The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-11-14
"IF | HAD BUT $l00!"
BY LANTA WILSON SMITH.
Are YOU really going, Iune ?


Certainly. 1t was my fathers last
wish that | should spend this year
teaching a district school, and |
shall do SO if possible.
What a strange request it was
And wouldn't | like to see the
elegant Miss St. John rustling her
rich robes among the battered
benches of district school house
O, stop, Mabel Bryne give me
credit for better sense than that.
My rustling robes will be packed
away in Cousin James store room.
Why, | have a complete outfit in
perfect keeping with ealary OF
thirty dollars a month.
Oh, horrible! And you expect to
enjoy it?
Why not, Mabel? 1t will be a re-
lief to forget that | am an heiress.
Even my nights are hideous with
dreams OF fortune hunters, but how
happy l shall be as poor teacher !
Junia, what will be your next
freak? If you must leave us all, and
bury yourself in a place that never
was heard of before, why must you
make a dowdy of yourself,
Don't worry, dear. My dresses
are pretty, in good taste, and suit
able for the place in which / expect
to wear them. What next?
What will our gentlemen friends
think of you, June-the star they
worship, sinking out of their sky to
shine over a district school?
Their opinion makes no difference
to me, Mabel | should have more
respect for them all if they would do
little honest work once in a while.
If were a man | would scorn a Use
less life. A few of our acquaintance
read law an hour or two day,
others watch their speculations, the
majority lounge in their library or
billiard hall, drive in the park or
read nvvels, till time to dress for
dinner or ball The greater part of
life is spent in saying pretty nothlngs
to pretty society girls. No wonder
such men marry for money ; It is the
easiest way they know of to earn
their living. o for manly men!
Mercy, how you go on, Junia If
your father had requested you to
give a course OF lectures in your
nineteenth year, | should not have
wondered.
Mabel could not understand her
friends freak, as she termed it. One
would expect her to observe her
fathers last wish, and she could
skim over a year of teaching in
ady-like way in some OF the schools
near home but to go one hundred
miles away, and enter INTO the work
with heart and soul as Iunia was
doing was beyond her comprehen
sion. So it was with a great deal OF
curiosity that Mabel, a few weeks
later, broke the seal OF Junia's first
letter, dated Sandy Cove" and
read
DEAR MABEL | have purposely
delayed writing, that first impress
sions might settle into convictions,
in order that my letter should con-
vey no wrong ideas.
One can make no mistake about
the scenery. 1t is grand. A view
of the sea, a sharp, rocky coast line,
with tiny cove, around which the
village nestles. A back ground of
magnificent old trees, beyond which
lie the small rocky farm and pasture
lands, while against the near horizon
rise the grand old mountains, the
everlasting hills.
The cool sea breeze floats in
through the window, bringing me
the low, sad music of the breaking
waves. | look out and see below
me (our house is on the cliff the
village with its clustering cottages,
and weather-worn church and school
house standing a little apart. The
sun shines warmly down upon the
sparkling water where the fisher
mems boats are IDLY drifting, and
upon the silvery beach, where
children are playing with merry
laughter and shouts of glee.
You would not consider my pres.
ent home elegant. but it is the best
in the village, is very neat, and com
Portable, and cheerful.
To be sure my window might be
larger, the walls of my room higher,
but as long as this delicious breeze
lasts, will not complain.
Widow Ferris, has boarded the
teacher for years. The family con-
sists of herself, a maid OF all work,
and Mr.. Norman Ferris, whom she
persists in calling "My boy Norman"
although he is chief man OF the vii
lage, must be twenty FIVE, is not less
than six feet tall, and strong enough
to pick up his little mother with
ease.
He is of a scientific turn OF mind,
and has "den" in the kitchen cham
Der. His mother is worried over his
strange propensities, and was not a
little comforted when | told her my
father lad a fondness for scientific
studies. The widow herself S
fine specimen of New England
womanhood, hiding under her
natural reserve a wealth OF devotion
and motherly kindness. Since her
husbands death she depends wholly
upon Norman, who. with the excep-
ton OF a couple years at school, has
cared for the farm, and has now
contentedly settled down here for
life. | fear that he lacks energy to
launch out and make his mark in
life.
l wish you could visit my school.
1t would afford you rare amuse-
ment, and description can never do
it Justice. Scholars OF all ages and
all degrees of intelligence some
agreeable, some otherwise some
unruIy, some obedient but l am so
interested in them. | take them out
among the rocks and give them