Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1889-02-28

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NO
Mr.. Hooker hebbled on and said
nothing moro for some moments, evil
IDENTIFY thinking that Mark was not the
sort Of teacher to try his hand in that
region.
1.-The boys 'mongst us here are
tough set, he said. Takes stocky
sort of fellow to whollop Thorn.
Mebby you'll do, tho. 'Tisn't always
the biggest toad in the puddle that's
the spryest.'
They had arrived at the door of the
house attached to the lighthouse, and
Mark did not attempt to reply, but fol-
lowed him in silently.
This is the teacher, Sis" the old
man said, introducing him to an ell
derby woman with a thin, sharp face
and faded red hair, who was prepar-
ing the table for supper. My sister
Cynthy, Mr.-Mr.-'
casper" said Mark.
'Yes-Jasper Wal, | hope / make
You both acquainted.
Mark took off his overcoat and sat
down before blazing wood fire in o
large old-fashioned fireplace; and
while the old man was bustling
around and the sister ratified the dishes
in a neighboring closet, he had an OPP
portunity to look around.
What attracted his attention first
was the floor, which was painted to
represent waves dashing here and
there. Next he noticed that every
thing was dashed either to the
floor or to the wall, the same
as in the cabin of ship, and as
if gale might be expected any
moment to upset the house. The
brass door-knobs were polished. and
there was nothing that showed the
slightest hint of dirt. A cleaner room
could not be imagined, and Mark be-
gan to feel comfortable and at home
before he had been seated in it five
minutes. The tall. ancient clock IN q
distant corner seemed to have friend
ly tick; the fire was hospitable and the
table looked inviting.
At last the old man. or Uncle Seth,
as it was soon discovered he was
called by every body, announced that
Sis said supper was ready and in
vited Mark to move up and help him
self. Sister Cynthia soon joined them,
and then Uncle Seth fell to eating and
talking. He had sailed the seas ever
since his youth and was full of stories,
anecdotes and good nature. Mark
laughed until he was red in the face
and soon became the best of friends
with him. BY the time the meal was
finished Uncle Seth had become Sc
confidential that he began TO confide
to him much of his personal history
Sitting at one corner of the hearth
and resting his wooden leg across ;
chair, he smoked and told about ;
long cruise in whaling ship and thel
of voyage to Australia during which
a water cask rolled on him ant
crushed his leg. Since then he hat
been aground, he said, pulled up higl
and dry.
Before Mark was aware of it tn
evening had slipped away and tn
clock was striking ten. Uncle Sell
then inquired of Sister Cynthi
whether the teacher was to slcel
"for'ard or up aloft,' and, learnin,
her preference, led Mark to spar
room, opening off the parlor Their
were green paper curtains at the win
dows, peacock's feather droopin
over small lookiug-glass, three o
four shells on the mantel-piece, and
collection of daguerreotypes, frame
in group, hanging above it. TIL
room was so chilly, however, tina
Mark did not pass many moments ea
aiming these details. He looked 9
the daguerreotypes long enough t
discover that one OF them was o pic
ure of Uncle Seth, taken when he wa
young man, and that another repre-
scented his sister in the bloom {
youth. Then, hastily undressing, h
blew out the light, jumped into
plump, old-fashioned bed. and 500
afterward was sound asleep.
His first thoughts in the mornin
were, OF course, about the school. II
could see the drab-colored old buildin
on a small hill short distance ava,
The smoke was beginning to curl IL
from its chimney when he sat down 1
breakfast, signifying that one pupi
at least, was already on hand. Wit
some anxiety Mark watched the cloc
until 1t was a quarter OF nine, and the
| he started to begin his work. Viii
he walked leisoreiy up the hill iowa.
the school-house, he saw the boys an
girls crowd around the door to look {
him; and as he drew near them the
} giggled so much he became confuse,
} But his embarrassment soon passed O
} when he had gone among them ar
called them to order. They numbers
thirty-nine-big and little, short ar
J stout, and they all watched him IL
most OF the forenoon. Three of IL
larger boys in the back row were Il
) pupils, Mark decided, who wou
: probably cause him the most ammo
! ance.
No indication of trouble appears
however, during the day. Ever
thing glided on very smoothly; al
/ Mark, sitting near one of the window
watched the ships in the distan
dreamily while he heard the big al
| the little recite their lessons. 1t wou
5 not be such a difficult undertake.
after all, he fancied. The location
e the school house was picturesque al