Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-06-05
A GIRLS FREAK.

We SOJ III, aunt Mai lc--llt oCuOOl
In Squeedunk hollow"
Aunt Marie sighed in a martyr-like
way she had, that always amused her
niece immensely. She had long since
ceased to be greatly astonished at
Bert's odd ways. She simply resigned
herself meekly, with now and then a
feeble expostulation. Now she said, in
rather a startled tone:
Child! who do you mean! Explain
yourself, you incomprehensible girlr'
Berta laughed, and said slowly, with
great emphasis:
''The-school- in-Squeedunk- hol-
low! Pm engaged as schoolma'am for
the coming term, which begins next
Monday, at salary of 81 week. It's
not an embarrassing amount you see,
but 81 is something, and do want to
earn some real money of my own!'
but child, your property
ooh, yes, | know, Aunt Marie; of
course, I'm what folks call rich; but
every single cent of all my fortune was
left me by poor papa. | never really
earned dollar in my life, and now I'm
going to; so don't waste time in OBJ
iecting."
Berta was decidedly Independent.
Every one knew that, none better than
the gentle maiden aunt who made her
home with her orphan niece; and tried
to take care of her. Every one knew
the girls odd ways, and liked her none
the less for them. There was a spiel
ness about her that was bracing and
refreshing as a sea breeze, and a magic
something about her unexpected say
ings and doings that made her popular.
So Berta started for Squeedunk hol-
low, and found herself snugly estab-
lished in her new boarding place a
few days before the opening of school.
The residents Of the hollow viewed
her with unfeigned curiosity so
pretty, so pretty, so Stylish so socia-
ble," they said to one another. The
country girls were awed by the beauty
and style of her gowns, and the pretty
twist She gave her bright, brown hair.
Berta made friends with every one,
from the trustees to the smallest tow
headed urchin in the primer class.
People were astonished at the innova-
tions she introduced into the little
country school, at the elegant little
organ that arrived one day from the
city, and which she played every morn
ing, at the opening of school, and
every night, at the close. The boys
surprised themselves, and each other,
by the readiness with which they
learned to march to Berta's music.
The children were delighted with the
bright pictures she bought and hung
on the bare, whitewashed walls, with
the poisoning house-plants she beg
ged or borrowed of the willing hearted
women, with the colored chalk she
bought for them, with the story-books
she lent them.
Tryphene and Tryphosa Spencer, the
two old maids, who lived next door to
the schoolhouse, complained of too
much ''singin' an marchin' an sech,"
and were scandalized by hearing oc-
casional peals of unrestrained laughter,
the schoolma' ans clear voice among
the others.
''Twa'n't SO in our days, Tryphena,
was itP' Tryphosa would say, solemnly,
with doleful look at her tWin-sster.
over her spectacles, as they sat to-
gether at their patchwork, and Try
phena would respond with a melan-
choly shake of her head: mo, 'twa'n't,
Tryphosa; but to be sure, nothin' amt
the same nowadays"
In spite of Tryphena and Tryphosa,
the school in Squeedunk hollow sue
ceeded gloriously. The school was
large that winter, and Berta had
several pupils older and taller than her.
self
Among them was one who troubled
her sorely sometimes, not by misbe-
havior. for he was model for the
school, but she was strangely puzzled
sometimes at his questions, and only
her quick wit saved her from disastrous
failure as, with the eyes of the school
upon her, Horace Gray would come to
her innocently with some difficult
problem or puzzling catch-question.
Many hight she sat up late, in her
room working for hours at some elu-
sive problem. until she solved it;
triumphant next morning when she
saw the mischievous, brown eyes sober
into look of quiet surprise as he
looked at the plucky little teacher.
The days went on happily. There
were sociables, and donations, and
surprise parties innumerable. Squee-
lively winter. Berta was responsible
for all the merry-makings and good
times. She ornanized a singing
school, and secured the services of
teacher from the city, who came up
and held his class in the bright little
school-house. Tryphena and Tryphosa
Joined the class, and sent their quaver-
ing voices along the notes persever-
iEgly, if not very tunefully. Horace
Gray's fine tenor attracted the notice
of the professor, who praised it highly,
and took special pains with its cultiva-
ton.
Horace and Berta were thrown much
together by means of their voices,
which blended finely. Often he would
remain after school and sing while
Berta sat at the little organ and ac-
companied him.
The winter term drew toward close,
and regretful words were heard on
every side. Every one was sorry to
lose the little schoolma' am. She her.
self strangely dreaded to go. The
thought was hateful to her. Well, per-
haps the trustees would hire her again,
and she would come back-strange, she
thought, that she should have grown SO
attached to such lonely country place.
The place? All, Berta!
One day dreadful thing happened.
Horace Gray, the tallest and oldest
young man, whom all the other boys
looked up to and venerated, because of
his seniority and mustache, behaved so
badly all the afternoon that the teacher
wrote his name on the blackboard as a