Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-12-01

llnat, ana swept graceially out 10 neT
carriage, while Martie mounted with
rather slow step to her little fourth-story
room, to watch and wait and wonder if
everybody would find her too young. She
was not TO blame for it, anyhow. she said
to herself, trying to coax laugh.
No one came that day, but the next
morning there was an early call for "the
lady who advertised" Martie was glad
she had on the gray dress: perhaps she
looked older in it. But gray or black
was all the same; she was again weighed
in the balance and found wanting-not in
years this time, but in German; and as
one weary hour after another went by,
and no other applicants appeared. Martie
grew heavy hearted. Her advertisement
was to appear for three days. Two had
lalready passed. resulting in disappoint-
ment. Mrs. Allen tried to encourage her,
but when night came, and the six o'clock
Inner, Martie felt sad and homesick.
IL hope no one has made arrangements
to carry you off just yet" Mr.. Raymond
said, as he took seat beside her at their
end of the long table.
NO" said Martie, "no one wants me.
I'm too young, and don't know German"
And big round tear rolled over into her
teacup.
| There no cause for encouragement
in that, assure you" said Mr.. Raymond.
II know people who would not find fault
with you on either score"
| Then he went on talking to her in such
a pleasant way that she soon became in
teresled. forgot all her troubles and the
tear in her teacup, and was as merry as
though she had been older and had known
German.
Mr.. Raymond stayed down stairs until
ten O'clock read aloud an old-time fireside
story, and kept the ball of conversation n
rolling in such pleasant channels that the
evening was gone before Martie knew it,
and spite of all her disarr 'ntments it had
somehow been the please, at one she had
spent there.
The next morning lady came to see
Martie, in behalf of her mother law,
and Martie engaged to 60 the following
day to see the place and people.
There was no poetry about Mrs. Myrck.
She was pure, unadullerated; wanted her
girls to have IL good, strong eddication-
no jimcracks, no furrin language to jabber
in. She WAS willing to pay good wages
would give Il governess 800 year and
her board; but she mustn't expect much
waiting on. They didn't keep any ser
wants didn't need any, pity 'twould be
if two hearty girls like hers couldn't do
their owD work.
Poor Martie! She would not say no at
once, b ,cause this was, so far, her only
chance; she had promised to give an an,
swer soon, and she went back to her room
praying Heaven to send her something
better.
She thought her prayer was answered
when IL gentleman called that evening,
talked with her about his three little girls,
and seemed well satisfied with the modest
account she gave of herself. He was very
| particular about music, however, and
would be glad to hear Miss Woodbridge
play. Their interview had taken place in
the kindly shelter of the quiet little recep-
ton room; but the piano was in the big
parlor, and in there the professor and the
Rev. Paul Appollos were discussing earth
and Heaven The colonel was stalking
about showing off his martial figure, and
the young bride. by the side of her new
lord, was holding court in the midst of a
lovely circle of callers.
Shy, bashful Martie! How could she
play bsfore all these peopleP Poor, timid
little wren, that had jnst crept from under
the mother wing and flown out of her
nest! could she show what sweet music
she knew how to make with crowd of
| listenersP
There was none of the airs and grace of
the music-bounding young woman about
Martie, as she dropped down upon the
| piano stool and took moments grace
before entering upon the dreadful ordeal.
Twas no use waiting, but ah. if the
gentleman would but sit down! Why will
he stand beside her and watch her poor,
frightened fingers rs they trip and stumble,
give wild jump for distant note and
miss it, make dive for one octave and
light on another, and at last lose their
way altogether and 90 down on the key
note. Martie knows the piece she is
trying to play as we'll as she knows her
name, but it flies out of her head and
slips away from her fingers, and she ends
ut last with finale of her own improvis.
ing, feeling ner hair stand straight upon
her head as she does it.
The gentleman was "much obliged" d"
left almost Immediately, and Martie, in a
state of grief and modification. was
rushing through the hall, exclaiming,
with sob, as she covered her face with
her hands, What shall dor" when she
was suddenly stopped at the foot of the
stairs by Mr.. Ray mond.
my dear child" said he, don't take
it so much to heart I've heard you play
that piece before. and thought how wei
you did it; but. of course. you couldn'
play with all those people staring ant
listening. The man was brute to ask
you to do it."
"Oh, no; it is who am such a sim
pleton," said Martie; "but you are very
good to me;" and she hurried upstairs,
longing to get where nobody could SCI
her, but feeling comforted little. ever
then, by the tender sympathy which haC
done its best TO console her.
, Once in her own room the foodgate
were opened, and Martie cried over whl
she called her disgraceinl failure unit
she had succeeded in getting up raging
! headache. Then she went to bed with tht
determination of writing in the morning
10 Mrs. Myrick, informing that lady thai
she was ready to accept her offer ant
, enter upon the eddcation" of hel
! daughters. But before she had time tt
carry her resolution into effect Mrs. My
rick herself appeared having made up hel
: mind that Marlie would not do for them
She hadn't been brought up in their ways
and was like to be too purtickler.
- Thus vanished all hopes of success from
advertising. Mrs. Allen next advised
that Martie should try one of the
! educational agencies in the city, and III
application was accordingly made Then
a followed more days o: anxious waiting
. and of hopes deferred resulting at last ir
! visit and generous offer from Il lady
r who won Martie's heart at the outset witt
: her pleasant face and wining ways, anC
y her gentle, molherly talk about the little
: bows and the two little girls at home fol
whom she wanted teacher and compan
ion. But, alas! that home lay hun ireds o
miles away.
8 1t seemed to Mtrtie like going to tht
: ends of the earth. She had twenty fou
hours in which to decide spent half the
= time in wavering between yes and no-be
tween the courage to go and the home
sickness which crept over her at the verl
a thought of it, Then scolding herself 70
n genuine coward, she made up her mint
that 90 she must. and go she would.
"WhatPH exclaimed Mr. Raymond, in !
ll.VER a.I