News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-06-12
Jennie'S Mission
BY ELLA WHEELER.

BY ELLA WHEELER.
''Oh, this dull round of small duties
how tireo am of them all, how [ wish
some grand mission in life would come
to me p'
Jennie Orson, the pretty little school
mistress, leaned her chin upon her hand
as she unused in the above manner, and
gazed out over the gray fields, whose
dreary plowed burrows were thrusting
their ragged faces up through the rapid
ly-disappearing snow-drifts.
''Why, how the snow has gone to-
day." she added mentally, as the
changed appearance of the fields struck
her eye. 1t was the last day of March,
and all winter long the snow had been
heaped in miniature mountain ranges by
the roadsides, and on the fields and
meadows. During the last week warm
weather had set in, making rapid inroads
upon snow and ice.
The children came running under the
window where Jennie stood, playing al
''Round the House. Then they focked
off together toward the brook that rip
pied by the school house a few rods dis
tant. Jennie watched them absently.
Her mind was not upon her duties that
day. Her pIodding round in country
school room seemed very dull and mean
to her. She sighed for some great and
lofty mission.
''If could do some one great act,
heroic and noble" she said to herself,
81 would be willing to die then. What
is life worth if we must plod on forever
like this Z? I am no more than an ant, OF
a spider, or squirrel with the life
live How gladly would give up the
monotony of years of this routine for one
hour of sacrifice, heroism, and then
welcome death"
How she hated her homely life as she
looked back over his nineteen unevent-
full years. She had always lived in this
dull country place, ever since she was a
wee child and her parents had emigrated
to the West. She had received her edu-
cation in this same little schOol-house,
attended divine service there also-as
the place bcasted no church edifice-
and her only knowledge of the world
beyond was obtained by yearly visit TO
the city, ffty miles distant, where the
family supplies were purchased, aud
from few books and newspapers. Now
she was very tired of it all-tired of her
dull past, her duller present, her doubt
lessly dull future. Even the thought
of her fond, true lover, Jack Kellogg,
who was building the house where she
WIS to reign mistress, annoyed her to-
dav. How poor and monotonous life
stretched before her. How much better
to perform some one grand act and die,
than to live ON to old age in this dreamy
fashion. 1t was very romantic glr
who stood there in the little school-room
dreaming her discontented dreams, you
see.
Suddenly she saw by the moon mari
that it was time to call in her scholars
She had no bell-for this was in thu
early days of Wisconsin history, befor'
the railroads had spread their great irol
spider webs all over the State, and Jen
MES school was conducted on yer.
primitive plan. She took the grea
ruler, with which she inflicted punish
ment on the palms of unruly boys, an
raped loudly on the window. Then sh
sat down and waited for the pupils t
come trooping in-not with the regula
Il,
rooms in these days. but helter skeltel
hurry skurry, laughing, pushing eac
other and playing "tag" to the
benches.
oOh, teacher, the creek is getting a7
full high" said Tommy Smith, as
plunged into his seat. And Jennie d
not correct him for the improper use
lawful. :" which proved to be more a
propriate in this case than teacher
pupil supposed.
81 suppose the SHOWS are l meltl
and running into it, she answered,
senfIv. as she took her place at her des
and by another tap of her ruler indicat
that the afternoon session of school v
now in order.
Then she ran her eye over the room
ee that no pupils were missing.
ssWhere is Tod Brown ?" she ask
sI do not see him here.
Tod was the smallest child in
school. little boy scarcely five YET
old. who was placed in her charge,
so much to learn his primer, as to Ike
him out of his mothers way. She '
burdened with two smaller than he
sides a babe in the cradle.
ST left Tod down by the creek"
wered Tommy Smith, ''playin' thr'
pebbles into the water. L told him sch
was called.
seYou should have brought him alo
Tod is only a child, >" Jennie said, repl
ingly. '.But go and bring him now;
hurry, for your lesson in arithm
comes on directly"
Tommy came back in brief space
lime. white and frightened.
.sTod is stannin' on stone and cry
and the waters all round him., he
sT couldn't get near him at all.
The whole school rose en- masse,
Jennie at the head of the small a
led on to the rescue of Tod.
Yes. there he stood on a stone viii
little time before had been on the sh
but now. alas, was in the midst OF
rap,dly-swelIing stream, beyond
reach of any in that little group.
HNammai mamma, he called
piteous tones, "come and take Tod.
is 'fraid. Come, mamma, come y
Jennie looked over her little toc
pupils who crowded about her. No
of :hem was large enough to wade
and rescue Tod. The only boy IN
school who might safely have attem
this had remained at home that da
assist his father.
The water was rising higher e
moment. What was TO be done mus