Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-09-18
Miss Britman'S Last
Lesson.

1t was dreary and monotonous
enough sitting all day in that cheer
less room beside the tuneless piano,
giving lessons to dull children, and
Margaret Britman heaved sigh of
relief after the last pupil departed.
After sitting still for few min
utes, just to realize that her work for
the day was over, she stood up, clos
ed the piano, put away the ragged
music, and busted herself tidying the
room. 1t was very little any one
could do to make the gloomy apart
ment bright and 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 a 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 teapot
was hidden under a cozy crewel, en-
broldered in the highest of art pat
terms the spoons and forks were
silver in the last stage of attenua-
ton, and the cloth, though white
and fine, was darned out of all ident-
ity 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 scant furni-
ture 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 strug-
Cling with the aggressive poverty
perhaps it was the pale, patient face
of Margaret Britman, with its frame
prematurely gray hair and meek, sor-
rowful 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 proper
ton to her earnings. Boots and
gloves wore out, hats and gowns got
shabby in a frightfully short time !;
and Miss Britman felt that she could
not relax single effort or spare her.
self single monotonous lesson, for
Dots wants had to be supplied some
how.
Just at five o'clock she came up
stairs, singing lightly:
''Shed rose in her bonnet and OIL she looked sweet
As the little pink flower that grows in the wheat.
s.She wouldn't look sweet if she
had to be out in such CHASTITY wealth
er as this, would she, auntie, dar-
ling?" and Dot kissed Miss Britman
energetically on both cheeks.
"There what heartless thing | am
to come near you all damp and fog
gy. My hair is perfectly limp" and
she pushed back a mass of golden
waves from her forehead.
"Take off your things, dear, ant
have some hot tea. Here are your
slippers, all nice and warm
''Thanks, dearie. Oh, it is nice
to get indoors, if you could onl,
imagine what it's like outside, auntle
Streets three inches deep in liquit
glue, fog thick enough to hide a mai
in and hang your ulster on
ssDot! !" Miss Britman interposeC
mildly.
s'Fact, auntie. / was really be
wildered at Regent Circus, and haC
| to throw myself on the mercy of
policeman then an obsequiOu
) young man followed me all down Ok
ford street, and kept bobbing hi
umbrella against mine
t "Oh, my darling, that you shoul
S have to endure such things!'' Mis-
Britman cried, and her slender whit
| fingers were interlocked nervously
"Oh, that l could spare you, Doro
thy"
"Never mind, auntie dear;
Y doesn't worry me in the least. Be
: sides, [ think-but wait a minute I'll
: I put away the tea-things and tur
down the gas And having don
; so, Dot sat down on the rug an
laid her head on her aunt's lap. 6
have got something to tell you
: auntie.''
e eyes, darling" Miss Britma
g said, after waiting a few minutes
for Dot was in no great hurry to be
y gin.
t ''Aunt Margaret, did it ever strik
n you that some day or other | migf
d have a lover?" she said, slowly.
Dorothy! Dorothy! l neve
I thought of that!' Miss Britman CT
: ed. Darling, can't give you t
;. any one; you are all have in th
y world"
d "Let me tell you all about ii first
d auntie," Dot said, gravely. 81
IS came about in the simplest ways
y simple that l scarcely know how {
+ when it began. 1t seems now as
Mr.. Ferris always came into til
school-room, but 1 never though
= much about it till to-day, when h
lnoIol - no co ooI Lol