Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-10-25
How the Teacher was Trapped.

Mr. johnson, the high-school teacher in
Brigham, was a firstrate teacher, and, If
his obituary had been written, no doubt it
would have declared him 10 be "a kind hus-
band and father" But he was a man Of
peculiarities for all that, and one was a dis.
appreciation of kid gloves. Unnecessary
extravaganza" he called them d" unhealthy,
inconvenient, inadmissible."
Now, his twin daughters, Prue and Patty,
being just fifteen, naturally thought other
wise, kid gloves being to the average young
miss what water is TO ducks. But all their
wishes were of no avail. In winter their
delicate hands were "made into paws as
Prue declared, with mittens, while in sum-
mer they were allowed nothing daintier than
lisle-thread.
One lucky day for them, when things had
rolled smoothly at school, when the wind
was in the west, the coffee clear, the steak
"done to turn" and all those trifles that
make angels, or the reverse, OF us were fav-
orably bent, Mr.. johnson announced at
dinner that he thought it would be an ex-
cellent plan to form speech improvement
society, said society to consist of the fam
lily alone, the object in view to be, as the
name implied, correctness of speech. 1t was
hardly to be supposed that the president of
the society could be guilty of a iapsus lingue,
but it might be interesting to see how many
mistakes ordinary people are liable to make
in one week.
"But, supposing papa" said daring Prue
"supposing the sky should fall, or that you
should be guilty Of an inaccuracy, as you
say, what then p
"My daughter" said her father benignly,
ain such case, am safe in promising any
reasonable reward you may claim
"Kid gloves 2" veutured Patty.
al am safe, think, in saying yes" said
her father.
al choose "pearl-colored," cried Prue.
al will have brown" said Patty.
"And l would like drab," added Mrs.
johnson. This was at noon-time.
When Mr.. johnson came home at night,
he inquired how soon tea would be ready.
"Just as soon as the tea-kettle boils," re-
piled his wife, pleasantly.
Error one" exclaimed the teacher, with
such crushing sense of superiority that his
wife and daughters wondered that they had
ever dared to dream of kid gloves.
at is astonishing" said Mr.. johnson
show people will persist in talking OF
boiled teakettles for supper. This is an
instance of the many inaccuracies that are in
daily use. l think our improvement society
will be a success"
Meek Mrs. johnson said nothing more
during supper.
Right across the street from them lived
an elderly widow, who was quite alone, and
who was the object of many attentions from
the neighbors.
That night snowfall whitened the side
walks. MIR. johnson was an active and pru.
dent man. He was up betimes, and cleared
his own walk, then put his head in at the
door long enough to say
al will come into breakfast as soon as
have shoveled the old lady out"
"When you get her comfortably aboard
the shovel" retorted Prue, " you might bring
her in to see us, and hand our kid gloves in
at the same time"
1t was subdued, but very agreeable hus
band and father that came in to breakfast
somewhat late, bringing three nice, little
bundles, which he laid beside the plates OF
his wife and daughters. Prue and Patty
found their favorite shades in number five
French kids, and Mrs. johnson rejoiced in o
whole box of dainty gloves.
al am of the opinion, on the WHOLE" said
the teacher, "that criticism within the
family circle is undesirable. In fact, l
have made up my mind to drop the teacher
henceforth, when open my door, and you
may boil the tea-kettle,' my dear, when
you please"
So that was how the kid gloves were
earned.-lfary Abbott Rand.