Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-12-05
MISS PIPER's PUPIL.

Miss Pandora Piper, teacher of music,
who had hard work to keep body and soul
together, but was not unhappy, because,
as she said, she was never left without a
new bonnet for Easter Sunday, and one
black silk dress, somehow, always lasted
until she managed to get new one, re-
ceived very singular note one morn
ing-a note which was handed in at the
door, the landlady's ''girl'' said, by an
"olderly gentleman"
The epistle was enyeloped in the cost
lest and most richly decorated envelope
to be procured for love or money any
where. The paper, nearly as thick as
cardboard, was to match. A coat Of arms
was in the corner and the words below
were as follow:
Miss PIPER: A person of neglected.
ederkashun is wishfull to be undertook.
Win kali at 8.
MISTER SLIGER.
my gracious!" calculated Miss Pando-
ra, che must Lave been neglected, that's
certain. 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 stationary
as this. And coat of arms, too Shod-
dy, suppose, hut SO that he's respectful,
why should I care for that ? He wilt
probably pay we'll, and I've lost Anne
Eliza Griggs by marriage, just as she was
| beginning to take variations.
mora, shall be in if new pupil-a
gentleman-c calls at o'clock"
Nora, who liked Miss Piper. who often
gave her little presents and who kept on an
upper shelf of her closet some soothing
balsam which she was always ready to
apply to the poor girls awkward fingers.
which we're always being cut or burnt, or
pinched in something, gave an amiable
| grin and offered to polish up the crate
when she had a minute, ''seeing stranger
was coming"
The morning wore away. Two little
girls had gone through their exercises and
a heavy lady who took lessons in vocal
music had nearly burst a blood vessel in
endeavoring to gain certain high note,
which was the object of her ambition.
Miss Piper had been around the corner
to give lesson there, and over the way
to see another pupils practicing.
| She came home in hurry, arranged
her hair, saw that the little parlor was
neat. and awaited her guest with feverish
anxiety.
| At last he came.
Nora showed some one upstairs, and
there entered at the door an elderly gem
] tleman of benign appearance, dressed in
the latest fashion, but not without regard
to age, who bowling low, remarked:
81 hope am not late, mum. I know
your time must be very valuable"
81 am sure I only wish everybody was
as upctual,' said Miss Piper. ut is ex-
4ctly s o'clock.'
you're very kind mum, said the gen.
tleman, seating himself as Miss Piper mo-
toned him to chair. "I'm an oldish
pupil, suppose you think but III ex-
plain. T think I've explained in my note,
but I'll explain again. I've been neg
ected not from any unkindness-for my
mother did the best she could for me-but
we were very poor. don't wish to men
| ton the humble position l always oceu-
pied until year ago, when somebody
came from England and hunted me up.
Mother was dead, poor dear! but this is
how it was Father was very rich and up
in the world mother was house maid.
He married her, and his mother was flu
rlous, and mother couldn't stand it. She
ran away; she came here and lived an
honest, hard working life. It was only
when she died that she told me my name
was not Noggings, but Sliger. and that
she had written to my father, or got some
lawyer to write, and he was dead too, and
l came into the property and left the hum
bic position I won't allude to, and-well,
I'm rich, but don't know anything, and
before 1 go to England want to be edu-
Gated. You understand ?''
TITS very laudable ambition, I'm
sure," said Miss Piper. II usually teach
music, but, of course l can undertake the
English branches
Eyes num-" began the gentleman has
tily. " want to begin with music-the
! pyanner. | have never known any one in
high life who could not play uron the py-
amer. Begin with that and go on to spell
ing, which 1 am conscious that l sadly
need"
1t was not the usual course, but there
was serious and digni6ed manner about
this ''neglected' person that made 1t i'm
possible for Miss Piper to say no. She
mentioned her terms and set the hours for
the lessons, and SO skillfully emphasized
the name Of the instrument that Mr.. Sill
ger before his departure had begun to call
it ''the peearpo'' instead of the "pyan-
ner."
At the door. however, he gave her a
dreadful shock.
81 wish mum, he remarked, "to begin
with tunes.
Miss Piper was conscientious little