The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-01-30
ALICES SURPRISE.

1t was sunshiny May day, with
an immense bee booming among the
lllacs and peonies in the school gar
den, and intense glow of golden light
ON the grass. and dreamy sanguor
in the air that made Alice Hopkins
sleepy in spite of herself as she sat
with the little children's copy-books
in a pile before her, inscribing the
months marks upon the covers, ac-
cording to their respective merits.
Alice was scarcely more than a
child herself. Barely nineteen, with
a slight, young figure, eoior that
came ana went At the slightest vari-
alton of her pulse, and pleading ha-
eel eyes, it was the hardest work In
the world to assume the dignity that
was necessary for her position as as
sistant teacher.
IL never saw such babyishness in
my life" said Miss Negley, the prin-
cipal, land | shall not put up with
it, Miss ,Hopkins-don't you think
it? Dignity, In the educational line,
is everything. And ! do not call 1t
fitting to the position of the assist
ant principal to be racing round
with the children in their noon day
games, and dressing a corn cob doll
on the sly for little Priscilla Jones,
to say nothing about bursting out
crying, like a great baby, when Billy
Smith killed the robin red breast
with stone. Dignity, Miss Hop
kins-dignitv should ever be the
watchwo ORD of our profession.
Miss Negley was tall and grim,
with heavy black hair, sallow COM
plex;on, several missing front teeth,
and something very much like a
mustache.
Alice Hopkins cowed before her
savage glance.
Pm very sorry" faltered she
"I'll try to be good"
More like a child than ever" said
Miss Negley, despairingly.
IL mean," Alice fastened to
correct herself-"I will endeavor to
set guard upon my rash impulse.
That sounds more like it," said
Miss Negley. And now, Alice, see
here. [ Iexpect some of my school,
trustees here Tomorrow.
"Oh, DEAR" said Alice, remember.
ing the signal failure OF her class
upon a similar occasion not so very
long ago. 1T isn't another exami-
nation, | hope?"
Worse than that, said Miss Neg
ly-''far worse"
Alice lifted her hazel eyes in
amazement. What could possibly
be worse than Fanny Dow spelling
cat with "k," and Lucy Mailey as
serting that Baltimore was situated
on the left bank of the river Nile.
"There is a proposition on foot to
reduce our salaries said Miss Neg
lev. Actually to reduce our sala
rles."
oh" said Alice. But mine is
very small already. Only twenty
pounds year. don't think they
can possibly reduce it much"
They can reduce it to ten, can't
they 2" said Miss Negley very short
ly.
"In that case" ventured Alice, Il
could go and be shop girl in my
uncle's shop in the city. One must
live"
You've no proper pride" said
Miss Negley. "a shop girl, indeed.
But | don't intend that they shall
carry out their nefarious plans. If
-
My good gracious mel there
comes Mr.. Barthorne Hew. Jogging
along on his old gray horse just as
com posed as if he wasn't bent on an
errand of evil. They do say that
old Barthorne is the head and foot
of the whole business. I'll show
him! A reduction of salaries, in
deed
Il dare say he means to wheedle
a consent out of us before hand, SO
that everything shall seem smooth
tomorrow when the committee
meets. But hell find that he has
mistaken his customer this time"
Little Alice began to tremble all
over, and to grow pink and white by
turns. after her usual fashion when
she was disturbed.
IL am So frightened" hesitated
she. "Please may | go homer"
Yes, you little coward" inpa-
tiently responded Miss Neglev, that
is if YOU haven't the courage to stand
up for yourself and your rights"
But Mr.. Barthorne has always
been SO kind to me-" faltered Alice
Hopkins, and if he should tell me it
was best, almost know that would
consent to having my salary reduc-
ed. You know. my dear Miss Neg
lley. that if it had not been for him |
never should have received the ap-
pointment at all"
Il don't wsnder," said Miss Neg
ley, apostrophizing the ceiling, that
they aren't willing to allow women
the privilege of suffrage in this be-
nighted country. And you, Alice
Hopkins, you may go home. You
certainly will be of no use to me at
all in fighting this battle"
And Alice, heartily thankful for
this grudgingly-accorded privilege
put the copy books into the desk
drawer, piling up the dictionary and
defner, caught her little pink lawn
sun-bonnet from its nail, and van
ished like a flying shadow into the
nearest patch of green woods.
Miss Negley sat very upright, with
folded arms and prominent elbows,
her nose slightly tincturrd with the
rosy hue of coming battle. her lips