Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-09-24


Whateer the future has in store,
Hold We fast the good time now.
MISS PIPER'S PUPIL.
Miss Pandora Piper, teacher of music,
who had hard work to keep soul and
body together, but. was not unhappy,
because, as she said, SIZE was never left
without new bonnet for Easter Sun
day, and one black silk, somehow, al
ways lasted until she managed to get a
new one,received very singular note one
morning-a note which had been hand
ed in at the door, the landlady's "girl"
said, by an "olderly gentleman"
The epistle was enveloped in the
costliest and most richly decorated en-
velope to be procured for love or money
anywhere. The paper, nearly as thick
DIS cardboard, was to match. A coat of
arms was in the corner, and the words
below were as follows:
Miss PIPER: A person of negluckted edcr-
cashun is wishful to be undertook. Will kali
at 3. MISTER SL1eER.
"My gracious!" calculated Miss Pan
dora; she must have been neglected,
that's certain. I never saw anything
like that before in all my life! Fatally
forgotten, should say. Well, wonder
what he can be like. He must be rich.
suppose, poor people can't afford such
stationery as this. And coat of arms,
too Shoddy, I suppose, but SO that
he's respectful why should I care for
that? He will probably pay we'll, and
I've lost Anne Eliza Griggs by marriage
just as she was beginning to take varia-
tons.
"Nora, I shall be in If new pupil
gentleman-callsa at o'clock"
Nora, who liked Miss Piper, who Of
ten gave her little presents, and who
kept on an upper shelf in her closet
some soothing balsam which she was
always ready to apply to the poor girls
awkward fingers, which were always be-
ing cut or burnt or pinched in some.
thing, gave an amiable grin and offered
to polish up the CRATE when she had q
minute, seeing stranger was coming.
The morning wore away. Two little
girls had gone through their exercises
and heavy lady who took lessons in
vocal music had nearly burst blood
vessel in endeavoring to gain a certain
high note, which was the object of he1
ambition.
Miss Piper had been around the cor
ner to give lesson there and over the
way to see to another pupils practicing
She came home in hurry, arranging
her hair, saw that the little parlor wa!
neat and awaited her guest with fever
ish anxiety.
Nora showed some one up stairs ani
there entered at the door an elderl,
gentleman of benign appearance
dressed in the latest fashion, but no
without regard to his age, who, bowin1
low, remarked:
II hope am not late, mum. I know
your time must be very valuable"
II am sure I only wish everybody wa
as punctual," said Miss Piper. "It il
exactly 3 o'clock"
you're very kind, num-" said tn,
gentleman, seating himself, as Mis-
Piper motioned him to chair. "I'n
an oldish pupil, I suppose you think
but I'll explain. think I've explaine,
in my note, but I'll explain again. "
been neglected, not from any unkind
ness for my poor mother did the bestsh
could for me-but we were very poor
: don't wish to mention the humble 90
sition I've always occupied until yea
1ago, when somebody came from En-
gland and hunted me up. Mother wa
dead, poor dear! but this is how it was
Father was very rich and up in tn
world; mother was housemaid. H
married her, and his mother was furi
Gus, and mother couldn't stand it. Sh
ran away she came here, and lived a.
honest, Woodworking life. TWAS onl.
when she died she told me my nam
was not Noggings, but Siger, an
that she had written to my father, o
got some lawyer to write, and he wa
dead, too, and I came into the propert,
and left the humble position I won
allude to, and-well, I'm rich, but
don't know anything, and before I g
to England want to be educated. 70
understand"
tits very laudable ambition, T.,
sure," said Miss Piper. II usual
teach music, but, of course, I can under
take tie English branches"
eyes, num-" replied the gentleman
hastily. Il want to begin with mus
the pyanner. I have never know
any one in high life who could n<
play upon the pyanner. Begin wit
that and go on to spelling, which I al
conscious I sadly need"
It was not the usual course, but the1
was a serious and dignifed name
about this NEGLECTED" person that mad
it impossible to say so. She me1
toned her terms and set the hours fo
the lessons, and so skillfully emphs
sized the name of the instrument tha
Mr.. Sliger before his departure had be
gun to call it "the peearno" instead c
the "pyanner."
| At the door, however, he gave her
dreadful shock.
|, Il wish, num-" he remarked, Ito be
gin with tunes"
Miss Piper was conscientious ittl
teacher, but she felt that there wer
people in this world who must hav
their own way, and Mr.. Siger's firs
lesson consisted of the white Cocl
ade."
He had very good ear; he was az,
ious to learn. From the white Coct
\ade" he went on to Life Let Us Che
.ish, and poor guilty Miss Piper, VIII
, felt that the notes had very little to
. with his performance, beat time an
,, l counted.
Meanwhile she found that, leavin
education out of the question, the ma
was very sensible-that he was vel
kindly and amiable. Once corrected
the pronunciation of word he new,
became baekslider on that questio