Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-03-07

Ex xG:22sw ~ ..Sci TOOK suCh an In
R y s.;s2 terest in it as die
" the little Squire
Why, he would arrive at the schoo
every afternoon tor weeks running
and leave his pony standing, with IT.
shaggy head hallway in the door
while he took up his position beside
the teacher, and gravely regarded thu
boys and girls.
swell. Charley, how's your school p
the Squire would ask, il he happened
to meet his son returning from tn
village. "Coming on finely, Ell
Learning readin', writtin' and 'rith
metio, and sewing into the bargain?'
And then the Squire would roar
laughing; for he thought it hug
joke tho interest the little Squire tool
in the village school.
Even the schoolmaster, Mr.. Finch
spoke Of the school over which he had
presided for fifteen years as the little
Squirrels school. But many and many
time the good man said to himself
"He's fine, manly little fellow, the
little Squire; but Pm feared he'll be
spoiled. 'Tisn't more'n human nature
that the little Squire should be spoiled
with the Squire himself willing to run
at the lads beck aud call, almost, and
the children here at the school fairly
worshiping. A fine, fine lad; but til
pity" The schoolmsster said all
this, however, before certain occur
renee and its sequel down at the little
Squire's school.
This is how it was. The little Squire
stood as straight as a soldier in from
of long line of boys and girls. He
held spelling book in one hand and
ruler in the other; the little Squire
was fond Of slapping the book with the
ruler. The schoolmaster was smiling
as lie sat idle at his desk.
The little Squire turned back the
leaves of the spelling book and gave
out the word "Bowll"
Seated at the head Of the bench,
with her eyes fastened upon the little
Squire, was little faxen- haired girl
wearing a queer, voluminous frock and
skinny print apron. She was an
odd-looking. eager little girl and she
spelled very quickly "B.o-l-l."
''That isn't right" said the little
Squire.
The little girls face grew red and
white by turns. a bright CLEAN came
into her blue eyes and she showed one
dimple in her left cheek.
"Ann Elizabeth" called out Mr..
Finch, in warning tone.
Next" cried the little Squire.
"B.o-w.l. bowl" said the second
little pupil, emphatically.
"Go head" ordered the little
Squire. Then he looked ut Ann Eliza.
beth; she was actually muttering that
it wasn't fair.
"You're very bad girl, Ann Eliza
beth" said tho lad. II think you for.
get who is teacher to-day"
Then Ann Elizabeth shocked every
one in the school. She burst into i'm.
pudent laughter.
"You're common girl, Ann Eliza
BETH" cried the little Squire. energet.
ically; land I won't teach this class
any more till Mr.. Finch sees that you
mind your manners"
And with that the lad tossed the
spelling book across to the teachers
desk, darted out of the schoolhouse,
mounted his pony, looking uncon
cernedly into the room, and rode
away in high dudgeon.
'I'm astonished at you, Ann Eliza.
BETH" said Mr.. Finch, sternly. ~
was under the impression that you
were q wel.behaved girl"
The spelling class was for the most
part dumbiounded; but still that dan.
eerous dimple showed itself in Ann
Elizabeth's left cheek, and still her
eyes cleaned.
II know I'm common girl" said
Ann Elizabeth, as she trudged home q
quarter Of an hour after the other
children; ''but know it's worse to
call person what they is than what
they isn't; and know that word boil
was right I'll be even yet with the
little Square"
About week later the little Squire
overlook Ann Elizabeth as she was
walking along the lane. He rode very
slowly as he came up to her, for he
wanted Ann Elizabeth to beg his par
don; he wanted to give out some more
lessons at his school, Then the shaggy
little pony Of its own accord stood
still by the side OF Ann Elizabeth.
The little Squire lifted his cap and
said "Good-morning."
Ann Elizabeth curtesied.
81 know I'm common girl. Square
Charley" she said, suddenly.
Thereupon the little Squire, who
was really Of very generous nature
and who knew nothing OF Ann Eliza.
beth's dangerous dimple, cried ont,
impetuously:
"Oh, shouldn't have called you
that; I'm very sorry that called yor
that. But I'm glad to hear you &C
hhoWlouSo JOu WoIc WHouSs huu IItlA
abeth," he added, in a superior way
for at times the little Squire was ex
ceeding pompous.
"The word you give out is spelled
two ways" said Ann Elizabeth, slowly
and distinctly, "b-o.l.l and bowl"
"That may be. Ann Elizabeth. re
turned the little Squire, determined
not to lose his temper; ''but it Wa
only spelled one way in the spelling
book"
'Then the spelling books the dumb
est thing I ever heered Of" cried Ann
Elizabeth.
''rhat may be, Ann Elizabeth" &C
quiesced the little Squire; "but
scarcely think you and I are called
upon to discuss the question"
He looked so very little seated NJ
there upon his pony, and his word
seemed 30 very big that for moment
Ann Elizabeth almost gave up he
idea Of getting even (; but she had beef
head in the spelling class three month