The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1882-01-12

OF her class. was delighted, and praised
and sought to encourage her, but
she received my praises inditferently.
Just at this time one day lost gold
pencil that had been given me by dear dead
friend. asked the scholars if they had
seen it. There was no response, but oil OF
them looked at Bridget Ann, who was silent
as usual.
Il valued it," said because my friend
is dead"
As spoke the tears ca-ne into my eyes.
Two days afterwards, the pencil wao
mysteriously returned, and Bridget Ann
watched ne closer than ever.
Towards the last of my term, I received q
letter from queer old man in my native
town; old Uncle Piper distant relative Of
my fathers.
Miss Mary Ellis:-I mn in want an if l
can't git money to pay my rent won't hav'
a ruff to cover my head an' will di in the
field afore going to the poorhouss, I kin
git along it I could razo ten dollars to pay
my house rent, for long as Nv got my heltb
kin sor wood. hearn you was teachin',
an you air young an strong an kin earn,
an you won't begrudge money to apoor old
man with one foot in the grave an can't live
long which was your fathers fren.
Mr.. JONATHAN PIPER X his mark
Writ by Miss Spr;ggins next door to him
for him which was thu him bein' most orful
poor.
There were twenty-five dollars in my
purse. It was all tho money had, but I
sent twelve Of it to the old man, for felt
that my father would have wished me to.
This lost Inc my winter cloak, but wore
my shawl and made tie best of it. Mypar-
ents had always befriended Uncle Piper:
op,1 yhovo T 7 10,
happy hours in his tumbledown shanty,
where he lived with lame old cat which,
strange to say. limped exactly as his master
did. Old Tom always followed Uncle Pip
er to his days work, stayed by him, and at
nighttall they returned home together.
Instead of blessings which are supposed
to FOLLOW gifts to the poor, two weeks after
had sent the money, Mr.. Bo1or, one Of
the school committee, made rue call. He
came into the room, seated himself near
my desk, and informed me before tho
school, that The guessed was too unset
tied an onlarned fur the position, and
want able to govern the scholars m keep
up proper respect as tooter for the young.
and they'd concluded to cut the term short
two weeks. and would pay me weeks, SAL
ary ahead" which would, he added, sbe
the square thing; givin' NE clean four
dollars without no work nor trouble"
! answered him ut random, for was con-
fused and was afraid should burst into
tears before the school. He went away
after informing the scholars that "the term
had been cut short two weeks on account
Of dissatisfaction with the teacher who,
want hardly up to what was required in
Greenfield"
1t was Friday afternoon and the scholars
took theif books when thew left, giving
three cheers as they ran down the hill. 4
few OF them said goodby-so few!-and
then / was left alone with the four crun-
pied one dollar bills, the last of my earnings
US teacher. Even Bridget Ann, who was
TO some extent the cause of my failure to
find favor with the parents Of the children,
left me without a farewell glance.
At nineteen, friendless, homeless, with
only sixteen dollars in tho world, with nv
prospects as teacher forever lost, can you
wonder that was respondent and hope.
less? knew we'll no town near Greenfield
would employ me after this experience, and
had not money enough to enable me TO 20
to The city to find other employment
Is it a wonder that there in that dreary
room. while the shadows were falling over
the hills, the early twilight shutting in, and
the chill wind shrieking around the corEers,
rattling the windows or driving down the
chimney with shuddering signs, dropped
my head on the desk and prayed to die?
How could liver What was there in life
for me?
The little clock licked steadily, monot-
onously. and poor starved little mouse
ran out from under the wood-box and nib
bled ut q piece Of bread dropped from a
scholars dinner basket. I compared NV
self to the poor little thing. and nv tears
fell faster.
AS sat there heard the sound OF steal
thy footsteps. face that in the gathering
twilight could not recognize peered into
the window. The little mouse vanished
like flash. Twas not alarmed, I was too
miserable.
In moment the door opened and we'll
known figure gllded IN. Are you there,
Miss Ellis, it said, with tenderness in the
voice.
"Yes, ANNIE" replied, with sob, cot
lifting my aching head.
She came and knelt by my side and put
her arm about me, saying passionately,
"My dear, dear teacher!'' sobbing and kiss
ing my hands, my dress even. Il know
you have lost your place for me, who
want ruthin' but mean, and poor, and
that; and stole your pencil-Oh mel Oh
me! Why was you SO good? An you're
goin' away! wish I could die! What
was the use ov me loviu' you now you're
goin'? No one never wes good afore to ME.
think you must be one of the angels, or if
you amt, why want emmy of the others like
you? Oh, am sorry! I am sorry!"
She put her head down and cried so pit.
fully, yet quietly, that my grief was lost in
hers, and forgot my sorrow in soothing
her.
Surely my reward was greater than I had
hoped, and l told her SO. told her, too,
that one of the cruelest wounds had had
in teaching the school was the thought that
she had not appeared to notice or care for
my sympathy and pity for her.
And so two poor, almost hopeless, souls
sat there and talked, she ut my feet, her
head in my lap. Strange that she could
advise me, but she did. She told me Of a
factory five miles away at Northport, where
cotton cloth was made; where men, wo-
men and children worked in the great mills
from morning till night in the eternal crash
and whirr OF the p0nderous machinery. She
said could find work there, and begged
me to take her with me, saying she was
used to hard fare, and could live on almost
nothing.
This could not promise, but I told hsr
that would come or send for her il found
employment and could support myself.
The next day went away. As II passed
the ''Den Of Thieves" saw Bridget Ann
at the gate. She waved her tattered hat.
and looking backward, saw her throw her.
self on the ground, burrying her face in the
grass. That poor little picture was the only
pleasant one that carried away from
Greenfield.
For six weary, frightful months worked
Ia the Northport cotton-mill. Six months
Of living death. Each day I fancied that
the hollows in my cheeks were deeper, my
steps weaker, my hands more frail.
In six months more think should have
died but fora letter. dirty, much post
marked letter. that the postmaster handed
me as was going by. 1t was from Lawyer
Bliss of my native place. announcing the
death OF Uncle Piper, and the bequest TO
me OF twenty thousand 10,lals.
lie was miser, and had been accumular-
ing this money all his life. Some of it vas
invested in western lands, and some il
United States bonds, and more was found
In queer holes and corners in his shanty.
lie was On eccentric man, and knowing
that he must soon die, and having no love
tor his relatives, he had written to each Of
tnen, asking for money, intending to d.