The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1885-01-16
MISS PIPER'S PUPIL.

who had hard work to keep soul and
body together, but was not unhappy, be.
. cause, as she said, she was never left
without n new bonnet for Easter Sun.
day, and one black silk dress, somehow,
always lasted until she managed to got
anew one, received very singular note
one morning-a note which had been
handed in at the door, the landlady's
girl" said, by an "olderly gentleman. F"
The epistle was enveloped in the cost
liest 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 follows
Miss PIPER:. A person of negluckted
edercashun is wishful to be undertook.
Will kali at B.. MISTER SLIGER.
my gracious" calculated Miss Pand-
ora; "he must have 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,
l suppose. Poor people can't afford
such stationery as this. And coat of
arms, too! Shoddy, | suppose; but so
that he's respectful, why should care
for that? He will probably pay well,
and I've lost Anne Eliza Griggs by mar
riage, just as she was beginning to take
variations.
Mora, shall be in if new pupil-a
gentleman-calls at 3 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 awk
ward fingers, which were always being
cut or burnt or pinched in something,
gave an amiable grin and offered to
polish up the CRATE when she had min
ute, 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 blood
vessels in endeavoring to gain certain
high note, which was the object of her
ambition.
Miss Piper had been around the cor
mes to give lesson there, and over the
way to see another pupils practicing.
She came home in hurry, /. angling
her hair, saw that the little parlor was
neat, and awaited her guest with fever
ish anxiety
At last he came.
Nora showed some one upstairs and
there entered at the door an elderly
gentleman of benign appearance,
dressed in the latest fashion, but not
without regard to his age, who, bowling
low, remarked:
81 hope l am not late, mum. know
your time must be very valuable"
81 am sure only wish everybody was
as punctual," said Miss Piper. "It is
exactly 3 O'clock"
you're very kind, num-" said the
gentleman, seating himself as Miss Piper
motioned him to chair. 'I'm an old
ish pupil, suppose you think; but I'll
explain. l think I've explained in my
note, but I'll explain again. I've been
not from any unkindness->
for my poor mother did the best she
could for me-but We were very poor.
I don't wish to mention the humble po-
sition l always occupied until a 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, aud his mother
was furious, and mother couldn't stand
it. She ran away; she came here, and
lived an honest, Woodworking life. 1t
was only when she died she told me my
name was not Noggings, but Slger, and
that she had written to my father, or
got some lawyer to write, and he was
dead, too, and ! came into the property
and left the humble position l won't al
Jude to, and-well, I'm rich, but don't
know anything, ard before | go to
England, want to 10 educated. You
cts very laudatle ambition, I'm
sure," said Miss Piper. g. usually teach
music, but, of course, l can und; rtake
The English branches
eyes, num-" replied the gentleman,
hastily, 81 want to begin with music
the pyanner. l have never known any
Dne in high life who could not play upon
the pyanner. Begin with that and 60 |
On to spelling, which l am conscious
mai Sauly neeu.
1t was not the usual course, but |
there was serious and dignified man
ner about this neglected" person that
made it impossible for Miss Piper to say
50. She mentioned her terms and set
The hours for the lessons, and so skill
FULLY emphasized the name of the instru-
nent that Mr.. Sliger before his de-
parture had begun to call it ''the pee
arno' instead Of the ''pyanner.
At the door, however, he gave her
dreadful shock.
II wish, num-" he remarked, Ito be-
rim with tunes.
Miss Piper was a conscientious little
teacher, but she felt that there were
people in this world who must have
heir own way, and Mr.. Sliger's first
essen consisted of the "White Cockade.
He had very good ear; he was
anxious to learn. From the white
Jockade" he went on to 'Iife Let Us
Cherish" and poor, guilty Miss Piper,
Who felt that the notes had very little to
10 with his performance, beat time and
,o,1nfo1