The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-05-26
COME BACK AGAIN.

We were all assembled in the little
schoolroom-girls on one side, boys on
the other; and Miss Linda in the middle,
beside mahogany desk, piled up with
the spelling books, and graced by a pol
ished ruler, which never. within the
memory of the Oldest scholars had been
used for any more unpleasant purpose
than to rule copies with, for Miss Linda's
sway was a gentle one, as any one who
looked at her fair face might well have
imagined. Even our habit of calling her
Miss Linda was proof of this, ANY other
teacher would have been addressed by
her surname, but we never thought OF
ours as Miss Harrington. To this day |
can not guess her age. She was certainly
young, but her features had lovely pc
culiarity of their own, which made it
impossible to say how young she was. In
her mirthful moments she looked like a
merry child;sin her sadder ones she was
quite woman; but,in any mood she was
as beautiful, as perfect features, as ivory
skin, wealth of golden hair, and great
-fringed black eyes could make her.
She was in her merry mood this morning,
and there were dimples in her rosy
cheeks, and those black eyes out-rivaled
the brightest diamonds that ever glist-
ened amid the tresses of princess. The
stupid scholar of the school (there is all
ways stupid scholar in the school, and
he is inevitably boy) was stumbling
through his spelling lesson, and falling
fiat over the unsurmountable word "phy-
sician." He had spelled it "fzzichion,"
"fusition," and was at present mute with
despair, and oblivious TO the promptings
Of a sympathizing little girl behind the
teachers chair, Was preparing TO cover
his eyes with his coat-sleeve and bemoan
himself, when the whole school Was
startled by the sudden flinging open of
the door, and the entrance of little Lilly
Darwin, the s%a!less. Of the small child
rem usa,er Miss Llnda's care, i'll state Of
violent agitation. -. ,
"Oh the man! the man" sobbed
Lilly. "The great tall man with the
black beard He's frightened me out of
"What man, Lily" asked Miss Linda,
eompassionately. GLOW did he frighten
you, my dear%'
He came close behind me and said,
'Neverl neverp" answered the child;
"and he put his hands to his forehead,
and then went away out of sight down
by the river. Oh, Pm so frightened. SO
frightened, Miss Linda, you can't
think"
Mt was only some poor crazy man, my
dear" said Linda. "You are safe now,
at all events; wine away your tears, and
tell me all about it,"
II was coming along the green tow
ards school, hurrying very fast for fear
Iwould be late, when l met our new
minister, who stopped and shook hands
with me, and asked how you were and
said he would look in at school and
hear us sing this afternoon; and while
was answering him this tall man with
the black beard passed us twice, anc
stopped bv the water. And when the
minister turned away he looked aftel
him, and then walked very quickly tow
ords school, and then back again, anC
then clasped his hands and said Never
never! never!' out loud, and frightened
me so that cried, and ran here as fast a
could" .......7
This horrible narration affected all tn
smaller children as ghost story woul'
have done; and Miss Linda, after lookin
round at these frightened faces, laughed
merrily, and, expressing her decided con
viction that the gentleman with tn
black beard had escaped from the luna
tic asylum, called the school t.
order and proceeded in the usual rot
tine of duties as though nothing particu
lar had occurred.
Early in the afternoon "Our minister
did CALL He had habit of visiting tn
school, and it appeared to me that th
teacher was much more interesting tina
her scholars. At all events, it was ce
tain that he looked at her much oftene
than he did at us, and was very particl
lar about shaking hands when he too
his leave. He was young and YER
handsome man, and rumor said that h
was exceedingly in love with our Mi
Linda. He fingered in the little schoo
house long while on that bright sun
mer afternoon; but he went at last, an
then the children we're dismissed and tt
little building closed for the night. N
way was the same as Miss Linda's, and
trotted along beside her, holding tight
tAher simple muslin dress, and chattiI
all the way. We came before long to Il
pretty cottage where our school mistre
boarded. The woman of the house
talkative New Englander-sat with h
knitting upon the porch. She greete
Miss Linda with smile. and began
empty her budget Of small talk and ne'
forthwith. .-....
"Did your ears burn to day% she sal
"They ought to, for you've been talk
about enough. There was a stranp
here-a foreign-looking man with lo
black beard; and he asked me about t
place and the people in it, and appear
10 be much interested about the scho
and asked the name Of the teacher a
what sort of person she was. ! t
L.. a.. ,,aar "a I pould and eqya