The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-06-03

but the water was unable to be cheated
of its prey, and tugged and strained
fiercelv to obtain its own; Tom was
very heavy; it was no fair play. Then
Lena was half fainting and almost CIV
ing up. Then she heard the patter of
horses hoofs upon the bridge; second
later a great, deep voice cried out.
Hullol What's this2"
A huge horny hand was reached down
and took her burden from her, and
then-she knew no more.
eyes, Stree" said Mr.. Ephraim
Great, I" it war pucky thing, kin tell
ye; pluckiest thing ever see. Fact"
Wall, wall, ocdU," returned Slas
Hardy, to whom these words were adj
dressed, 81 an, astonished. l could
never thought il o. that air gal. She
don't look 'sif thar war much of her,
'cept brains"
THAR is, though" said Mr.. Great;
"thar's muscle, am grit, an plenty o.
both. l tell ye, the way she hung onter
that teller war caution. Why, she's
gotter grip like er-like er steam en-
CINE"
cam So" said Mr.. Hardy thought
fully, she saved my son. Wall, owe
her debt fer that, but Pm thinkn'
I'll owe her more afore long, fer if he
amt changed boy, never saw one as
was"
Wall, SEEM as he couldn't change
for the worst, shouldn't wonder eff tn
change war good thing" retorted Mr..
Great, and with this fling he departed.
School did not open Monday, but
promptly at nine o'clock Tuesday morn
ing Lena was behind her desk. She
rang the bell and the scholars filed in.
They comprised about sixteen girls and
half that number of boys, with ages
ranging everywhere from five to
eighteen. The last to enter the room
was the much talked of and dreaded
Sam Landron. Lena eyed him appre-
hensively, and his looks went but a
short way toward reassuring her. He
was ugly and tall and STOPPING and sulk-
ing, and his face wore a sneer upon it.
He had evidently come to school with
bad grace and in bad humor. Trouble
was brewing.
Lena called out the first spelling class
and Sam belonged to it. He came for
ward with the rest, and stood in line a
head and shoulders above any one.
Mr.. Landron," said Lena timidly,
giving him the first word in the lesson,
"spell ANIMAL"
Dunno how" said Sam. And this
was the answer he made TO every word
she put to him.
Mr.. Landron," said Lena help
lessly, 9" Pm afraid you don't know
your lesson"
WAL" exclaimed Sam roughly,
who said did,"
AT this rude answer Lena flashed up.
Mr.. Landron," she cried, " if Won
remain in this school, you must not an
swer me like that"
Haw," snorted Sam, 81 amt goin'
ter be bossed by no woman"
| am your teacher, and you are to
be ruled by me,' returned Lena, firmly.
You will 60 to your seat now and
study that lesson"
"Id tike ter see you make me-"
cried Sam.
" If she can't make you, can" said
stern voice from the doorway. Tom
Hardy stalked into the school-room; it
was he who had spoken.
What hev you gotter say?" de-
manded Sam, angrily.
"Just this" answered Tom, " if you
ever say another word as We oughtn't
ter say ter Miss Melville, III lick yer
outer yer boots"
Eyer can't do it,"
edo yer want me to trl?" demanded
Tom with a stride forward. Sam
skunk back.
81 knew ye war afeared," said Tom,
with sheer. "Now do as the teacher
told you, an take yer seat"
Strange as it may appear, Sam
obeyed, but he took occasion shortly
afterwards to remark:
What'n thunder's come over you,
Tom Hardy?"
"Never you mind" roared Tom so
savagely that Sam never ventured to
approach the subject again. But he
was puzzled. Lena taught in Rocky
Gorge for over year and was most
successful. During all that time she
knew neither trouble nor sorrow. FoI
this happy state of affairs she had only
her dear, brave little self to thank, but
also that most potent and most adj
mirable of qualities-gratitude .-Fronk
III. COleburn, IN Pacific.