St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-10-29

II
though it could not be proven.
During the entire morning, every
time the door opened all the school
turned to see who was to enter, and ex-
pecting as l did the appearance of Zeke
A. and his cronies. But we were DOOM
ed to disappointment. The long fore
noon passed at last, and when l took
my haggard looks to the dinner table
of Capt. Walbridge his queenly little
daughter, Hester, of eleven summers,
burst into tears. Her mother remark
ed, 'Mr. Plunkett, we all sympathize
with you very much, but the grief of
this child has been something painful
but now her tears have come to her re-
lief, hope she will feel better. Yes
terday evening when I asked her why
she was so sad, she told me that she
loved her school, and her teacher was
$50 patient and good to us all, and we
are so afraid Zeke Archibald will hurt
him." Upon my recommendation she
afternoon. Her nearly grown sister and
little brother had their hearts gladden.
ed by the serious tragedy of that after
noon.
Right here 1 beg you to pause and
say few words respecting my sympa-
thetic little friend, Hester Walbridge,
who was one of those peculiar, thought
full, "old womanly" children that one
rarely sees more than once or twice in
a life time, and for whom even the most
experienced men of the world have
deep and profound respect. And these
are the children of all others that are
early admitted to the private family
councils of their parents, and upon
whom the grandparents learn to lean
with such loving trust. 1t was so with
little Hester w. And she was so eminent
ly proper and methodical in all things,
so strong in mind and so sweet in man.
ners, l used to playfully call her "my
little Dame" Had she been few years
older, there is no telling what might
have come of that school room sympa-
thy. Notwithstanding more than thirty
winters have passed since that time, 1
confess to the tender, affectionate inter-
est took in that child-so amiable and
wise and self-reliant! 1t is such girls
that make when grown up, the best
of wives and mothers. When mere
children one cannot fail to recognize in
them the perfect type of that New Eng
land character which has made itself
lelt throughout the length and breadth
of our land. This circumspect, sweet
little maiden often reminded me of the
Hester of Charles Lamb, the great Brit
ish essayist, of whom he tenderly wrote
when maidens such as Hester die.
Their places ye may not well supply,
Though ye among thousand try
| With vain endeavor"
Seven years afterwards, visited
Scroggs River, when one morning l
took a buggy ride out to the old school
house at Griggsville. 1t was warm
June morning, and as 1 approached
noticed through the open window a
large bouquet of beautiful wild flowers
upon the teachers desk. This evidence
OF refinement and affection prepared
me to see in the teacher a charming
young lady, and whom found to be
: none other than the "lttle Dame" OF
other years-Miss Hester Walbridge
When made myself known, she greet
ed me with dignified grace, and as cor
daily as though had been long alb
sent uncle. Now that woman was
written on her brow, felt that was in
the presence of a superior being. And
so was. And SO Vermont state is fa-
, nous for raising such Incompatible "be.
ings."
When Miss Walbridge found l could
not spare the time to make any calls
upon the citizens, she expressed much
disappointment, and said: "Father will
feel badly not to see Mr.. Plunkett once
[ more, for even now he often speaks Of
you and your kind of moral suasion."
Having digressed so far to speak of q
really lovely character, will be par.
doned if say few words respecting
one of Satan's favorite imps, in the per.
son of the "Zeke" Archibald, the sworr
enemy of all schools and school masters
and the terror of small children. Tbi.
t wretch was twenty-five years old, ol
I four years older than myself. He was
, about six feet, one or two inches il
| height, slender and "slimpsy,n with {
: mean, "hang-dog" looking countenanc,
= as one could find anywhere; and We
he had such control over the bad boy
I that they seemed to feel themselve
e honored by his society, and only to-
j willing to do his bidding.
a Now we will return to the decisiv,
j afternoon; the turning point in m.
/ young life: On starting back to schoo
D l felt that 1 should not be again disap
e pointed by not meeting with the mutt
t neers. Instead of depressing my spir
d lts, the tnought elated me, tor L felt
q could not stand the fearful strain o
t suspense and anxiety much longer.
d As I approached the school house
S noticed my three lambs, with coupl
i of commonplace looking roughs from
e the Pine Hill district, engaged wit
s them in harmless contest of SNOWFALL
}, ing. Before had reached them the
n stopped their amusement and were evi