Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-12-13
MERRY CHRISTMAS /!

II was the middle OF shori Decem.
her afternoon. From the scholars in
the little log school hou,e in the Still.
mau district, rose humming, buzzing
sound, as they bent over u cir desks
intent on books or mischief, as the case
might be. The teacher, a dark.eycd,
dark haired, good looking youth Of
twenty or thcreabouts, was explaining n
"sum in long division" to a class in
"rithmetic" when a shrill voice called
out {:
"Teacher, Rachel StiIlmans readin' n
story book"
Bring me the book, Rachel" said
the teacher quietly, and without the
least appearance OF anger.
The delinquent, girl OF about four.
teen rose slowly, and reluctantly walked
toward him.
"Why," he said, glancing at the open
page, ''it is the Pilgrims Progress, It's
splendid, isn't it. Rachel =? But we
mustn't read it in school,, that is against
the rule, you know"
"Ye., sir, but I wanted so bad to sec
how they go ont Of Doubling Castle"
She looked 80 earnest, so Interested
he had half a mind to re'rrn the book
with full permission to esd ltfor the title
time remaining, but seconi thoughts
checked him, and he said, "WelI, l will
give you the book after school then
you can read it at home to night"
"Oh, no." she whisper ed, drawing
close to HIM. "Mv father don't al ow
us to read story books. daresn't take
it home"
"Then," he answered, dropping his
own voice, 81 will give it to you to-.
morrow at the first recess, and never fret
about Chri stan and Hopeful, they will
find way to outwit the old giant yet" "
In few minutes school was dismissed
for the day. As tie scholars filed ont,
Rachel and her sister, delicate. looking
child of ten, fingered behind the rest to
bid the teacher G od night.
"Good.n,ght girls" he piled. 81
say, Rachel, don't bother about Chris
tian he's bound 10 get along"
She laughed, as she said, II am 81
glad /; he does have such hard time
But didn't he stand up to old ApoIl.
yon ?"
"Lise good fellow" said the teach, r.
"Hope I II come off us we'll"
Rachel gave him an inquiring look,
but he turned to his desk, and without
another word the tw, girls left the
school house and set out on the half.
mile walk home.
Let us go there, and find out what
manner of home it Is to which these
children belong. The farm is large
one, the buildings substantial, every
thing has prosperous, wellto DO look,
and Mr.. Stillman-the owner of all those
broad acres, and father of these three,
Tom, Rachel, and Susy, as we'll as Uf three
more girls and ano ther stalwart son-is
stout, comfortable looking man OF
forty eight or fifty years comfortable
to look at, said, but a glance at his
close, thin lips and keen, gray eyes would
prove to an observant person that he
could and would make it very uncomtor
ble for any person in his power who
might differ with him in opinion, u
venture to dispute his authority.
Indoors, Mrs. Stillman, slender,
fair naired woman, who looked as if she
felt she owed the world an apology ioi
being in il, was preparing the evening
meal, assisted in the work by her two
daughters. Elizabeth, sad. faced woman
OF twenty four, resembling her mother
aud Margaret, girl of eighteen. with
her fathers determined mouth and chiu,
although her large blue eyes aud abund
ant hair were like her mothers.
The eldest SOP, John, h,.d married
during the preceding summer the dau2h
ter of neighboring farmer, and the
daughter Martha, two years older than
Margaret, had eloped Few W, eks before
Johns marriage wi h her fathers hired
man, mesa lliance which bad greatly
angered Mr.. Stillman, and so tar liz had
resolutely forbidden any Intercourse be
ing held by the her members of the
family with the errilg daughter and hei
husband, who had rented small farm
at q distance of about ten miles, and
settled down to housekeeping in wha
appeared to be a very coEy, contented
mann r.
The clock struck five as the school
girls entered the kitchen, large room
which in winter did duty as both dining
room and kitchen.
Run in the other room, children,
sail the mother, ''and get warm sup
per is almost ready"
"Snpper is inst ready said Mrs. Still
man in few minutes to her husband.
"Well, 1 guess it II keep till we re
ready" replied her husband roughly
"Here. you Rachel, get some water
The buckets empty Of course. Ma garet
get Q clean towel. Where in the world