Smyrna times., 1882-11-15
Miss Britman's Lesson.

"One, two, three, four! One, two,
three, four!'
1t was dreary and monOtOnous
enough, sitting all day in that cheerless
room beside the tuneless piano, giving |
lessons to dull children, and Margaret |
Britman heaved a sigh of relief as the
last pupil departed After sitting still
for few minutes, just to realize that
her work for the day was over, she
stood up, closed the piano, put away
the ragged music, and busted herself
tidying the room. 1t was little any
one could do to make the gloomy
apartment bright or CHEEKY, but what
little lay in her power Miss Britman
did against the coming home of Dot.
The round table was pulled in front
of the fire, and the frugal tea set out
with good deal of show and very
little substance. Miss Britman knew
how to make the most Of the solitary
muffin Dot enjoyed so, and the tiny pot
of ham and chicken stood like an
ocean of china plate. The majOlica
teapot was hidden under cosey crewel,
embroidered in the highest of art
patterns, the spoons and forks were
silver in the last stage of attenuation,
and the cloth, though white and fine,
was darned out of all identity of the
original pattern. The few bright little
water-colors on the walls but made the
darkness of the drab paper more visible,
and no arrangement of the scanty
furniture could disguise the fact that
the walls were hopelessly crooked
still, in spite of disadvantages, there
was something about the little room
that struck one on first entering
Perhaps it was the air of refinement
struggling with the aggressive poverty
perhaps it was the pale, patient face O.
Margaret Britman, with its frame o
prematurely gray hair and meek
sorrOwful eyes. Very slowly she NOV
ed about, for she was weary, and he
thoughts were heavy, for she wa
anxious about Dot. She had been ou
as daily governess for whole year
but her salary was small, and her want
seemed to increase out of all proper
tiOn to her earnings. Boots and glove
wore out, hats and gowns got shabb,
in a frightfully short time; and Mis-
Britman felt that she could not relax
single effort or spare herself singl
mOnOtonous lesson, for Dots want
had to be supplied somehow. Just {
5 O'Clock she came up the stairs, sins
ing lightly;
Shed a rose in her bonnet, and oh she look'
sweet
As the little pink flower that grows in the wheat
"She wouldn't look sweet if she ha
to be out in such ghastly weather
; this, would she, auntie, darling?" al
. Dot kissed Miss Britman energetical
on both cheeks. "There! what
4, heartless thing am, to come near yo
all dank and foggy. My hair is pc
fectly limp" and she pushed back
mass of golden waves from her fol
l head.
S "Take off your things, dear, and ha
s some hot tea. Here are your slippe
all nice and warm"
Thanks, dearie. Oh! it is nice
get indoors, if you could only imagi
,, what it's like outside, auntie; sire
u three inches deep in liquid glue,
!. thick enough to drive nail in a
j. hang your ulster on y
If "Dot?" Miss Britman interpos
Is mildly.
- "Fact, auntie. was really bewi
\ cred, at Regent Circus, and had
~ throw myself on the mercy of a poll
1t man; then an obsequious young n
4 followed me all down Oxford sire
and kept bobbing his umbrella agai
mine."
of "Oh my darling, that you sho
o- have to endure such thingsw \
Britman cried, and her slender WI
~ fingers were interlocked nervous
d. ooh, that could spare you, DorOth
Q- "Never mind, ;Iuntie dear; it doe
i, worry me in the least. Besides
IS: think-but wait a minute till l
# away the tea things and turn dC
,,;t the gas" And, having done so,
?, sat down on the rug, and laid
N head on her aunt's lap. "Tve
nc something to tell you, auntie."
it! ayes, darling" Miss Britman s
Tor after waiting a few minutes, for
he was in no great hurry to begin.
of Aunt Margaret, did it never st
you that some day or other l m
have loverP" she said, slowly.
Dorothy, Dorothy, l never thov
of that - Miss Britman cried. 81
ing, can't give you to any one (;
~. are all l have in the world"
"Let me tell you about it
auntie," Dot said, gravely. ut {
about in the simplest way-so sil
that / hardly know how or VIII
began. 1t seems now as if Mr.. +
always came into the school room
- / never thought much about it til
day, when he looked at me so stran
and held my hand ever such a
Ee then he said, Miss Derwent, wa
have little serious conversation
n you. May I call on you at home
course said 1 should be very pie
Blood sied only l was never there in the day
he fs1I0rs iST% 'Then may call in your absence
,ovo said, and speak to your father
ma, Del. told him had no one but you, a.
b. nST A. and he seemed surprised for a mo