Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-04-21

bunch of tiger lilies waved in the
breeze when one Friday afternoon the
teacher at the north district school
heard knock.
The class in reading, then in evil
dence. were halted in their singsong
of concert utterance. and Alice Page
opened the door to find two stalwart
young men standing there. With "A
quick impulse of propriety she stepped
out and closed the door behind her.
only to find herself clasped in a big
brothers arms and TO receive a smack
that was heard by every pupil in the
little schoolroOm. with q very red
face she freed herself and then pre-
scented a small hand to the other young
man with the remark:
Il think you are both Just as mean
ms you can be to surprise me in this
way
When explanations were duly made,
the two visitors were invited inside and
given seats. The class in reading was
then dismissed and that in spelling
called to what was now seemingly to
them an unexpected misery. 4 bomb
shell or ghost at the window would
not have produced any more consterna-
ton than those two strange visitors.
This class, that one by one filed up in
front of the teachers desk ana ranged
themselves in line. stood trembling, and
the boy at the head, to whom was put
the first word. was unable to utter q
sound. The next one spelled it wrong,
and it was tried by two others and
finally spelled right by n girl who could
hardly DO better than whisper it. She
was told 10 go to the head, and after
that the rest did better. The search for
knowledge in that school had received Il
setback, however for that day, and
Alice decided to do the wsest thing and
dismiss her band of pupils without de-
lay. When the room WAS cleared of
them she turned 60 her two callers and
said with mock seriousness, '1'hc first
class in department will now define
proprcly.'
"Propricty isis Proprioty." re.
piled her brother, consists in two
young men surprising ono small and
very saucy schuolma am and letting Il
lot of imprisoned boys and girls escape
10 the woods and enjoy an extra hour
Of freedom"
Not right" said Alice severely. THE
next pupil will now answer"
'Propricty." answered Frank, "con-
SiSts iii two young men escaping from
the city and relieving one tired school
teacher from her duty and permitting
her TO 20 and gather flowers if she will
But which was the girl you told the
fairy tale to, Miss Page" he added as
Alice began putting her books away,
''lhc only one in the spelling class
you two bold, bad men didn't scare half
out Of her wits" she answered.
Frank walked about the ROOM peer
Ing curiously ut its rather primitive 1T
tings.
$50 this is what you call n temple of
learning" he remarked as he survey ed
the barnlilic room. 1T is Il curiosity
to me. and the first time | was ever in
an old time country schoolhousc. |
should like to peep through one of the
knotholes some day and watch the per.
formances and hear scared boy speak
Il piece"
You had better not try It," answered
Alice, unless you want two or three
farmers to swoop down on you armed
with scythes and demanding to know
what you are doing there"
When she had locked the schoolhouse
door they got into the carriage the two
young men had come in and left the
forlorn little temple to the solitude of
the trees and bushes that almost hid it
from sight.
II will stop in the village" said Al
bert az they drove away, land leave
You two to go home or take ride, as
suits you best; only, mind, be home by
tea time, for shall be hungry"
There is no time when drive along
wooded country roads Is more charm
Ing than when the trees are fast grow
ing green and the meadows spangled
with daisies and buttercups.
Lets go around by the mill pond"
said Alice after leaving her brother In
the village. THE road to it follows the
brook up mile. We may find few
| lilies in the pond"
The brook beside which they were
| soon walking tho horse was Q Charming