The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-10-28
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The Pretty School Mistress

Tn the thriving village of Hollythorne
there (as is common in such places is a
church post Office, a couple of stores and a
district school, the said school being taught
bv Young lady, who had widowed
mother and brother and sisters to assist IN
supporting. Ar,
For the sake of economy, Miss Eva
sboarded around among the scholars, and
was considered paragon among the teach
prs Her father had been respectable
mechanic, but died after about two years
of illness, which bitterly impoverished his
family. Eva, however, (she being the ell
dest received a good plain education be-
fore the great calamity came upon them,
and unselfshly began her work OF assisting
in the support. -,
The last week previous to the holiday
vacation she had been boarding with a
Mrs. Carpenter, who was making gigantic
preparations for guests she was expecting
from New York.
"You never met my brothers, Eva, she
said, and then began to give the young
teacher description Of them.
There's Sam, George and John, the
Youngest, and such times as they have when
they get here and rusticate, as they call it.
But. dear me, 1 don't get much rest or
peace, for they are like a pack of boys let
out of school. Such tricks and pranks no
one ever saw. The last time they visited
me altogether, John and Sam actually cut
pane of glass from the window and pelted
George with snow out of my best room.
You see there is always regular strife for
that particular room, for the bed is spring
one and they don't sleep on any other in
the city. But they don't get it this time,
that's certain, for | intend to keep you in
that room, and so end the controversy. L
am so afraid that they will break or ruin
something that am glad you are here.
1t may keep them in check little.
Il had Just as soon occupy some other
room. Mrs. Carpenter, and do not wish to
incommode your brothers-have no right
to do so.
sNo you shan't, Eva" peremptorily ex-
claimed her hostess. "And what Is the
use of your going home vacation week ?
You can stay here just as well as not, and
do your sewing on my machine, Your
mother has got enough mouths to feed, L
guess, and won't miss yours.
The subject was dropped and the entire
household retired early, for on the morrow
the brothers, young, ardent, and full OF life
were to be there "But without sending
any word of their intention, they had con-
cluded to take the evening train, which
would land them at Hollythorne about bed
time. John and George did so, and when
safely seated in the cars, began to speculate
about the absence Of Sam.
''No reason on earth why he should not
be along" said George.
'No; for he told me this morning that
he certainly would be on hand, said John.
Il can't make it out, unless he has taken
the five o'clock train by mistake"
''Not bit of it," laughed John, who
fancied he understood the entire programme.
at is more than likely that he took the
train on purpose to get Hannah's spare bed
room, and make US take up with straw
tick and feathers"
II didn't think of that, but | reckon you
are right. We must contrive to get him
out somehow
"Bet your life on that"
The brothers put their heads together,
and laughed merrily over some scheme for
outwitting Sam, and accordingly, when the
train reached Hollythorne about eleven
o'clock they approached the house in very
stealthy manner.
Climbing the fence in the rear, they
softly opened window and gained access
to the pantry, where they demolished a
nice pie and quantity of doughnuts. Then
with appetites appeased, they removed their
boots and prepared to examine the best
room. They stole along the hall, which
was dimly lighted by the moon, ascended
the stairs and reached the door. The faint
rays of the moon disclosed chair filed
with clothing, and they could distinctly
trace the outlines of form beneath the
clothes, and had not the remotest idea but
that Sam was enjoying sweet repose upon
Hannah's best bed.
A few whispered words were exchanged,
and then, as softly and lightly as if shod
with down they drew near.
"All ready" whispered John.
Quick as thought they seized upon the
form of the sleeper, bed clothes and all,
bore it swiftly down stairs out into the
snow, and were just about to deposit it in
huge drift, when shrill shrek broke the
stillnsss of the night, and, Oh, horror lit
was that of a woman! And in their con-
sternation they dropped their burden plump
in the middle of huge drift. a.
'FGood Heavens!" exclaimed George, .ssit
isn't Sam, but some woman, sure as I'm a
sinner, and she has tainted. Run and call
Hannah p
George John for goodness sake, what
does this mean, and who have you there" ="
asked Mrs. Carpenter in breath. u 81
Blessed if l know" said George; ''tho I
it was Sam, so we thought we'd give him
a dose of snow for getting into the best
bed and trying. to euchre US. Quick, /
believe she has tainted"
"Just like you, scolded Hannah, as she
assisted in depositing Eva upon the bed
from which she had been so unceremonious-
ly taken, ssyou begin your tricks on each
other before you get fairly into the house.
Clear out r. y
Long before she was done with her IT,
rade, her discomftted brothers had betaken