The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1888-12-21

the SUPERB lllOuS village king might IN
crease the yearly stipend he received for
salary; and he was between hope and
fear as to whether tho chairman's hand
some daughter, the belle Of the village,
had taken exception to a Christmas token
he had sent her that afternoon by her lit
tie brother
Dorothy Fiint's nature was as much in
direct opposition to her name as her father s
was IN keeping with It. While she was a
dutiful and affectionate daughter, she had
mind of her own and a keen perception
of the right and many of her fathers
transactions. 1t grieved her deeply that
her father should be so merciless and
hard-hearted toward every one save her
self; for it certainly was a fact that he
was utterly Indifferent to every one alike,
and with the exception Of his handsome
Dot, no one could exert the slightest infiu
enCe over him.
Dots little brother brought home the
| Christmas present for her intrusted him
by the schoolmaster, and as Dot was not
in the house, he opened it, as he said, "to
sec if it's better n mine"
1t was merely a volume of poems, nicely
bound in blue and gold, and on the ly-lea1
| was inscribed:
! ITO MISS DOROTHY FLINT: With best
Christmas wishes ofthe giver, jon PPP1N."
Old Mayor" Flint howled worse than
| the wind howled around the ruins of the
| deserted farm-hcu that Job passed as
| he tOiled through the snow. He was not
much Of a hand at writing; but, after
rolling his tongue over the outside of his
! stubble-bearded lips for a few minutes,
| during which time he twisted his head
/ INTO positions which would make it almost
impossible for a ready writer to see what
he was inditing, he produced the follow
ing note;
"OLD GoG-Dsar sir: I beg leave tn give
Hns hal a
DAFT and trust yew ken dew better at it sum
mers else ez hev desided tn fourgo your
| sarvices ez teachur.
Yore obcdyuut Sarvint
EZRA ERAsTUs FLINT,
Mayer OF Ciderburg."
This being done he placed 1t in an en-
| velope, retied the volume, then inserted
the letter beneath the strings that bound
| tho package and sent his boy to summon
| job to the house.
'Mayor' Flint was at heart a timid man.
| and after sending his boy on the erraud
he repente not having had him carry tho
/ volume and letter IS we'll be foresaw
| trouble IN the village, for Cog was well
| liked and the villagers had a voice them
| selves regarding who should be school
master. He could not tell either to
| Job or tho villagers, the true reason for
the dismissal; neither could he make a
! truthful explanation to Dot, for he feared
Il
statement, as she was always singing
praises of his kindness toward his little
pupils.
1t irritated the naturally turbulent des-
pot to think that the poor sChoolmaster
had dared to lift his eyes toward Dot.
But be knew little of tho teachers strength
of character. The mute Christmas token
was the only evidence he would have
given 10 indicate that the poor and hu mble
mentor of the district school entertained
toward tho rich mans daughter any other
feeling than that of the most profound rev
! ereuce and loyal respect.
Mayor" Flint decided to be absent
whom Job should arrive, and he left orders
that the parcel on the comfortable should
be handed the schoolmaster
Job puffed and blowed and kicked SO
| hard on the scraper outside the magnate' S
front door that no was heard long before
he attempted TO ring the bell. As he was
about to ring, the door opened softly and
/ Dot held out a hand of welcome that sent
an electric thrill through the schOolmas-
I ter's system when her litCle fluger-tips
touched his caloused hand. Job was an
I lchabod Crane in appearance, but his man
/ ncrs were those of a polished member Of
1 the intellectual and refined grade in soci-
city, ever which money is without influ-
ence; go, externally, no appeared entirely
at ease in Dots company, yet if the truth
1
meath his vest like q Gagged bivd.
Here is "a Christmas present, Job, ]
made for YOU myself said Dot, handing
/ him a parcel, IS he stood ready TO depart
| "You must not open II until you hear the
Christmas chimes at midu ght q, I al
most forgot that Father left it for you, "
I she added by the way of explanation.
I presume il may contain another Christ
mas remembrance"
| As she took the volume from the table.
/ job watched her be sutiful face, and when
4 their eyes next met his own told of his
smother7d passion as plainly as if he had
( spoken. She tremblsd, blushed and hung
her head as she Inn0cent,y preferred the
package addressed TO h,m by her father.
job glanced a. tho package and started
as he recognized the volume through its
torn wrapper
Mechanic alIy he received the book, but
Il foll from his ncrve,css grasp. He es-
saved to speak, AID n $ tongue refused its
function. With one parting glance nc
tottered through the doorway and along
tho path leading 20 the road, where he
face as the moon shone on q window in
the second story of the house.
He walked with head cast down, neither
looking to the right nor the left. lie was
dazed lie was like one whose reason was
clouded. II her eyes spoke the truth-but
no, his Chr. stmus tokenl W ny lid she
return 10 il suca w S the c1so' And yet
no. he had even no right to t ink that. II
might hsve been natural embarrassment
through fear ~ wodaaiag his feelings by
the rctuFu of the book.
"HcIlcw, GoEg exclaimed familiar
voice, rs the path was blocked by o form
that was irrecoFa fable beneath its great
coat and heavy muffler. Hyor's letter
Eur yer got outer the Pustrffls. got one