The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-10-09

S @anuerlng thoughts upon her books, to re-
anS her language and manners, was a work
d. care that nothing short Of dominant
be oni.e 10 dement, the girl would have induced
81. ~ 70 persevere in. In her secret soul, she
NJ, INES, during the first year, felt well
To- 81 discouraged at Nell's waywardness and
@oA vi interest in her new occupations. But
g., Dy slow degrees, affection for her bene-
sa1Stress strengthened in her breast, and con-
au osl In her superior judgment grew into
governing force, she became more docile
tnuer restraint, and put forth honest efforts
W MASTER lessons assigned her.
va az me close OF the first year, looking back
"aru, Mrs. Dales could see that there had
ueen positive Improvement; though she
i; Vas, at the same time, forced to admit that
~, py no means, equaled her hopes. But
no Iact mad long ago sunk deep into her
t roait mat faithful, persevering endeavor in
s ohe pursuit Of a worthy purpose, must bring
a;. IIuI something akin to adequate results,
ttuner III the near or remote future. This
eluth mad encouraged her to undertake and
larry through many IA noble work in the
,ong years gone by; and it did not fail her
HoW' II she could not succeed in helping
Nell to be the truly refined and cultivated
hmolllan she desired, she would still strive to
Drlng about the little improvement which
was possible year by year. And so she per-
severed in her unselfish labors for seven
Iong years-until her brown hair showed
plentiful threads Of white, her blue eye had
iosC something of its brightness, and her fair
complexion was marred by the lines and sal
lowness of age.
10 Nell, the years had brought even great
er changes. In truth, the girl of seventeen
was hardly recognizable in the matured wo-
man OF twenty -four. Seven years of unin-
terrupted study. and constant association
with strong and noble character, such as
Mrs. Dales possessed, had proven efficient
means in aiding her intellectual and moral
forces to attain a high degree of develop
ment. To the rude charms of her early
girlhood were, at length, added refinement
OF thought and manner; and, to Mrs.
Dales's great satisfaction, the indefinable
graces of mental culture lent to her presence
their unrivaled influence
IL was happy day to both Nell and der
benefactress when the Faculty of the Semi
nary, where she had been student four
years, granted to her her hard learned diplo-
ma. But still greater and wholly uneX-
pected pleasure was in store for them in the
note that came, week later, from the trus-
tees who had witnessed Nell's examination,
oIlerlng her the position of teacher where
she had been so recently pupil. This mark
OF confidence in Nell's ability and acquire
ments was complete surprise to Mrs. Dales,
ana IL seemed to her generous soul a greater
reward than she deserved for the part she
had taken in shaping her course.
lt was at the close of the spring term that
this offer came to Nell. so that she was to
have vacation, which she very much need
ed, before she entered upon her new voca-
ton in the early autumn. 1t was during
this vacation that Mrs. Dales was surprised
by receiving visit from our old acqlaint-
ance, Mrs. Melton. 1t was by no means a
pleasure to Nell to again meet her old mis-
tress, whom she had not seen since she left
the farm, seven years previous; she treated
her courteously, however, as she was bound
to do any one who came to the home of her
friend. That Mrs. Melton had grown de-
crepid, and wrinkled, and gray, since they
last met, was evident at glance, to Nell,
but it was also equally evident, as soon as
she began to speak that her tongue had lost
none of its sharpness.
g La, e." she began, as soon as she had
laid aside her bonnet and was comfortably
seated in a big easy-chair which Mrs. Dales
had, with difficulty, induced her to accept
She wasn't used ter sich things she
said.
"Sakes alive, How master QUAR- things
do turn out in this world. Here's our little
brown skinned Nell (staring at Nell through
her spectacles) bleached out nigh bout as
white as a pond-lily, and loollin' fine as
fiddle. AM there's Nell Lynn, shiftless,
drinkin' spendthrift, an his wife an young
ones lookin' like town charges. If Nell ony
knows enough now,' turning to Mrs. Dales
who sat bv, "ter go on a-keepin' school am
lay up her money instead o. gittin' married,
she can byme-bye have a good home o. her
own, and not have any man to thank fort.
But, Lord-a-massy, the fust thing you'll
know, it'll be all cut an dried that SHE'S ter
marry some o. these 'erc teacher fellers. Is
the head one o. the 'Cademy a married
MANI" she asked, looking straight at Nell.
Nell's stammered mo" was accompanied
by such vivid blush that Mrs. Melton burst
into loud laugh.
"Wall, WALL" she exclaimed, as soon as
she could speak for laughing, as she turned
to Mrs. Dales, "ef L ain t hit the nail on the
head this time, I'll miss my guess. Sure as
peas an beans, that gal Is dead in love with
that Teller Already"
"And well she may be-" said Mrs. Dales
with spirit, as the door closed upon Nell's re-
treating figure, ''for she has been engaged to
Mr.. Waite these three months. They would
have been married this summer, had not
advised her to teach for year or SO.
thought it would be good discipline for her,
and valuable experience in many respects.
Mr.. Waite is a very estimable man some five
years her senior, and | am wholly satisfied
with her prospects. But, Nell is worthy to
be the wife of the noblest Of men," and Mrs.
Dales looked straight into the black eyes Of
her sister law, with curious expression.
Mrs. Melton evidently understood the mean
ing, for she answered disdainfully:
81 'low you think so. Some folks are
alters master wall satisfied with the upshot
o. their own doin's. "-I V0mQn's Journal.