The Penn's Grove record., 1886-08-21
A CHANGE OF HEART.

The school-directors of District No.
10, Perry Township, were holding a
meeting.
Nobody would have thought it. The
chairman was leaning against his 'front.'
gate with his checked shirt-sleeyes turn
ed back and an axe in his hand, survey
ing the other two members of the board,
who stood outside the fence.
1t was a meeting, nevertheless; and
its object was nothing less important
than the selection of a teacher for the
fall term.
Lyman Doty spoke to me about
having the school,, said the chairman,
obviously.
Lyman Doty!'' echoed Steve Ten
ney, a stalwart young fellow, with thick
brown hair, white teeth and a square
chin, to make up for his lack of down.
right good looks. "Why, Lyme Doty
couldn't teach a baby. He quit school
before l did, long enough, and he hasn't
studied anything but potatoes and VIII
ter wheat since, that | know Of. Better
stick to his farm-eh, Larkin?"
"Guess you're right" responded the
third member of the board, a little man
with a cheerful face and a tuft of gray
hair sticking straight out from his Chin.
And the chairman nodded his agree
ment.
"Well," continued little Mr.. Larkin,
with an air of Importance. 1--WE had
an application that | guess will suit.
It's a sort of relative of my wite7s, ard
lust as nice a girl as eyer was. Smart,
too. She got a certificate for two years,
last examination. She'd make a SPLEEN
did teacher, Molly Sanborn would"
"Sanbornln said Steve Tenney, sharp
ly. "Any% connection of the Sanborns
over the river?"
'That's where she's FROM" said Mr..
Larkin. "She's old John Sanborn's
girl-him that died last winter"
Steve frowned.
"You won't put her into that school,
then, with my co~nsent!' he said deter
m~inedly.
''What?" said Mr.. Larkin, with a
gasp, while the chairman stared.
"What would you Think" the young
man responded, eff a man sold you fifty
head of sheep, at a good price, and half
of them died off in the next week, of a
disease he must have known before
hand? That was the trick John Sanborn
served me. And he laughed in my lace
whBn | wanted my money back. No,
sirl | can't conscientiously consent TO
putting any of the Sanborns IN that
School. Bad lot, in my opinlonP
Mr.. Larkin's small, bright eyes snap
ped.
"Old Sanborn wasn't any too straight,
and everybody knows it," he admitted.
"But what that's got to do with Molly
is more than l a see. She's as tne a
| girl as you ever set eyes on; not a bit OF
her father about her." .
"Well, well, fight it out between you. T.
| said the chairman, good-naturedly, and
| returned to his wood-cnopping.
The tall young man and the little old
one walked on up the street talking
briskly.
Mr.. Larkin was hot and indignant:
Steve was cool and immovable.
'"There don't seem to be any mercy III
you," said the former, almost tearfully,
as Steve was preparing to turn in at his
gate. eff they'd been left off, it would
bedifferent; but they're poor as poverty
and Molly needs the place the worst
way"
"You hadn't mentioned that" said
the young man, turning back. I'll
that's the CASE
Mr.. Larkin walked away triumphant
five minutes later.
But Steve Tenney had surrendered
with a bad grace.
81 couldn't hold out after that, you
see" he said to his mother, relating the
story V G their tea; ''but l don't APP
prove of it. There's not much good IL
the Sanborns, OF l lose my guess"
School began two weeks later, when
the first cool wave was depopula-
ting front porches and increasing the
attraction of kitchen stoves.
Steve Tenney held to his opinion con-
corning the new teacher, and acted
accordingly.
lie did not call at tine school-hOuse
the first day, as was his custom, to leave
the register and see if anything was
wanted-the chairman having turned
these duties over to his younger col
league.
He sent the register by a boy, and
was utterly indifferent as TO whether
anything was wanting. He turned the
subject when the new teacher was men,
toned; and he avoided Mr.. Larkrn's
comfortable home, where the teacher
boarded.
The little mar made him a call, how
ever, a month OF SO after school had be-
gan.
"Guess you'll have to own up to being
in the wrong, Steve,n he began. 1--WE
hain't had q teacher for years that's
given the satisfaction Molly does. The
children rave about her-7all of EN-"
But Steve was unimpressed.
MY opinion has yet to be altered, .
he said, rather stifiy.
Aud Mr.. Larkin looked discouraged
"She spoke about needing a new
broom and water PAIL" he said, as he
rose. Il told her she'd better come &c
you about it,
"That school-house had a new broom
last term, and q water pail the term be
fore last!' said the young director
alphabetically,