Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-05-16
CHAPTER. XI.

Howard taught little flock of twenty
Ave, coaXing some, urging others and
teaching them all by her kind words and
winsomc ways to love her rs they had
never before loved an instructor.
When first she was proposed as q
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 if the committeeman, Mr.. Knight,
s'posed they was goin' to be rid over
roughshod by a town pauper; but she
couldn't get n stilfcut, for the orthodox
minister wouldn't give her one; and if
he did, the Unitarian minister wouldn't!'
Accordingly, when it 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 Il common district school,
this worthy conclaye 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 ear the answers to all hard
questions"
Sin all my born days | never seen any
shinE like it," said the widow, as she
distributed her green tea, sweetened with
she was entertaining. But you'll see,
she won't keep her time morn half out
Sally Ann, pass them nutcakes. No
body's gon' to send their children to a
pnuper. There's Miss Bradley says she'll
take her'n out the first time they get
lickcd. Have some more sass, Miss
Dodge. | want it eat up, for ! believe
SIS a~workin'-but l teIlcd her that
warn't the trouble, Mary's too softly to
hurt miskeCtcr. And so young, too.
It's government she'll lack in. If any
bodyll have piece of this dried apple
pie, I'll cut it,
Fortunately, Mary knew nothing of
Mrs. Perkins dsplcasure, and never
dreamed that any feeling existed toward
her save that of perfect friendship. Since
we last saw her, she had grown into
finc, healthy looking girl. Her face and
figure were round and full, and her com
plexon, 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, it 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-
Susy.
Every possible pains had been taken
with ELIAS education. The best teach
srs had been hired to instruct her, and
she was now at fashionable seminary,
but still she did not possess one-half the
ease and gracefulncss of manner which
seemed natural to her sister. The two
girls had seen but little of each ether
and oftentimes when Ella met her sister
che merely acknowledged her presence
by n nod or n simple chow dye do?'
When she heard that Mary was to be
teacher she said "Shc was glad, for it
was more respectable than going into Il
factory or working OUT Mrs. Campbell,
400, 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 rs the widow belonged to that
stirring few who always wash the
breakfast dishes and make the beds be-
fore anyone is up in the house." she had
ample leisure to watch and report on
che proceedings of the new teacher Now,
Mrs Perkins clock was like its mis-
trcss. always half an hour in advance
of the true time, and Mary had scarcely
caught a week ere Mr.. Knight, ''the com
nitteeman," was duly hailed in the street
and told that the "schoolmarm wanted
Dookin 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 'cm too long Il
play spell Anyways, seems eff some on
Tsm was out o. doors the hull time"
Mr. Knight had too much good sense
10 heed the widows complaints, and he
merely replied: I'm glad ont. Five
hours is enough to keep little shavers
sramped up in the house-glad ont"
The widow, thus foilcd in her attempts
nj making disturbance, finally gave up
IRE strife. contcnting herself with quiz
stag the older girls. and asking them If
Rrary could do all the hard sums in arith-
3actic. or whether she took them home
sar Mrs. Mason to solve!
IA spite. however, of these little an
vssyances, Mary was Contcnted and hap
~. She knew that her pupils loved her,
AID that the greater part Of the district
were satisfied, so she greeted the widow
With her pleasautest smile, and by al
ways being particularly polite finally
awercame her prejudice to considerable
axtent
One afternoon about the middle of
Dolly, as Mrs. Perkins was seated by her
91ant window engaged in stitching
slhocs." very common employment in
sorae parts of New England her atten-
ARn was suddenly diverted by tall, |
Heyiish-looking young man, who. driving
Ass handsome horse and buggy under
sae shadow of the apple trees, alighted
and entered into conversation with Il
rrcslp OF little girls who were taking their
spszal recess. Mrs. Perkins curiosity was
aroused. and Sally Ann was called to
ar who the stranger was. But for
wender Sally Ann didn't know, though
Eae guessed the boss was one of the
Hast Chicopee livery"
Hes tall>in' to Liddy Knight said
hAR ut the same time holding back the
curtain and stepping aside so as not to
he visible herself.