Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-09-10
THE new SCHOOLMASTER.
Boston Courier.

arrived at the Forks. He came on
foot, with his travelling bag slung oyel
his back by means Of cane, sturdy
young man with red hair and an indie
pendent gait. He held bis head as il
he was determined to thrust through
every obstacle which came into his
way, and looked neither to the right nor
to the left, though a glance over his
shoulder would have revealed to him,
through the fringes of the gigantic
pine trees, a sunset picture such as is
seldom seen in this cold New England
country.
There was more than the usual num-
Der of sitters in the store that night,
drawn thither by the fact that the new
schoolmaster was expected, and when
the gentlemen reached the dingy little
Building, they were all on the steps to
greet him.
''New Schoolmaster, calkerlate step
in and be sosherble awhile, hey 7"
said the storekeeper, who was also the
school agent and the mill owner--the
one great man of the place.
Would like to, but the fact is have
been travelin' all day, pretty much,
and am gettin' to be rather sharp set.
Besides that am afraid my boarding
,roistress'll get tired o'waitin' for me,
an clear away her supper table
"Ah, yis; wall, pr'aps ye'd better
keep along, The widow amt over pa
shunt. That's her house on the right, |
over there, the second one on the right. |
Hope ] see you well, misterg"
The second house on the right was
cosy and inviting. 1t was implanted |
but the curtains at the windows were
daintily white and clean Great trees
stood about and gave it pleasant shad-
ed look, though the leaves and nearly
all dropped. A row of milk pans hang
ing on the fence reflected the sunset
clouds in their glowing surfaces, and
suggested the perfection of household
neatness A motley brood OF fowls
were eating their supper with q deal of
CiuCk and Clatter from the bands of
rosy. energetic looking matron from the
doorway Ayoung girl with a complex
ion like apicture of Greuze, was driving
a speckled COW up the lane which led
to the barn, the cows horns were fan
citully decorated with garland of ,
travellers Joy" still beautiful through ]
its leaves were slightly discolored by +
frost, and it's white blossoms changed to {
airy silver down. The girls rustic broad i
brimmed hat was also decorated with
leaves berries and dried blossoms. The
picture was worth seeing, but the school a
master evidently had not an artists eve. +
At the first glance he said, PITY that c
girl doesn't know how to spend her time c
in more profitable way to trim ny q $
COW in all that nonsense
The girl colored to the deepest Grim i
son when she discovered the strangers Il
eye upon her, and she disappeared into s
the barn with her COW as quickly as pos
sibe. The woman IN the DOORWAY dis |;
posed of her dish of corn, felt of her back s
hair, and made haste TO decorate her C
plain matronly features with q bright, h
hospitable smile. 81
"The new schoolmaster, s'pose, " she b
gaid, holding out her hand. il
"I-don't know" replied he, gazing
after the re'reating figure of the young 81
girl in d dazed sort of way.
WHAT came in tone of extreme n
establishment from the woman who re- Ii
5arded HIM with sudden suspicions q
"Oh, excuse me, the fact is, am the W
1ew schoolmaster wasn't thinking a
n rather ! was thinking about some I
hing else" ii
She smiled, aud catching the merry al
Wrinkle in her eye, he laughed aloud, but m
I was Il yexed embarrassed laugh, ut II
erly devoid of mirth. fl
She'll find rue different sort of chan fe
rom what she imagines, rather guess. al
It's the first time ever forgot myself b
because girl had pretty face, and / hi
mean it shall be the last" he said to er
himself. hi
"Walk in, Mr.. Watkins. kept SUP in
'er waitin' fur you, | reckon yore pref
y hungry, travelin' so fur or did you by
ide instead of travel 7" m
You're right, marin, I'm hungry. All fe
be dinner had was dish of bread and A,
nilk at Grindalps." a
miss Grinwall don't pervide fur stage m
'assengers ez should think she would. 10
ines gettin dretful kind of shjtless TT
ately. Efyou'll just wait minute or M