Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-06-19
HOW THE TEACHER WAS TRAPPED.

HOW THE TEACHER WAS TRAPPED.
Mr.. johnson, the high school teacher,
in Brigham, was frst-rate teacher, and
if his obituary had been written, no
doubt it would have declared him to be
ga kind husband and father" But he
was q man of peculiarities for all that,
and one was disapprobation OF kid
gloves. Unnecessary extravaganza
he called them: unhealthy, inconven-
lent, inadmissable. lsn
Now, his twin daughters, Prue and
Patty being just fifteen, naturally thought
otherwise. kid gloves being to the aver
age young miss what water is to ducks.
But all their wishes were Of no avail.
In winter their deicate hands were
made into paws" as Pfue declared, with
mittens, while in summer they were al
lowed nothing dantier than lisle-thread
One lucky day for them, when things
had rolled at school, when the wind was
in the west, the coffee clear, the stake
"done to turn" and all those trifes
that make angels, or the reverse, OF US
were favorably bent, Mr.. Johnson an
nounced at dinner that he thought 1t
would be an excellent plan to form
Speech improvement Society said soei-
ETY. to consist Of the family alone the
object in view to be, as the name i'm
Piled, correctness of speech. 1t was hard
ly to be supposed that the president OF
the society could be guilty Of lapsus
lingua, but it might be interesting to
see how many mistakes ordinary people
are liable to make in one week.
But supposing papa said darling
Prue; 'supposing the sky should fall, or
you should be guilty of inaccuracy', as
you say, what then.
MY daughter said her father benign
ly, in such case, am safe in promising
any reasonable reward you may claim.
Kid gloves ? ventured Patty.
Il am safe, | think. in saying yes,
said her father.
Il choose pearl.colored, cried Prue.
Il will have brown, said Patty.
And | would like drab,' added Mrs.
Johnson. This was at noon-time.
When Mr.. johnson came home at
night, he inquired how soon tea would
be ready.
Just as soon as the tea-kettle boils,
replied his wife pleasantly.
Error one exclaimed the teacher,
with such crushing sense of superiority
that his wife and daughters wondered
that they ever dared to dream Of kid
gloves.
1T is astonishing said Mr.. Johnson,
how people will persist in talking of
boiled tea-kettles' for supper. This is
an instance of the many inaccuracies
that are in daily use. | think our I'M
provement Society will be a success,
Meek Mrs. Johnson said no more dur.
ing supper.
Right across the street from them lived
an elderly widow, who was the object of
many attentions from the neighbors.
That night a snowfall whitened the
side wakes. Mr.. Johnson was an active
and prudent man. He was up betimes,
and cleared his own walk. Then he put
his head in at the door long enough to
say will come to breakfast as soon
as | have shoveled the old lady out
when you get her comfortably aboard
the shovel retorted Prue, you might
bring her in to see US, and hand our kid
gloves at the same time
1t was subdued but very agreeable
husband and father that came in to
breakfast somewhat late, bringing three,
nice, little bundles, which he laid beside
the plates Of his wife and daughters.
Prue and Patty found their favorite
shades in number FIVE French kids, and
Mrs. Johnson rejoiced in a whole box Of
dainty gloves.
Il am of the opinion, on the WHOLE
said the teacher, that criticism within
the family circle is undesirable. In fact
have made up my mind to drop the
L acher henceforth, when open the door,
and you may boil the teakettle,' my
lear, whenever you please.
So that was how the kid gloves were
,arned.-Journal Of Education.
GOULDS WONDERFUL YACHT.
Among the conveniences with which
dr. Gould's yacht will be fitted will be