The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-01-20


and the chickens amt even killed yet, :"
and snatching her gingham sunbonnet
from its nail, she left the kitchen in
haste
Dodging around the corner of the
wcod-shed in her usual hurried fashion,
she came unexpectedly face to face with
handsome, sunburned young farmer,
whose mischievous smile told its own
story of listeners and the old adage. He
held up warning finger.
ut is all right, Dorcas; don't say a
word ~ and comprehending the situation
at a glance, Dorcas, with a nod Of her
wise head and a suppressed gggle, dis
appeared in the direction of the barn
yard.
Alice carried out her intentions be-
fore she slept She walked, unan-
nounced, into the presence of the
nearest schoOl-director, and shocked
that worthy individual into a state of
temporary stupefaction by announcing
that she would like to engage
the district school for the fall term, at
the same rate of compensation given the
young man they usually employed. The
spectacle of the ricH Farmer Browns
daughter wanting to ''earn her own liv-
ing so overcame her listener that it was
some time before Alice clearly under.
stood that so important a matter must
be laid before his brother directors be-
fore decision could be rendered; but,
having understood it, she went quietly
homeward to await the result. One
thing was certain, whether her applica-
tion were successful or not, she would
never settle down to round of ceaseless
toll with no money and no privileges,
such as had always been her mothers
portion. Life must hold something more
and better, or it was not worth the
having.
Three weeks later a tow-headed boy,
with bare brown feet and perilous
need of the ministrations of a handker-
chief, appeared at the Brown domicile
with a mysterious package for "Miss
Alice"
''Where did you get it3" questioned
Alice.
ale gin it to me. Mr.. Ellis, you
know. He said he'd gin me quarter if
l brung it home"
Mindful of her possible occupation,
Alice paused to demonstrate with the un-
grammatical specimen. "You should
not say 'brung, Isaac; there is no such
word"
''Ain't there now, Miss Alice7 Well,
pears like there oughter be, it comes SO
easy and natral like. But You'll tell
Mr.. Ellis the bundle was all right?"
"Oh, yes, I'll tell him. You shall
have your quarter"
With a snip of her shining scissors, the
cord was severed, and several fresh uncut
magazines, with copies of the Woman's
4sTraaL and other periodicals for which
me hungry soul had longed, fell into her
lap. AS she turned them over and over,
note bearing her address, fell from the
folds of one of the papers Hastily
breaking the seal, she read as follows;
"AIY DEAR .ALIcE-Please accept the in
closed with the best wishes of the giver; and
permit me to state that l am ready to sign
your new Declaration of independence
whenever you will allow me the opportunity.
| believe most devoutly in its thirty nine ar
tlcles--or more, il it has them and shall be
only too happy to indorse them openly, one
and all. Ny home is a humble one as you
already know; but its mistress-if her name
IS Alice-shall reign supreme therein. She
shall wash no milk-pans, make no butter and
cook for no hired man, unless she chooses;
she shall have all the magazines and papers
her soul longs for, an undisputed possession
OF half the contents of the family pocket
book, and the unswerving devotion Of man
who believes in equal rights and privileges
for even the weakest atom of humanity 1t
seems to me that together it will not be diff
ficult to solve the problems of life, and make
the most of its opportunities,
Very trHly yours,
RALPH ELLIS.
P. S. l am compelled to inform you that
the ''deestrick SCHOOL, is already taken by
Squire Jones nephew, circumstance which
| cannot regret as | think the other situa-
tion which is open to you can be made far
more pleasant and profitable. r. e.
And Alice thought so, too.- Woman's
Journal.