Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-06-05


 Julia Wolcott. WON BY A SCHOOL IMAM.
 The school directors of District No. 10, Perry township, were holding meeting. A Nobody would have thought 1t. The chair man was leaning against his front gate with his checked shirtsieeveso turned back and an ax in his hand, surveying the other two members of the board, who stood outside the fence. 2''11e '.z--s. ----.' 3s
 It was meeting, nevertheless; and it's ob- ject was nothing less important than the se- lection of teacher for the full term.
 'Lyman Doty spoke to me about having the school, ]" said the chair, dubiously.
 "Lyman Dotyi" exclaimed Steve Penney, . stalwart young fellow, with thick brown hair, white teeth and a square chin to make up for his lack of downright good looks. "Why, Lyman Doty couldn't teach baby. He quit school before I did, long enough, and he hasn't studied anything but potatoes and winter wheat since, that know of. Better stick to his farm -eh, LarkinT' ~"
 ''Guess you're right, ," responded tho third member of tho board, little man with a cheerful face and . tuft of gray hair sticking straight out from his chin.
 And the chairman nodded his agreement.
 "Well, !" continued little Mir. Larlin, with an air of importance, "I've had an applica- tion that guess will suit. It's sort of rela- tive of my wife's, and just as nice girl as ever was. Smart, too. She's got certificate for two years, last examination. She'd make 2 splendid teacher, Molly Sanborn would"
 'Sanbornl" said Steve Tenny, shortly; Sgo IA the riverT"
 'That's where she's from,n said Mr. Lar kin. "She's old John Sanborns girl-him that died last winter.n
 Steve frowned. .,E
 You won't put her into the school, then, with my consenti" he said determinedly.
 "What" said Mir. Larkin, with a gasp, while the chairman stared. ..
 "What would you think, D the young man responded, Eff man sold you fifty head of sheep at good price, and half of them died off in the next week of disease he must have known beforehandf That was the trick John Sanborn served mo. And he laughed in my face when wanted my money back. No, sirl I can't conscientiously consent to putting any of the Sanborns in that school. Bad lot, in my opinion"
 Mir. Larkin's small, bright eyes snapped
 "Old Sanborn wasn't too straight, and everybody knows it." he admitted. .sBut what that's got to do with Molly is moro than can see. She's as fine girl as you ever set eyes on; not a bit of her father about her.n
 "Well, well, fight it out between you" said the chairman, goodnaturedly, and returned to his wood chopping. -.--' ....
 The tall young man and the little old man walked up the street together, talking briskly.
 Mir. Larkin was hot and indignant; Steve was cool and immovable. .,-. g.-..,. s.1.
 'There don't seem to be any mercy in you. D said the former, almost tearfully, as Steve was preparing to turn in at his gate. .sIf they'd been left we'll of it would be different, but they're poor as poverty, and Molly needs the place the worst way" ..,'s,. ts, .>
 ''You hadn't mentioned that,n said the young man, turning back. "If that's the case"- E-...- . .~ >.t.
 MT. Larkin walked away triumphant five minutes later.
 But Steve Penney had surrendered with bad grace. D.,
 ''I couldn't hold out after that, you see, , he said to his mother, relating the story over their tea; "but don't approve of it. There's not much good in the Sanborns or lose my guess" res, ~,ffa,.ss.3 r-.. .=,;
 School began two weeks later, when the first cool wave was depopulating front porches and increasing the attraction near kitchen stoves. -. '..-. -...' .....'-
 Steve Penney held to his opinion concern ing the new school teacher and acted ac- cordingly. @a s -...~~t
 He did not call at the schoolhouse the first day, as was his custom, to leave the register and see if anything was wanted-the chair man having turned these duties over to his younger colleague. s.a.,.s -,s.r..
 He sent the register by a boy, and was ut terly indifferent as to whether anything was wanted. He turned the subject when the new teacher was mentioned; and he avoided MT. Larkin's comfortable home, where the teacher boarded. - sa. ', s,- t4r-'.,
 The little man made him call, however, a month or so after school had begun.
 "Guess you'll have to own up to being in the wrong, Steve," he began. "We hain't had O teacher for years that's given the sat, isfaction that Molly does. The children pave about her-an of 'em." rs.:.- ...f5ve5'>
 But Steve was unimpressed.
 My opinion has yet to be altered, :" he said rather stifhy. -e.., T.-
 And MT. Larkin looked discouraged.
 ''She spoke about needing Q new broom and water pail, :" he said as he rose. "l; told her she'd better come to you about 1t ," e'e
 "That school house had . new broom last term, and water pail term before last" said the young director alphabetically.
 And MT. Larkin took . discomfited leave
 The next Sunday evening the young man, sitting in the pew of . small wooden church with his mother, and allowing his eyes tc rove about during the rather long sermon suddenly discovered . new face, and sal studying it for the rernainder of the evening.
 It was that of a young girl-not remark ably pretty girl, but fair and fresh and inno cent with a bright intelligence in her darl eyes and sweetness in her full lips.
 "Who is she'" was his first question afte, the services were concluded, addressed, as il happened, to little Mir. Larxin, who had come in lata
 "Thata" tho latter asked in astonishment "Why, that's our teacher-thatas only Molly Sanborn. That's my wife she's with, don', you sect am waiting to take them home
 Steve Penney found himself wishing quit. frequently after that that the new teache, would come to him about the broom anC water pail
 Not that he should furnish them if he found they were not needed, but he felt that h, should not object to an interview with tn, school teacher.
 He even mentioned the subject to MT. Lar kin carelessly when he met him one day.