Connecticut western news., 1880-11-10
GIVING MUSIC LESSONS.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.
The summer vacation

| The summer vacation
 What 8 world of changes it brings to the innocent young school girl-what @ revolution of thought, fact and fancy In all our future, will ever the weeks come to us, garlanded with roses and radiant with the fancies of the heart, as they came to us in the days of our summer vacations
 That was what Elsie Dale was think | ing, as she sat beside the river, dipping her water-lily buds in the cool tide, and watching the birds nests in the rushes. She was homeless and motherless, and all the other girls were full of happy anticipations, as they clustered on the one green spot of shadow under the giant elm tree. And yet, beneath it all, there was throb of exultation in her heart.
 " I am to have season at Saratoga, 7" said Cynthia Vail, the beauty of the school. "Mamma says I am young, but then very young girls are all the fashion now"
 "I am to go to the Adirondacks with papa, to take sketches, and strengthen my lungs, said May Allison, proudly.
 "I.am to have music lessons from Signor Rallentando P triumphantly proclaimed little Bell Burton. "Tell us, Elsie dear, what are you going to do?"
 "Exactly the opposite from you, Bell," said Elsie, laughing, while the dimples came into her chin and the carmine color into her cheek. "I shall spend my vacation in giving music lessons, so that I can test my own capacity and earn little money for the future"
 Bell Burton looked on with wide open eyes of surprise.
 "Oh, Elsie p cried she, edo you believe you can ?"
 "I shall try" said Elsie, bravely.
 "I can't possibly fancy 8 music teacher without false hair and spectacles, ",said Bell"
 "Madame Duchesne is very kind,'' said Miss Dale. "She has got me this situation, because she knew that l wantedremunerative employment during the vacation. Some lady wrote to her, from the Shawangunta Mountains-one of those castellated mansions on the heights, you know, that one dreams about-that she wanted her to come out and give 0 quarters lessons in her family. And Madame Duchesne could not leave town, so she wrote to pro, pose me for a substitute.
 "Are you to have many pupils 9 inquired Bell, with interest
 "Only one."
 "A girl or boy ?''
 'I don't know" said Elsie. 'sI think would rather have girl, if I am te choose. But Madam Duchesne says that boys are the more often intelligent and appreciative learners" i The next day came, with the flower hung halls, its band of music, and blue ribboned diplomas, and sweet hustle O. departmental when the gray shadow: of evening fell, Elsie Dale was on hel way to Mount Sorel, in the Shawan gunta Mountains.
 She had never been out of the cit, before, except during the year she hat been at boarding school, at the expens' [ of the eccentric old aunt, who had latel, bethought herself to die, leaving all he property to sectarian "Home for Olc , Ladies'" and the sublime crests of tn everlasting hills were as new as the, were delightful to her. Glens, cascades wild gorges and desolate ravines, clothe, with the black green growth of pines an, cedars, succeeded one another in bewiI dering array-and the mountain stag was actually at the door of Mount Sore , before Elsie realized that she was nor l than halfway on her journey. f It was & fine old mansion, with cen tral tower of gray stone, and two long low wings, situated upon level platea on the hillside, with wall of almos , perpendicular mountain at the rear, an : superb view extending to the south. , An old colored servant-man, with woo WhALC tbo olAoWS t1ASA h ouAU OA SCAUCS
 black, came to the door.
 "Is Mrs. Sorel at home ?" Miss Dal demanded, with what dignity she migt . ommaud. r 'Yes, miss, de missis she's home, 0 briskly answered the sable servitor. : "Tell her it is the music teacher,
 said Elsie.
 And the old man showed her into
 pretty little apartment, hung with a1 s tique chintz and sprinkled with tree f and butterflies in colors that would ha1 d driven naturalist wild. I A fire of some scented wood blazed c low marble hearth, and was far fro
 disagreeable among the chill mounta;
 heights, August even though it was. }. Presently a stout lady. in black si