Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-08-15
Life Illustrated.

disagree with me-the large one, | mean
left hand side, mems row, back seat,
who meant business, and did gymnastics
so regardless of our heads last spring;
and that sad-eyed reporter in the corner,
who had 'just stepped in a minute to
see what the thing did amount to, any
way ;" and Tom Kent, who declared the
whole thing sham, and the men who
run it, though mighty windy, not to be
compared to university professors in
real learning; but Sally Purdy told me
SO, and SaIly's verdict on such matter
is sound.
There IS fun at teachers institute,
if one only knows the method of extrac-
tion; but one must see the whole thing
through in order to catch its true spirit.
Sallie told me that it baffled description,
and l believe her now, for went down
the very next spring to see for myself.
tell you it takes more room than an
ordinary mind to comprehend the secret
springs that play in the mechanism of a
teachers institute. How could that re-
porter catch its inspiration in an hour?
What was wrong with Tom that he
grudged the peanut man over the way
his profit and the young women of Green
county their deserved outing? He had
come here with the express purpose of
telling Sally that he loved her. and cru
ell fate had snatched the opportunity
just within his grasp-that's all. But
why should he call that success which
robbed him of his hearts desire?
Sally Purdy was to be the school
ma am at Dodds' Corners, if she could
get certificate; Jane Plumbley was to
teach at Squabble Hollow under the
same conditions. Appalling thought
this was to Sally and Jane, neither of
whom were over-familiar with books,
but bright idea had struck them. and
they had resolved upon making the ad-
venture together.
Jane Plumbley was going to teach
school for money; and Sally Purdy was
going to teach school for fun mostly,
though it must be confessed / fail to see
the possibilities for hilarity in the life
of teacher at Dodds' Corners. Sallle's
father was well-to-do farmer, but her
life was rather monotonous withal-un-
broken, as you might say, except when
Tom Kent was home for vacations. To
be sure there was Phil Fairweather, but
he did nothing at all, so to speak. Sal
lie didn't take kindly to his old-gold
hair and placid blue eyes. He wasn't
so very bad, or would not have been had
not Tom Kent fawned and fattered
away the senses of this deluded young
woman, and filled her head with all sorts
of romantic notions, clothed in college
phraseology. Pills father was also a
rich farmer. Phil drove a "lovely
span" and Sallie was the envy of the
neighborhood, at least of the young and
feminine portion of it. She didn't real
ly mean to bounce him yet, but she must
tack little. Sallie had certainly led
him on when there was nothing more
exciting on hand, and now she was de-
servedly dreading the climax. So il
was really getting to be somewhat of a
tax upon her ingenuity, and more of a
strain on her good nature to sit evening
after evening IN the corner of the sofa,
with her eyes fixed desperately on the
frame of feather flowers opposite, and
her tongue doing double duty to keeE
his lips from framing the one idea which
she knew possessed his brain to the ex
clusion of every other.
Sallie meant to marry sometime, Of
course; she meant to have wealth and
ease, for she felt that she deserved bott
so long as she got them, how did i
signify how she obtained them? One
man was just about like another, they
would all grow old and need combing
and rubbing; but Tom was '.just lovely
to firt WITH" and she must, oh, sh,
must parry the blow and put off the evi
day. Dodds' Corners was just the idea
Carefully concealing the secret o
their intended departure from Phil.
they purchased in partnership an "In
stantaneous Educator" engaged boart
ahead and sent down their luggage Sat
urday by James young brother. Tues
day morning found them whirling dowl
to c. on the 1910 train. where Ton
had arranged to stop on his way hom
from NJ College.
The fear of failure in the approachin.
ordeal of an examination would hav
taken the spirit out of an ordinary girl
but Sallie had great faith in Jane, ant
they had planned to sit together ant
''look up during the intervals of firta
tion, while Prof. Peeler was holdin,
forth.
These girls were young and foolish
and I trust they will have learned dis
cretlon before the next spring meeting
: of the "Green County Teachers Insti