Lighted down. at the platfOrm-for
to-day it was merely platform-a
sudden gust of wind the day before hay
ing tilted the rickety shed backward
into near field.
The morning was foggy and dull.
But "Mis' Smart forgot to take the
umbrella out of the wagon, and before
Jehiel got back with it the fog had con-
densed to fine rain, and, by the time the
cars came, his wife was soaking wet.
She came back from the exhibition in
a chill-for wet clothes are not condu-
Give to warmth or health, and long
attack of lung fever was the result of
her exposure. She laid it to her for
getting the umbrella; but Jehiel said it
was owing to their being too early by
almost an hour.
In July Florence Amanda came
home-a pale, delicate, bright-eyed
young person subject to headaches, with
a weak spine, and very small waist.
There was pad in the left shoulder of
the back of all her dresses; and she
didn't really care to eat anything but
cake and pie-so cake and pie were
provided.
But what of all this, so long as she
had graduated with high honor, had
tiattering certificates, and could play on
the piano "most amazingly" as her
father said?
Indeed, it was amazing that she
could play at all, when you considered
that she knew everything else in crea-
ton. 1t was a great pity she enjoyed
such poor health, her mother reluc-
family owned; but she felt a secret pride
even in the ill-health that resulted from
over study.
1t was relief, too, to think she would
not have to keep school; for she was al
ready engaged to be married to fell
low-student at Rockfield.
OF course the marriage could not take
place directly. Mr.. Simonds was going
to Germany, to study methods of educa-
ton for two years-he had means of
his own to do so-and then there was a
place to get as principal or professor
somewhere after he got back
1t was rather long prospect for
Florence Amanda, but her home was
ready and glad to receive her. She
passed the later fall months in that
quiet retreat, being petted and waited
on, forgetting her mental labors and
enduring her physical ills as best she
could.
When the end of October came, she
went to make visit in Rockfield, and
was there taken i'll with low fever and
her mother had to be sent for.
With many misgivings Mrs. Jakeway
started for the distant station as early
as usual, and spent miserable hour on
the platform waiting for the train.
She would not let Mr.. Jakeway leave
her till the cars came, the place was so
lonely, and when she was gone he
logged along homeward at his own
pace-to find, on arriving in Dover, a
telegram to the effect that his daughter
was on her way home and wanted to be
met at the Rockfield train.
If his wife had been willing to wait
even fifteen minutes later she would
have been spared her journey, and Flor
ence Amanda would not have spent half
an hour alone at that solitary shed,
propped against her trunk and carpet
bag, while Jehiel was whipping up old
Grey to the highest speed he could eX-
tract from that ancient animal, who did
not approve of retracing the road he
had just travelled.
When "Mis' Smart arrived at Dover
the next morning it was with certain
grim pleasure that Uncle Jakeway har-
rowed up her soul all the way home
"You was sight too smart for once
in your life, now, warn't We, SaryP |
thought Florence Amandy would "a
most died gettin' home, she was so
tuckered out. Doctor says he expects
she'll have RELAPSE. had ter get
Miss Ellery right over, and Widder
Wells sot up with her last night. Seems
as though you could ha' waited leetle
longer, don't it?'
Poor Mrs. Jakeway was too much
troubled in her own conscience to make
a fight against these true charges; but
when Florence after all recovered
though the tedious winter had to 90
first, and the April days encourage her
with their fallible promises of spring
her mother slipped back into the old
ways. 1t needed one more and severer
lesson to teach her that to be too soon
is almost as bad as to be too late.
J 1t was two years after this that Mr..
l. IN