Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-12-08

It was lovely June morning in the
country; the air redolent with the scent
Of myriad blossoms and musical with
the songs OF as many wild birds. when
Dora Glade stepped over the threshold
of her rustic school house TO encounter
: surprise not altogether pleasant.
Since the first Of May Miss Glade had
been teaching this school of perhaps
two dozen urchins, whose ages ranged
al the way from fve to fourteen years.
On this particular morning. however,
there sat within the schoolroom, pa
tiently waiting for the arrival OF the
teacher, : tall, vell-built young man
Who was certainly several years her
senior, and whose appearance indicated
that he had come TO stay.
The teacher herself was just nineteen,
slender and graceful IS . willow, with
> charming admixture of womanly dig
nifty and girlish shyness in her manner.
She did not always know exactly what
to do even with some Of the rough
youngsters already in her charge, and
now her fair face darkened with look
Of undisguised dismay, Is she stopped
short In the doorway, regarding this new
specimen with : private conviction in
her soul that she should never prove
equal to the task Of managing him.
She looked upon his intrusion into
her little fold much as some peaceful
shepherd might at the sudden appear
ance CT q mountain lion among his inno-
cent flock. Mastering her chagrin as
best she could, Dora called her school
together, and soon after approached
her unwelcome visitor with very evi.
dent air of embarrassment.
"Do you intend to remain in the
school, sirT'
For the life of her she didn't know
how she ought to address him.
"Yes'm," answered the newcomer,
With meskness which, contrasted With
ais fine, powerful physique, made her
strongly inclined 10 laugh in his face.
81 calk' late TO come afternoons. Can't
come much mornin's, bein' as hev to
help Uncle Jake with the crops."
ooh r. said Dora, gently, suppress
ing smile. "your name, pleaseT
aLarry Fsrnsvorth. Squire Jake
Fsrnsworth over yonder," with an awk-
ward nod of his handsome head in the
direction of the squire's mansion,
"whers I'm stayin'. i my uncle"
"Yss," said Mas Glade, with > petite
interest. "And nos please tell me
what you wish to study, Mr.. Farms
WORTH"
"'Spose ye call me Larry, Miss" said
this great, fine-looking fellow. with the
bashfulness OF : child; "I amt much
used 70 bein' Mustered, an anyhow
reckon I'm one Of yer scholars, iist like
the rest.
Certainly" said Dora. somewhat re-
Ieved, and determining TO put bold
face upon the matter ct once. "Aad
nov, Larry" with rose blush, in spite
OF herself, "let Us proceed 10 select
Jour studies"
But the verdant young gentleman
soon disclosed the fac. that what he did
know Of books might be comprised
within very small space. indeed, while
. model list Of what he didn't know
would form record as voluminous as
that OF che Whitaker testimony.
Days passed on, and Miss Glade
found them passing very pleasantly.
Her new pupil, though extremely igno-
rant, evidently did his besl TO improve.
snd vas otherwise q model OF perfect
good behavior. The younger boys,
also. gave fsr les trouble than II first.
Whether he issued private orders to
them outside, or whether Il vas =
threatening glance from thoss com
manding bright gray eyes whenever any
incipsent rebellion arose against the
teacher. certain Il was that the trouble
some urchins behaved much better than
before the advent Of ths "big scholar" !"
As Eor Miss GIade's opinion Of our
hero t the snd q q month, perhaps ve
could not ascertain Il more easily than
= gIancina # thia portion Of letter