Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1884-02-23
Alice's Surprise.


and peonies in the garden, and an
intense glow of golden light on the
grass, and dreamy langour in the
air that Alice Hopkins, sleepy in
spite of herself as she sat with the
little children's copybooks in a pile
before her, inscribing the months
marks upon the covers, according to
their respective merits
Alice was scarcely more than a
child herself, Barely nineteen, with
slight, young figure, color that
came and went with the slightest
variation of her pulse, and pleading
halle eyes, it was the hardest work
in the world to assume the dignity
that was necessary for her position
as assistant teacher.
81 never saw such babyishness in
my life!n said Miss Negley, princi-
pail "and / shall not put up with it
Miss Hopkins-don't you think it
Dignity, in the educational line, is
everything. And do not call it fit
ting to the position of the assistant
principal to be racing around with
the children in their MONDAY games,
and dressing corn cob doll on the
SLY for little Pricilla Jones, to say
nothing about bursting out crying,
like great baby, when Billy Smith
killed the robin redbrest witha stone.
Dignity, Miss Hopkins-dignity
should ever be the watchword of our
profession.
Miss Negley was tall and grim,
with heavy black hair, a sallow COM
plexion, several missing front teeth,
and something very like moustache.
Alice Hopkins cowed before her
savage glance.
"I'm very sorry" faltered she.
"I'll try to be good!"
"More like child than ever !"
said Miss Negley despairingly.
Ell mean,'' Alice fastened to
correct herself-s'I will endeavor to
set guard upon my rash impulse. !"
"That sounds more like it," said
Miss Negley. "And now, Alice, see
here. I expect some of my school
trustees here morrow"
ooh, dear I" said Alice remember
ing the signal failure of her class
upon a similar occasion not very
long ago. cit isn't another exam
ination, I hope ?"
"Worse than that" said Miss Neg
ley-s'far worse -
Alice lifted her hazel eyes in
amazement. What could possibly be
worse than Fanny Dow spelling cat
with "k," and Lucy Mailey assert
ing that Baltimore was situated on
the left bank of the river Nile.
"There is proposition on foot to
reduce our salaries" said Miss Neg
ley. Actually to reduce onr sal
aries |"
"Oh," said Alice. "But mine is
very small already. Only 800 a
year. don't think they can reduce
it much"
"They can reduce it to $50, can't
they "said Miss Negley, shortly.
SIN that case," ventured Alice.
II could 60 and be shopgirl in my
uncle's shop in the city. One must
live ?" sta
you've no proper PRIDE" said
Miss Negley. ga shopgirl indeed
but ! don't intend that they shall
carry out their nefarious plan. If
my good gracious there comes
Mr.. BARITONE now jogging along on
his old grey horse just as composed
as if he wasn't bent on an errand of
evil. They do say that old BARITONE
is the head and foot'o the whole bus
mess. I'll show him A reduction
of salaries indeed f!
II dare say he means to wheedle a
consent out of us beforehand, so that
everything shall seem smooth to.
morrow when the committee meets. !"
T Little Alice began to tremble all
over, and to grow pink and white by
turns. after her usual fashion, when
she was disturbed.
81 ana SO frightened" hesitat-
ed. "Please may I 90 home?"
"Yes, you little coward" impa-
tiently responded Miss Negley ;"that
is If you haven't the courage to
stand up for yourself and your
rights"
"But Mr.. BARITONE has always