Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1901-06-20
3 FROM
PeeRH9vsE % PALACE M !
Fl M s
BY MARY J. HOLMES S
BY mary j. HOLMES
CHAPTER nj.


ON the west by long. steep hill. where
the acorns and wild grapes grew. Mary
Howard taught a little flock Of twenty
FIVE. coaxing some. urging others and
teaching them all by her kind words and
winsome ways to love her as they had
never before loved an instructor.
When first she was proposed as
teacher in Rice Corner. Widow Perkins.
and a few others who had no children to
send, held up their hands In amazement.
wondering "what the world was comm
TO, and II the committeeman. Mr.. Knight.
s'posed they was goin' to be rid over
roughshod by town pauper; but she
couldn't get stiffcut, for the orthodox
minister wouldn't give her one; and II
he did. the Unitarian minister wouldn't"
Accordingly. when 1t was known that
the ordeal had been passed and that
Mary had in her possession piece of pa
per about three inches square, authoriz-
ing her to teach common district school.
this worthy conclave concluded that
"'either everybody had lost their senses
or else Miss Mason. who was present at
the examination, had sat by and whis-
pered in her eur the answers to all hard
questions"
"In MI my born days never seen any
thing like it," said the widow. as she
distributed her green tea. sweetened with
brown sugar, to a party Of ladies. which
she was entertaining. but you'll see.
she won't keep her time morn half out
Sally Ann, pass them nutcakes. No
body's goin' to send their children to
pauper. There's Miss Bradley says she'll
take her'n out the first time they get
licked. Have some more sass. Miss
Dodge. want 1t eat up. for believe
it's n-workin'-but telled her that
warn't the trouble. Mary's too softly to
hurt miskeeter. And so young, too.
It's government she'll lack in. II any
body'll have a piece Of this dried apple
pie, III cut it,
Fortunately, Mary knew nothing Of
Mrs. Perkins displensure, and never
dreamed that any feeling existed toward
her save that Of perfect friendship. Since
we last saw her, she had grown into
fine. healthy looking girl. Her face and
figure were round and full, and her COM
plexion. though still rather pale, was
clear as marble, contrasting we'll with
her dark brown hair and eyes. which no
longer seemed unnaturally large. Still,
she was not beautiful, 1t Is true, and vet
Billy was not far from right when he
called her the finest looking girl in Chico
pee; and it was for this reason, perhaps.
that Mrs. Campbell watched with jeal-
ousy.
Every possible pains had been taken
with Elias education. The best teach
ers had been hired to instruct her, and
she was now at fashionable seminary.
but still she did not possess one-half the
ease and gracefulness of manner which
seemed natural to her sister. The two
girls had seen but little of each other:
and oftcntimes when Ella met her sister
she merely acknowledged her presence
by a nod or a simple "how dye do?"
When she heard that Mary was to be
"A teacher she said "she was glad. for 1t
was more respectable than going into
factory or working out" Mrs. Campbell.
too, felt in duty bound to express her
pleasure, adding that ''she hoped Mary
would give satisfaction, but twas ex-
tremely doubtful, she was SO young. and
possessed of so little dignity!'
Unfortunately Widow Perkins red cot
tage stood directly opposite the school
house; and as the widow belonged to that
breakfast dishes and make the beds be-
fore anyone is up in the house," she had
ample leisure to watch and report on
the proceedings Of the new teacher. Now.
Mrs. Perkins clock was like its mis-
tress. always half an hour in advance
Of the true time. and Mary had scarcely
taught a week ere Mr.. Knight, "the COM
mitteeman." was duly hailed in the street
and told that the ''schoolmarm wanted
lookin' to, for she didn't begin no morn
In till half-past nine, nor no afternoon
till half-past one! Besides that" she
added. II think she gives EN- too long u
play SPELL Anyways. seems eff some Oh
'em was out O. doors the hull time"
Mr.. Knight had too much good sense
to heed the widows complaints. and he
merely replied: I'm glad ont. Five
hours is enough to keep little shavers
crnmped up in the house-glad ont"
The widow. thus foiled in her attempts
at making disturbance, finally gave up
the strife, contenting herself with quiz
xing the older girls. and asking them II
Mary could do all the hard sums in arith-
metic. or whether she took them home
for Mrs. Mason to solve!
In spite. however, of these little an
nOyances, Mary was contented and hap
py. She knew that her pupils loved her.
and that the greater part Of the district
were satisfied. so she greeted the widow
with her pleasantest smile, and by al
ways being particularly polite. finally
overcame her prejudice to a considerable
extent.
One afternoon about the middle of
July. as Mrs. Perkins was seated by her
front window engaged In stitching
Shoes" very common employment In
some parts Of New England. her atten.
ton was suddenly diverted by a tall.
'stylish-looking young man. who, driving
his handsome horse and buggy under
the shadow of the apple trees. alighted
and entered into conversation with u
group of little girls who were taking their
usual recess. Mrs. Perkins curiosity was
aroused. and Sally Ann was called to
see who the stranger was. But for
wonder Sally Ann didn't know. though
she GUESSED the boss was one Of the
East Chicopee livery"
Hes talkin to Liddy Knight" said
she. at the same time holding back the
curtain and stepping aside SO as not to
be visible herself.
"Try if you can hear what he's sayin'."
whispered Mrs. Perkins; but class of
boys in the school house just then struck
into the multiplication table. thus effec-