The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-11-16
MISS BRITMAN's LAST LESSON.
By THE. AUTHOR OF ..eou,LAr BROS. y

''One. two three, four! One. two,
1 three, fouri''
| 1t was dreary and monotonous enough
/ sitting all day in that cherries room
| beside the tuneless piano, giving les
sons to dull children, and Margaret
l Britman heaved a sigh of relief as the
last pupil departed. After sitting still
for few minutes, just to realize that
herswork for the day was over, she stood
up, closed the piano, put away the rag
| ged 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 island in an
ocean of china plate. The majolica tea
pot was hidden under a cosey crewel
embroidered in the highest of art pat
terms, the spoons and forks were silver
in the last stage of attenuation and the
cloth, though white and fine, was darn
ed out of all identity of the original pat
tern. The few bright little water-colors
on the walls made but the darkness of
the drab paper more visible, and no ar +
rangement of the scanty furniture could
disguise the fact that the walls were
hopelesslY crooked; still, in spite of dis
advantages, there was something about
The little room that struck one on first
entering. Perhaps it was the air of re-
finement struggling with the aggressive
poverty; perhaps it was the palepatient
face of Margaret Britman. with its
frame of prematurely grey hair and
meek, sorrowful eyes. Very slowly she
moved about, for she was weary, and
her thoughts were heavy, for she was
anxious about Dot She had been out
as a daily governess for whole year,
but her salary was small, and her wants
seemed to increase out of all proportion
to her earnings. Boots and gloves wore
out, hats and gowns got shabby in a
frightfully short time; and Miss Brit
man felt that she could not relax
single effort or spare herself single
monotonous lesson. for Dots wants had |
to be supplied somehow. just at five |
O'Clock she came up the stairs. singing |
Lightly
'She'd a rose in her bonnet and o, she looked
sweet
AS the little pink, flower that grows in the
wheat
ttShe wouldn't look sweet if she had
to be out in such CHASTITY weather as
this, would she, auntie darlingp" and
Dot kissed Miss Britman energeticaliy
on both cheeks. There! what heart
less thing l am, to come near you all
dank and foggy. MY hair is perfectly
limp, and she pushed back mass of
golden waves from her forehead.
tF1,akn aft voIIgs thinorc Haay ayI h2r-o 4
some hot tea. Here are your slippers.
all nice and warm -
Thanks, dearie. O, it is nice to oet
indoors; if you could only imagine what
It's like outside, auntie: streets three
nchesF deep in liquid glue, fog thick
'nough to drive nail in and hang your
lister on
DOR Miss Britman interposed,
mildly.
Pact, auntie. | was really bewild-
red at Regent Circus, and had to throw
myself on the mercy of a policeman;
hen an obsequious young man followed
ne all down Oxford Street, and kept
ohbing his umbrella against mine''
20. my darling, that Won should have
endure such thingsr' Miss Britman
ried, and her slender white fingers were
nervously. 30, that / could
pare you, Dorothyr'
Never mind, auntie dear; it doesn't
,orry me in the least. Besides think
but wait" a minute til put away the
,a-things, and turn down the gas
nd having done so, Dot sat down on
he rug and laid her head on her aunt's
p. i've got something to tell you
lntie''
Yes, darling" Miss Britman said,
ter waiting few minutes, for Dot was
J no great hurry to heoin