The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1901-06-20
CHAPTER Nj.

CHAPTER Nj
IN the old brown school house, over
.,'I,,pj hv apple trees and sheltered,
- ,h,. west by long. steep hill, where
,bo ororns AMI wild grapes grew, Mary
,I,,,orI taught little flock of twenty
g., ,,,yiag some, urging others and
,.orbipg them all by her kind words and
nins,mo ways to love her as they had
,,,or brrorr loved an instructor.
who, first she was proposed MS a
,.,,bnr in Rice Corner. Widow Perkins.
.nl, few others who had no children to
,.,I hell up their hands in amazement,
.,,lrrin, what the world was comm
;, anil If the committeeman, Mr.. Knight,
,,no.al they was goin' to be rid over
,anchsloI by "A town pauper; but she
,onllnt get stilfcut, for the orthodox
minister wouldn't give her one; and il
La dl. the Unitarian minister wouldn't"'
Accordingly, when it was known that
,,p ordeal had been passed and that
Mary had in her possession piece Of pa
rer about three inches square, authoriz-
inc her 10 teach common district school,
,bs worthy conclave concluded that
"abpr everybody had lost their senses
or else Miss Mason, who was present at
tbp examination, had sat by and whis-
narpd in her ear the answers to all hard
questions.
"In all my harn days | never seen any
thing ike 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
hoiy'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 it eat up, for l believe
its a-workin'-but | telled her that
warn't the trouble, Mary's too softly to
hurt a miskeeter. And SO young, too.
It's government she'll lack in. II any.
bodyll have a piece Of this dried apple
pie I'll cut it,
Fortunately, Mary knew nothing of
Mrs Perkins displeasure, and never
dreamed that any feeling existed toward
her save that of perfect friendship. Since
We last saw her, she had grown into a
fine healthy looking girl. Her face and
figure were round and full, and her COM
pexon. though still rather pale, was
clear as marble, contrasting well with
her dark brown hair and eyes, which no
longer seemed unnaturally large. Still,
she was not beautiful, 1t is true, and yet
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 nod or a simple ''how dye doY'
When she heard that Mary was to be
teacher she said "she was glad, for 1t
was more respectable than going into a
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-
remely doubtful, she was so young, and
possessed Of so little dignityr
Unfortunately Widow Perkins red cot
tage stood directly opposite the school
house; and as the widow belonged to that
SURFING few who always wash the
breakfast dishes and make the beds be-
lore anyone is up in the house," she had
ample leisure to watch and report on
,ae proceedings Of the new teacher. Now,
Mrs Perkins clock was like its mis-
oess' always half an hour in advance
OF the true time, and Mary had scarcely
taught week ere Mr.. Knight, ''the COM
htteeman." was duly hailed in the street
ana told that the "schoolmarm wanted
ooKln TO- for she didn't begin no morn
tLI half-past nine, nor no afternoon
ull haIt-paSt one! Besides that" she
added Il think she gives 'em too long a
pay spell. Anyways, seems eff some on
EN- was out o doors the hull time"
MT. Knight had too much good sense
10 need the widows complaints. and he
merely replied: I'm glad ont. Five
nourS is enough to keep little shavers
"anhped up in the house-glad ont.
Inc widow, thus foiled in her attempts
al making disturbance, finally gave up
'le Stlte, contenting herself with quiz
s,ns the older girls, and asking them IL
mary could do all the hard sums in arith-
aieuc, or whether she took them home
lot Mrs. Mason to solve!
~ spite, however, of these little an
uoyances, Mary was contented and hap
~ She knew that her pupils loved her,
"uu mat the greater part of the district
% mete satisfied, so she greeted the widow
Win ner pleasantest smile, and By al
Ways beng particularly polite, finally
O.ercame her prejudice to considerable
extent
Tne afternoon about the middle of
uiS, s as Mrs. Perkins was seated by her
ou' window engaged in stitching
s aOeS' very common employment in
.oile parts Of New England, her atten-
s.9l. non was suddenly diverted by tall.
~ looking young man, who, driving
,bs I handsome horse and buggy under
anI v shadow of the apple trees. alighted
a,lu entered into conversation with :
r. r."uP ot little girls who were taking their
sual recess. Mrs. Perkins curiosity was
ouSed' and Sally Ann was called 70
M VINO the stranger was. But for .
sbn vnIer Sally Ann didn't know, though
f.. guessed the hoss was one of the
last as, Chicopee livery"
sb0 lie talkin' to Liddy Knight" said
cnr,. At The same time holding back the
be rini,, ,%,n and stepping aside 50 ~ not 70
'e w. visible herself.
viii! You can hear what he's sayin "
bpered bors Mrs. Perkins; but class Of
int ~ The school house just then struck
tpsn. .ne multiplication table, thus efEec-
Al Iy drowning anything which Sally
misht otherwise have heard.