Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-01-17
DORA'S IGNORAMUS

1t was lovely June morning in the
country; the air redolent with the scent
OF myriad blossoms and musical with
the songs OF as many wild birds, when
Dora Glade stepped over the threshold
Of her rustic school house TO encounter
asurprise not altogether pleasant.
Since the first Of MAY Miss Glade had
been teaching this school OF perhaps
two dozen urchins, whose ages ranged
all the way from five to fourteen years.
On this particular morning, however,
there sat within the schoolroom. pa
tiently waiting for the arrival OF the
teacher, tall, well-built young man
who was certainly several years her
senior, and whose appearance indicated
that he had come to stay.
The teacher herself was just nineteen,
slender and graceful as willow, with
q charming admi1ture Of womanlv dig
nifty and girlish shyness in her manner.
She did not always know exactly what
to do even with some OF the rough
Youngsters already in her charge, and
now her fair face darkened with look
OF undisguisei dismay, as she stopped
short in the doorway, regarding this new
specimen with q private convict IN in
her soul that she should never prove
equal to the task Of managing him.
She looked upon his intrusion into
her little fold much as some peaceful
shepherd might at the sudden appear
ance d mountain lion among his limo.
cent flock. Mastering her chagrin IS
best she could, Dora called her school
together, and soon after approached
her unwelcome visitor with very evi.
dent air OF embarrassment
"Do you intend to remain in the
school. sirF"
For the life OF her she didn't know
how she ought to address him.
"Yes'm," answered the newcomer,
with a meekness which. contrasted with
his fine, powerful physique, made her
strongly inclined to laugh in his face.
al calk'lste to come afternoons. Can't
come much mornin's, bein' as hev to
help Uncle Jake with the crops"
"Oh |" said Dora, gently, suppress
ing q smile, "your name, please?"
Larry Farnswoth. Squire Jake
Farnsworth over yonder," with an awk-
ward nod OF his handsome head in the
direction OF the sluire's mansion,
"where I'm stayin', is my uncle"
"Yes," said Miss Glade, with polite
interest. "And nov please tell me
what you wish to study, Mr.. Farms
worth"
dispose We call me Larry, Miss" said
this great, fne-lookin1 fellow, with the
bashfulness Of child az amt much
used to bein' Mustered, an anyhow I
reckon I'm one Of yer scholars, iist like
the rest
Certainly" said Dora, somewhat re-
reved, and determining to put bold
face upon the matter at once. "And
now, Larry" with rose blush, in spite
OF herself, "let us proceed to select
your studies"
But the verdant young gentleman
soon disclosed the fact that what he did
know of books might be comprised
within very small space. indeed, while
q model list OF what he didn't know
would form a record as voluminous as
that OF the Whitaker testimony.
Days passed on, and Miss Glade
found them passing very pleasantly.
Her new pupil, though extremely igno-
rant, evidently did his best to improve,
and was otherwise model OF perfect
good behavior. The younger boys,
also, gave far less trouble than at first.
Whether he issued private orders to
them outside, or whether it was
threatening glance from those com
handing bright gray eyes whenever any
incipient rebellion arose against the
teacher. certain it was that the trouble.
some urchins behaved much better than
before the advent Of the "big scholar"
As for Miss Glade's opinion Of our
hero at the end of month. perhaps we
could not ascertain it more easily than
by glancing at this portion Of letter
written by her to her bosom friend in
the city:
"You have not forgotten my Ignora-
mus, Of whom I wrote you, KittieP Well,
We still have the nonor OF his attend
ance at the school, and will frankly
admit that I should hardly know, now,
how to keep the same school without
him. How or why he does it do not
] prehend to know. but he seems to have