Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-10-17
A REWARD OF MERIT.


DY A. J. 0TEMPLE.
The pupils Of certain school In til,
little town OF Dalton did not need 4
be told that their pretty young teacher
Harriet Blake, was in very bad humor
That fact was self-cvident, for al dsy
long she had snapped and scolded. ani
"shaken up" both boys and girls or
the slightest provocation, until every
one Of her pupils voted her the big
gest crank that ever WAS"
The solemn old school clock was the
object Of much solicitous attention
that day; and when At last the hands
denoted the hour OF four, Miss Blake
speedily dismissed her charges, closed
her desk with = resounding bang and
then started homeward, first stopping
al the schoolroom where her cousin,
Nettie Leith, instructed large num-
Der Of our future men and women.
She found Nettie engaged In clearing
up her desk; and when she had fin.
ished both teachers went home TO.
gether
"what has gone wrong to-day, Har-
rietP" asked Nettie, noting her com.
panion's clouded face. you don't
seem to be In very good spirita"
well, I'm mott" returned Harriet,
decidedly; "I'm Just as cross as bear
This Is the very worst and the most
disagrceable place In the whole coun.
try, and the people in 1t match the
town. I'm tired and disguised with
both; and l don't see how you can be
contented in this dismal prison. The
country Is the doom Of every ambitious
person, and 1t Is nonsense to imagine
that one can accomplish anything in
1t; and Of all things I'm sure teaching
school In o country town Is the worst
It's bad enough to live here; but to
teach SCHOOL," and Harriet heaved
deep sigh Of disgust
why, Hattie, what has come over
you?" asked her cousin in amusement
"You have . pleasant position, and
country school teaching isn't the worst
occupation in the world by any means"
well II there Is anything worse !
should like TO know 1t, snapped Har.
riet. "You haven't any ambition,
Nettie, and SO you don't mind; but I'm
different, and / am tired Of this ever.
lasting drudge, drudge, and Of teach
Ing LOT Of stupid children, and pleas.
ing their ignorant parents. They don't
appreciate anything one does, any.
way.
" don't quito believe that; for the
people here are as intelligent as they
arc anywhere, and take unusual inter.
est in education. Why, lots Of them
praise me and my school much more
than deserve"
"Of course they dol You are always
80 pleasant and agreeable to everyone
you see. But a. far as am concerned,
! can't for the life Of me be agreeable
to a 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 for
granted, and expect a 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 1t, that's all. The sooner
can get out Of Dalton the happier
shall bel" concluded Harriet decidedly.
II suppose you are going to the con.
cert to.night?" asked Nettie, after
pause thinking to turn the converse
ton.
"Why, Of course. You are too, are
you not?"
II did intend to, but cant now for
Jack Windy is coming over, and am
going to help him with his studies
He has been sick so long that he Is be-
hind, 20 told him I would help him
along. had forgotten all about the
when promised; but l don't
want to disappoint him, SO l am not
going"
you silly girll'' burst forth Harriet.
Isn't it enough II you do what you
IRE engaged for, without spending all
your spare time over school matters
INTO the bargaln9 don't do bit
more work than I have to, and l am
ust as we'll of as you, though you are
continually studying and working"
Harriet leased and expostulated, but
Nettie refused to break her promise;
10 Harriet went to the concert, and
lad such . good time" that she for
rot all about her troubles.
Harriet Blake and Nettie Leith were
cousins Both had graduated from the
academy In the neighboring city Of
Bradford, and shortly after had be-
run teaching school In Dalton, which
vas country town Of two or three
thousand Inhabitants. Both girls were
cry young and Of about the same
20. One was a. ambitious as the
'ther, but the ambition manifested It,
elf In different ways; In Harriet by
Continual csstle.building and fights
4 imagination, and in Nettie in a
more practical manner.
The months glided by, and Harriet
vas as disconnected and grumbled as
much as ever. and continually found
ault with Nettie because her cousin
would persist I'm making . slave Of
erself for nothing" what Is the
ae OF studying and reading SO much9"
Harriet WAS asked. I'm sure you
now more than enough to teach your
chool, and no ono appreciates 1t, any