The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-08-02
Jennie's Mission.

Jennie Orson, the Pretty little school |
mistress, leaned her head upon her hand
and gazed out over the gray spring fields,
whose dreary plowed furrows were thrust
ing their ragged faces up through the
rapidly disappearing snow.drifts,
"Wby, how the snow has gone to day."
she said, as the changed appearance OF
the sky struck her eye. II was the last
hay OF M,rch, aud oil winter long the
snow had been heaped in miniature
mountain ranges Ivy the road sides and
"n the fields and meadows. During the
last week warm weather had SGT ia. max
ing rapid inroads upon snow and ice.
The children came running under the
window where Jennie stood, playing at
Round the House, Jennie watched
them absently Her rlodGing round IN
tho country school-ro seemed very
dull and mean to her. She sighed Tor
some great and lofty mission.
| How she hated her homely life as she
looked back over its nineteen uneveutiul
years. Even the thought Of her fond,
true lover, Jack X Ilogg, who was build
ing the house where she was to reign
mistress, annoyed her to-day How poor
and monotonous life stretched before
her! How much better to perform some
one grand act and die than to live on 10
old age in this dreamy fashion!
Suddenly she saw by the noon-mark
that it was time to call in her scholars.
She took the great ruler, with which she
inflicted punishment on the palms of
uuruly boys, and raped loudly on the
window.
"Oh, teacher, the creek is getting aw
ful high" said Tommy Smith, Gs he
| plunged into his scat. And Jennie did
not correct him for the improper use OF
"awful," which proved to be more ap-
propriate in this case than teacher or
pupil supposed.
She ran her eye over the room to see
that no pupils were missing.
"Where is Tod Brown" she asked.
I do not see him here"
Tod was the smallest child in the
school; little boy scarcely 8 years old,
who was placed in her charge not SO
much to learn his primer, as to keep him
out Of bis mothers way.
| ttT I.T, I'D dou,, h, A. 1911. - ,o;l
Tommy Smith. "playln' throw pebbles
into the water. 1 told him school was
called"
"Yuu should have brought him along,'
Jennie said. rtproviugly. But go and
bring him new; and hurry, for your les
son III arithmetic comes on directly"
Tommy came back in brief space of
time, white and frightened.
"Tod is standin' on stone and cryin'
and the waters all round him." he said.
Il couldn't get near him at all"
TIE whole shool rose en- masse, and
Jennie at the head Of the small army led
on to the rescue OF Tod.
Yes, there he stood on stone which q
little time before had been on the shore,
but now, alas! was in the midst OF the
rapidly swelling stream, beyond the
reach of any one in that little group.
8 Mammal mammal he called in piie
GUS tones, 'oome and take Tod. Tod il
'fraid. Come, mamma, GOMEZ
The water was rising higher ever!
= moment. What was TO be doue must l.,
e done quickly, or the angry waves woul,
K ssize poor little Tod and sweep HIN
e away down the swelling stream.
1 John" cried jennie. speaking to th
l. largest boy in the hnck. you stand Der
- uu the bank while walk out to Tod
/ shall waut you to take him from N
arms MS snon as | haYe him safe. Som
of The larger girls must bold fast to you
coat 30 that you do not iall iuto Ii
( stream"
v Then Jennie drew her skirts clos
ahont her slight hSurs aud, plunge
bTavely into the cold waters, sinking a
n most to her waist at the irst step.
Slowly, slowly, she made hsr way 4