Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1895-09-26
REWARD OF MERIT.
BY A. j. sTEMPLE.

II, marr'et Blake, was in very bad humor.
ihatslsct was sclf-evident; for all day
iong ehe; had snapped and scolded, and
sHaken up" both boys and girls ON
the slightest. prqyocation, until every
one; o1Shcr pupils voted her -the big
gest crank that cyeriwas. .aea
fheSsolemn old, school clock was the
Object Hpf much. solieitous attention
that 1ay; and when at last the hands
denoted the rbour.of four, Miss Blake
speedily dismissed her charges, closed
hee DISK, with a resounding bang and
then started homewardi, FIRST stopping
at the 5;schoolroom where her cousin,
Neft@ Leith,. instructed large num-
oers ct our future. men, and women.
She found Nettie engaged In clearing
upz her desk;a.and when she had fin
isheds both teachers went home to-
genher. nsc'i Sd siss,,, So e.
What has gone wrong to-day, Har-
riet2' asked Ncttie, noting her COM
panion's clouded face. 's.Yon don't
seem te be in very good spirits"
Nelb' Ently lynotHh returned Harriet,
decidedy;fT Tan just as cross as bear.
This is the very worst and the most
disagreeable, place. In the whole coun-
tryi aha the people in 1t match tie
tovnS. Fmaatifed and disgusted with
both; and iGaon't5 see how you can be
contentaa In this dismal prison, The
co9htfS ,is:the doomlof every ambitious
person, and it is nonsense to imagine
that one can accomplish anything in
it; and sof1alf things Im sure teaching
school in Q country town is the worstl
Itk:bad iehough to live here; but. to
teaehssschooll-;lp, and Harriet heaved a
deep sigh of disgust. 81,
why, Hattie, what has come over
yo69" asked her cousin in amazement
"Ypu,.haye arpleasant position, and
count try school fteaching isn't the worst
occupation in the,worid by any means"
tsNell if tbess, Isl anything worse !
shGpld like to know it," snapped Har-
riet: aassY6u. .hayen't' any ambition,
NeStieslaud 80 you don't mind; but I'm
different, and am tired Of this ever.
lasting drudge, drudge, and of teach
ingh l4tio Of stupid children, and pleas
ingstheir ignorant parents, They don't
appreciate anything one does, any.
wadE ,sEpog y; ;;4s,sss4& .r,l .
'tfHoH,t,duite believe that; for the
people here are as intelligent as they
are anywhere, and take unusual inter
est in education. Why, lots Of them
praise me and my school much more
than / deserve"
"Of course they do! You are always
80 pleasant and agreeable to everyone
you see. But es far as am concerned,
l can't for the life of me be agreeable
to lot of stupid villagers who are for
ever poking about in the schools when
they ought to be minding their own
business They take everything foi
granted, and expect teacher to take
as much interest, and fuss as much
over the pupils as though they paid
her thousand dollars year; and
won't do it, that's all. The sooner
can get out of Dalton the happier
shall bel' concluded Harriet decidedly
~ suppose you are going to the con
cert tonight" asked Nettie, after
pause, thinking to turn the converse
tion.
.'Why, of course. You are too, arc
you not?"
II did intend to, but l can't now, fol
Jack Windy is coming over, and l an
going to help him with his studies
He has been sick so long that he is be
hind. SO told him / would help hin
along. had forgotten all about the
concert when I promised; but dom
want to disappoint him, SO am no
going"
"You silly girlr' burst forth Harriet
"Isn't it enough If you do what yo'
are engaged for, without spending al
your spare time over school matter
into the bargain? don't do bi
more work than / have to, and l an
lust as well off as you, though you ar
continually studying aad working"
Harriet teased and expostulated, bu
Nettie refused to break her promise
SO Harriet went to the concert AM
had such 'good time" that she for
rot all about her troubles
Harriet Blake and Nettie Leith wer
.a,,s;ns Both had graduated from tn
academy in the neighboring city o
Bradford, and shortly after had DC
gun teaching school in Dalton, whicl
was a country town OF two or thre
thousand inhabitants. Both girls wer
verv Young and Of about the sam
ape. One was as ambitious as tn
otber but the ambition manifested II
self IN different ways; in Harriet b
continual castle.building and flight
Of imagination, and In Nettie In
more practical manner. ;.
The months glided by, and Harrie
uos as discontented and grumbled
m,,ch as ever, and continually foun
fault with Nettie because her cousi
would persist "in making slave
herself for nothing" "What is tn
use OF studying and reading SO much'
marr;et was asked. "I'm sure yo
i,now more than enough to teach you
school, and no one appreciates it. an!
way" = ..x,x sruno
,,,st as Harriet had dismissed one cla'
ia was about to call another, ra
aana 20 the door. and she admitted
elder elderly gentleman whom she had nev'
before seen. That day Harriet h0
What What she called "a blue streak" ar
.oshow her independence, and her CO.
.emnt S for visitors in general an
strangers in particular, she cool
saa,ad herself at her desk and began
sea,e a,.o . letter. She paid no attentic
49, " soveral widely-waving hands, Il
owners ~ Of which were vainly trying
ottraet teachers" attention, nor
Ssr visitor. who eyed her curiousl
After surveying this interesting scho