The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-06-29

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ure aud without stint. He was kind
and gentle, but in very truth they
found him master-all but Faith.
AS the days heightened into weeks
an unquiet spirit appeared to enter
into the girl. and she seemed almost
boldly defiant. With exceeding pa.
tience and gentlenesS the master bore
with all her freaks. and although
s0rely tried he endeaYored, by gentle,
winning kindness, TO bring her to
see the great wrong she was doing
herself and him. But it was of no
avail the more he tried the more he
might try, and the dancing brown
eyes shot forth angry sparks as at
last he passed her most daring pranks
by in absolute silence.
However, the crisis came at last.
AT the noon recess one of the oldest
scholars, a youth of 10, had tried to
steal her handkerchief in fun it was
dainty affair, made of lace and
muslin, present from her cousin in
the city, Faith had resolutely de-
c!ined all such advances, but in the
afternoon she reached across the aisle
and laid it upon the open leaves of the
book where he was studying. With
IA graceful bow he acknowledged the
gift, and raised it to his lips, when
10 a tiny dead mouse dropped from
its folds, and uniYerSal giggle ran
through the room. In desperation
the master called them to order, and
there was sharp ring, AS of pain, in
the grave, stern tones which said,
Faith Grey can stop after school to-
night" That was all, and, without
casting look in the direction of the
young girl, the business of the day
went on as usual, but each and all
understood that trifling was at an
end, and even Faiths rosy cheeks
paled little as she glanced shyly at
the stern, quiet face.
1t had been a hard day for the
young master, and it was no wonder
if his patience was exhausted. In
the morning one of his largest schol-
ars, half witted Frenchmen. had
entered late and Immediately COM
menced to laugh, and all the infor-
nation that could be elicted from him
was that he guessed "the two year.
old would get full by and BY" and
again his fat sides would shake with
laughter. He was a great, overgrown
fellow of sixteen. who worked for his
board at farm about mile from
school, and at noon his employer pre-.
sented himself at the schoolhOuse.
and in loud, angry tones ordered him
never to darken his doors again.
1t appeared that the spring where
the cattle had been in the habit OF
drinking was formed by lowering a
barrel into the ground, and all around
it was very slippery with ice, and as
the clown had driven them to drink,
the "two-year-old" had slipped and
fallen in head first, and being unable
to get out alone, the Frenchman had
left it to "get full" while he went to
school. When found by the farmer
the animal was drowned. Although
the schuolmaster could not blame the
farmer for his indignation, yet the
circumstance annoyed him exceed
ingly; and if one might be aIloYet
to Judge by the look of determination
ON his white, stern face, Faith wa!
likely to feel the full force of his au
thority, and even her stout hear
quailed little as the shadows length
ened and the day drew near IFS close
The last lesson had been recited
the last class had stood up to spell
, the evening hymn had been sung
and at last school had closed, tn
scholars filing out in good order ant
} with a strange quietness and dis
patch. wrapping about them thei
shawls, hoods and comforters. Fait
with the roses all gone from her dim
pied cheeks, was sitting at her desk
white and still. For few moment
which seemed like an eternity t
, her. the master sat at his desk wit
: head bowed upon his hands. Th
, short winters day was drawing to
/ close, and one solitary sunbeam, re
as blood, streamed through the wiz
s dow and lay across the desk exactl