The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-05-11


pursued her studies with us for the next
year and half. She made rapid
progress, for her heart was in the work.
God knows she suffered enough at home,
but she was not unhappy as she had
been, for her life had an object, and its
horison was not bounded by Mrs.
Sharpe's kitchen.
i shall be free some time" she said,
and there flashed something Of settled
purpose over the thin, sun Drowned face,
that was prophecy for the woman's
future.
1t was cousin Miranda's aim to pre-
pare Mercy for district school teacher,
and 1t was with this purpose she had
directed all her studies.
aShutting my eyes now still see the
head with Its mass of bright, half tangled
hair, dropping over the books ON the
little stand near the great fireplace, in
those long winter evenings-evenings
whose memory shine down on me now
like the tender, mournful faces of those
that have lain lower and scared higher
than me.
Somehow we all felt that Mercy was,
in degree, our protege She was
always gentle and docile with us, and
there was good-humored rivalry be-
tween her and myself, but after awhile
she outstripped me, for l was two years
her junior, but my advantages had been
much superior to hers.
Mercy was just fifteen and half years
old when she went to South Woods to
take charge of small school there. It
was all cousin Miranda Carter's doings.
Farmer Peters would never have con-
sented to take her except on Miranda's
earnest recommendation.
The old man shook his head when
pale and tremulous with hope and
excitement, the little thin, restless fig
ure, looking scarcely as old as it was,
stood before him.
"Shell never do, Miss Carter" said
the old man, peering at her through his
iron-bound spectacles. "The children
are all small, and haven't much larnin',
but they're very obstropolous; they'll
never mind such a little kinderlin as
| that.'
" Try her." answered Miranda Carter.
She knew what was in Mercy Lane
and at last the old man consented.
Though you mustn't be disappointed
If we send her back in week." he
added.
do not think Mrs. Sharpe would
ever have consented to Mercy's leaving
her, (her domestic assistance being al
most invaluable to that lady,) if she had
not 80 frequently averred to the neigh
bors that her niece was terrible ex-
pense to the poor deacon, and nobody
could tell how glad she should be when
Mercy could shift for herself; a period
that was nearer than Mrs. Sharpe appre-
hended, she was therefore. obliged to
submit with the best grace possible.
Well, Mercy was duly installed school
mistress of the little district school in
South Woods. 1t was newly organ
lied one, and the salary only dollar
and half week. But this seemed a
fortune to the young orphan, and GER
tainly she earned it. People stared, and
said they were sending their children
to child" and anticipated no good
from her youth and inexperience, but
they soon discovered there was world
OF power and energy encased in the
small, thin figure of Mercy Lane.
She soon succeeded in making her
scholars stand In awe of her, and she
succeeded in making them learn too; in
short, she gave such general satisfaction
that she remained year at South
Woods, coming once month to visit
| US.
At the end of the year, cousin Miranda
Carter received note from her enclos-
ing twenty-five dollars, and 1t ran
"MY DEAR Miss CARTER-You will
no doubt be greatly surprised to hear 1
have had an offer of a situation in q
seminary in Brooklyn. My salary will
be two hundred dollars year, and
include my board. VIII you please tell
Gorham send him many thanks, and
thank God too that can pay him that
debt. And remember, dear Miss Carter,
what shall never forget, that If the
future shall fnd in me anything that Is
great and good, shall owe it to you, to
! Gorham, to Lettie. And In this belief /
am yours, as am no others on earth,
MERCY LANE"
Eight years had passed. 1t was wear
ing tenderly into October. The bright,
still morning looked into our pleasant