The Mineral argus., 1884-11-13

mysteries of the alphabet, but they
proved to be attentive and evinced such
a desire to learn that Hayloid did not
regret having commenced with "such
slim prospects,"
The teacher boarded in a quiet fam
lily, where the sunlight that a little
child brings is unknown, where q deaf
old man and a knitting old woman sat
down nightly to the exploration of
their own thoughts. All that Hayloid
could get out of the old man was "hah"
with n hand behind his ear-and as
the old lady seemed to drop a stitch
every time he addressed her, she was
allowed to pursue an uninterrupted
course of ADMINISTRATION.
Windin' Blades and Weed, day by
day, continued to be the only pupils.
Corn was laid by" and the farmers
boys had no particular work to perform,
vet the census of the school remained
the same. To watch the development
of Weeds mind was an interest
ing study. She was remarkably
bright, and learned with a readi-
ness which surprised Hayloid. VIM
din Blade was, after all, inclined to
be idle. He had a passion for carrying
grasshoppers in his pockets. These in
sects occupied his entire time on the
playground, and at last, after much eX-
pertinent, he succeeded in Harvesting
them to a diminutive wagon which he
had constructed, The teacher remon-
strated with him concerning this useless
absorption, and once he spoke to his
father, but the old man instead of be-
ing ~displeased, smiled until the tobacco
juice ran out of the corners of his
mouth.
"Let him CO." he replied, 81 was
sorter o. that turn myself when l was a
boy, an daddy allowed / wouldn't
amout to nothin,' but arter a while l
turned out to be the best pillow hand in
the country"
Winter came, and still no other pu-
pills appeared. By the bright log fire,
while the snowstorm ragged outside,
Hayloid found himself better contented
than he had ever been before, and his
interest, insteahof growing less, be-
came greater. The teacher had at
first decided that he would not beg for
pupils, and on no occasion did he ask
the farmers to send their children.
He was treated politely, yet he could
see that the people ofthe neighborhood
cared nothing for his society, but as
this Indifference was mutual he spent
very little time in regret.
One day Windin' Blades failed to
come, but Weed, with her face all
aglow with healthful exercise, came as
usual. When she had hung up her
homespun cloak, and shaken the snow
from the bright hair, Hayloid asked:
Where is your brother?"
"He amt here"
al see he is not here, but where is
hep"
"At home"
"Why didn't he Gomez"
"Had to go to MILL"
"Weed, don't you think you are learn
ing very rapidly?"
Eyes, sir"
II don't think I ever saw any one
make such progress. You have a fine
order of mind, and I hope that after I
leave the nelghborhood you will pursue
your studies still"
"You are not thinking about leaving
are your" looking up with eyes in
which there lurked shadows of sad
ness.
II shall not leave Immediately, but
in justice to myself L cannot remain
here much longer"
She twisted the flax homemade but
ton on her dress, and gazed fixedly into
the roaring fire.
"Do you want me to stay here?" he
asked.
eyes" twisting the button.
"But you know 1 cannot stay here al
ways"
mo-" she replied with frightening
eyes, 1--WE cannot stay anywhere always.
Whe have to die some time"
"Why, Weed, you are running ahead
of you studies. You have jumped from
the fourth reader to an advanced book
of philosophy"
She did not thoroughly comprehend
his meaning, but she laughed and be-
slowed on him a glance which for ever
remained a pleasant memory.
do you, so fresh and vigorous, with
such bloom of perfect life ever think of
dying?"
"Yes," she replied sadly, "my little
sister was the picture of health, with
more bloom than 1 have, and with u
face so bright that everybody wanted
to kiss it, but she died. When they
said that she could not get well I did
not believe them, but one morning,
when l went to the bed and found the
bloom all gone, 1 knew that they had
told me the truth. Now 1 know that
anybody can die and that the bloom
does not mean life, but many times
naono daafb -