Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-07-13

SPEAKING TOO SOON.

1t was asunshiny May day, with an i'm
mense bee booming among the lilacs ani
peonies in the school garden, an intense
glow of golden light on the grass, and {
dreamy languor in the air that made Alic,
Hopkins sleepy in spite of herself, as She
sat with the little children's copy books ir
a pile before her. irscribing the month I
marks upon their covers, according t.
their respective merits.
Alice was scarcely more than a chilt
herself. Barely nineteen, with slight
young figure, color that came and wen
at the slightest variation of her pulse, ant
pleading hazel eyes. it was the hardes
| work in the world to assume the dignity
that was necessary for her position as as
sstant teacher.
II never saw such babyisbness in ny
ife!'' said Miss Negley, the principal
and I shall not put up with it. Mis-
Hopkins-don't you think it! Dignity
in the educational line, is everything
Aud do not call it fitting to the position
of assistant principal to be racing with th'
children in their MONDAY games, aD(
dressing corn-cob doll on the sly for little
Priscilla Jones, to say nothing about
bursting out crying like great baby
when Billy Smith killed the robin-red
breast with stone. Dignity, Miss Hop
kins-dignity should ever be the watch
word of our profession
Miss Negley was tall and grim, with
| heavy black hair, sallow complexion,
several missing front teeth, and something
very like a mnustache.
Alice Hopkins covered before her severe
glance
"I'm very sorry!' faltered she. ''I'l
try to be good ~
"More like child than everl" sale
Miss Negley, desralringly.
! "I-I mean" Alice FASTENED to correc
herself-''I will endeavor to set a guart
upon my rash impuIses.''
| ''That sounds more like tip said Mis-
Negley. ''And now, Alice, see here !
expect some of the school trustees here to
I morrow
sob, dearl" said Alice, remembering
the signal failure of her class upon SINH
lar occasion, not so very long ago. 81
ism It another examination, hope ?''
"Worse than that said Miss Negley-
star worse y
| Alice lifted her hazel eyes in amazement
What could be worse than Fanny Dow
spelling cat with a k, and Lucy Malley as
serting that Baltimore was situated on tn
left bank of the river Nile.
"There is proposition ON foot to reduce
our salaries" said Miss Negley. Actual
( ly, to reduce our salaries!''
s'Oh,'' said Alice. "But mine is very
small already. Only one hundred dollars
year. I don't think they can reduce i
much"
"They can reduce it to fifty, cam
they ?'' said Miss Negley, shortly.
I'm that case" ventured Alice, II coul'
go and be shop girl iu my uncle's stor
in the city. One must live''
you've no proper PRIDE" said Mis-
Negley. "a shop girl indeed But don
intend that they shall carry out the nefar
ious plan. If My good gracious me
there comes Mr.. Barthorne now jogging
along on his old gray horse just as com
posed as if he wasn't bent on an errand of
evil. They do say that old Barthorne Ii
the head and front of the whole bust
ness. I'll show him A reduction of sal
aries, indeed I dare say he means t.
wheedle consent out of us beforehand
so that everything shall seem smooth to
morrow when the committee meets. Blu
he'll iud that he has mistaken his Gus
toner this time -
and to grow pink and white by turns, afte
her usual fashion when she was disturbed
IL am so frightened ~ hesitated she
please may go home ?''
''Yes, you little coward,'' impatiently
responded Miss Negley; THAT IS, if yor
haven't the courage to stand up for your
self and your rights.!'
"But Mr.. Barthorne has always been sc
Kind to me,'' faltered Alice Hopkins, "anG
| if he should tell me that it was best. l al
most know that should conSent to hav.
! ing my salary reduced. You know, deal
Miss Negley, that if it hadn't been fol
him, never should have received the ap
polntment at all"
II don't WONDER" said Miss Negley
aposJrophizing the ceiling, that they
aren't willing to allow women the privilege
of suffrage in this benighted country
And you, Alice Hopkins. you may &c
home You certainly will 6e of no use
at all to me in fighting this BATTLE"
And Alice, heartily thankful for this
acknowledgements reprieve, put the copy
books in the desk-drawer, piled up the
dictionary and ueGner. caught her little
pink lawn sun-bonnet from its nail, and
vanished like flying shadow into the
the nearest patch of cedar woods.
Miss Negey sat very upright, with
folded arms and prominent elbows, heI
nose slightly tinctured with the rosy hue
Of coming battle, her lips tightly com
pressed while Mr.. Barthorne, a pleasant
faced gentleman of fve-and-forty OF
Whereabouts, trotted up to the school house
door, lelsurely dismounted, tied his horse
to the hitching post, and, totally uncon
clous that he was observed alike by Miss
Negley from her post of authority on the
school room dais, and little Alice Hopkins
by the spring in the woods, paused to dust