Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1883-08-09
Selected Sfuw.
Speaking Too Soon.

Speaking Too Soon.
It was a sunshiny May day, wher
an immense bee boo ming among tn
lilacs and peonies in the school gar
den, an intense glow Of golden ligh
on the grass, and dreamy laneou
in the air that made Alice Hopkin
sleepy in spite of herself, as she sa
with the little children's copy-book'
in IL pile before her, inscribing thu
months marks upon their covers. ac
riding to their respective merits.
Alice was scarcely more than
child herself. Barely nineteen, witt
a slight, young figure, a color tha
came and went at the slightest varla
ton of her pulse, and pleading haza
ewes, it was the hardest work in the
world to assume the dignity that wa'
necessary for her position as assistant
teacher
Il never saw such babyishness il
my life ! Sud Miss ,Negley the prin
cipal; and | shall not put up will
it, Miss HopNin s-don't you think
it. Di .nitv, in the educational line
IS everything. And | do not call II
fitting to the position OF assistant
principal to be racing around with
:, the children in their MONDAY games
and dressing corncob doll on the
slv for little Priscilla Jones, to say
nothing about bursting out crying
like great baby, when Billy Smith
killed the robinrcdbreast with a
stone. Dignity, Miss Ilopkins-d'g-
nitv should ever be the watchword OF
our profession.
Miss Neylcy was tall and grim,
with heavy black hair, IL sallow com
plexion, several missing front teeth
and sonethin. very like a monstache
Alice Hopkins covered before hel
severe glance.
I'm very sorry " taltcred she, I'LL
try to be good
More like a child than ever said
Miss Negiev, desl"lringly.
IL mean Alice FASTENED to cor
rect herself I will endcayor to SET
IL guard upon my rash impulses.
That sounds more like it J slld
Miss Negley, And now, Alice. see
here expect some OF the school
trustees here tomorrow
oh, dear SAID Alice, remember
ing the signal failure of her class
upon IL similar occasion, not so very
long ago, 1T isn't another cxamlna'
ton, hope =?
Morse than that, said Miss Neg
ley-'far worse
Alice lifted her hazel eyes il,
amazement. What could possibly
be worse than Fanny Dow spelling
cat with "A k, and Lucy Malley assert
ing that baltimore was situated OIL
the left bank of the river Nile"
There is a proposition on foot t'
reduce our salaries, SAID Neglev.-
Actually, to reduce our salaries.
oh dear Alice But mine Is very
small already. Only one hundred
dollars a ve,r. I don't think they
can reduce it much.
They can reduce it to fifty, can
they ? said Miss Nryley, shortly.
I'm that case ventured Alice, q
could 90 and he ii shop girl in my
uncle's store in the city. One must
live
You've no proper pride, said Mis-
Negley. "A shop girl indeed. But
don't intend that they shall carry
out their nefarious plans. lf--My
good gracious me ! there comes Mr.
Barthorne now Jogging along on hl'
old gray horse ust as composed as !
he WASH bent on an erranl OF eVll
They do say that old Barthornc is th'
head and front of the whole business
I'll show him! A reduction OF salar
les, indeed dare say he means t.
wheedle a 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 trembIe al
over, and to grow pink and white D.
! turns, after her usual fashion whel
she was disturbed.
II am so frightened' hesitatet
che please NAV | 90 home?