Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-06-13
SPEAKING TOO SOON.

1t was sunshiny May day, with an
immense bee booming among the lilacs
and peonies in the school garden, an
intense glow of golden light on the
grass, and dreamy languor in the air
that made Alice Hopkins sleepy in
spite of herself, as she sat with the
little children's copy-books in pile
before her, inscribing the months
marks upon their covers, according to
their respective merits.
Alice was scarcely more than child
herself. Barely nineteen, with
slight, young figure, a color that came
and went at the slightest variation of
her pulse, and pleading hazel eyes, it
was the hardest work in the world to
assume the dignity that was necessary
for her position as assistant teacher.
~ never saw such babyishness in
my life!" said Miss Negley, the princ-
pal; land shall not put up with it,
Miss Hopkins don't you think it.
Dignity, in the educational line, is
everything. And | do not call it
fitting to the position of assistant prin-
cipal to be racing around with the
children in their MONDAY games, and
dressing corn-cob doll on the sly for
little Priscilla Jones, to say nothing
about bursting ont crying like a great
baby, when Billy Smith killed the
robin-redbreast with astone Dignity
Miss Hopkins-dignity should ever be
the watchword of our profession"
Miss Negley was tall and grim, with
heavy black hair, sallow complexion
several missing front teeth, and some
thing very like a moustache.
Alice Hopkins covered before her
severe glance.
"Tm very sorry" faltered she. "Ill
try to be good"
"More like child than ever" said
Miss Negley, despairingly
81 mean," Alice hastened to cor
rect berself-'I will endeavor to set a
guard upon my rash impulses"
THAT sounds more like it, said Miss
Negley. "And now, Alice, see here. |
expect some of the school trustees here
tomorrow"
"Oh, dear" said Alice, remembering
the signal failure of her class upon a
similar occasion, not 50 very long ago,
at isn't another examination, hope?"
"Worsc than that" said Miss Negley
-"far wOrse!'
Alice lifted her hazel eyes in amaze
ment. What could possibly be worse
than Fanny Dow spelling cat with q k,
and Lucy Malley asserting that Balti-
more was situated on the left bank of
the river Nile.
"There is proposition on foot to re-
duce our salaries" said Miss Neglcy.
ACTUALLY, to reduce our salaries!'
"Oh," said Alice. "But mine is very
small already. Only one hundred dol
lars year. don't think they can re-
duce it much"
"They can reduce it to fifty, can't
they?" said Miss Negley, shortly.
"In that case" ycntured Alice, 81
could go and be shop girl in my
uncle's store in the city. One must
live"
you've no proper PRIDE said Miss
Negley. "A shop girl indeed! But ]
don't intend that they shall carry out
their nefarious plans. If My good
gracious me! there comes Mr.. Bar.
thorne now jogging along on his old
gray horse just as composed as if he
wasn't bent on an errand Of evil
They do say that old Barthorne is the
head and front of the whole business
I'll show him! A reduction of salaries
indeed! | dare say he means tc
wheedle consent out of us before
hand, so that everything shall seen
smooth tomorrow when the commit
tee meets But he'll find that he ha'
mistaken his customer this time"
Little Alice began to tremble al
over, and to grow pink and white by
turns, after her usual fashion when sh'
was disturbed,