Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-06-29


them you could. I'll show you l can
make teacher"
Having made this telling point, Lydia
took her departure Immediately the
Eousekceler c&iac il and expressed her
approval of Nights concession.
"Lyddy's smart gal. and for all her
purity looks and baby way she's got a
heap Of grit Pity her pa didn't have
it. He used to be IL professor, and he's
dedicated Lyddy to use good speech"
AT the meeting the next night Lydia
received Il unanimous vote. and when
school opened she was installed as
teacher. She made companions of the
big boys and girls and pets of the little
ones. The country people were perfect
ly satisfied. In due course Of time Dea-
con Watrous Ind Bill Stiles came TO
make the accustomed visit. Lydia was
fully prepared for this occasion and in
vited them to question the class They
knew but few questions TO ask, and
as they had paid many visits TO the
school the pupils knew the answers by
heart. Then Lydia asked them to sing
q stirring war song and Il hymn. Biirs
little girl spoke 4 piece, carefully re-
hearsed beforehand. The two members
went away enthusiastic over the new
teacher and told Wight he had better
go and see for himself
And he did, appearing suddenly and
unexpectedly near the close of an In
dian summer afternoon. Lydia's eX5
preston of diSmay caused Il litter OF
appreciation among the older boys. In
stead of reprimand she gave them an
imploring look that could not be viii
stood, and order reigned at once. Ly-
dia felt that the visitor had noted tie
look and interpreted it as ii confession
of inability To govern.
Just rs sac was about to call unon
the school for Il song little Bob Hanks
let loose 4 mouse he had carefully con
fined in his book bag Excitement pre-
vailed among the girls and delight
among the boys. Had Lydia known
that she was TO lose her position she
would still have done rs she did now
jumped up on her chair.
Hugh caught the mouse, threw it out
of the window, elected Bob and his
book bag ana in stclto.ian tone re
stored order. Lydia cane down from
her chair and IN her confusion called
upon the arithmetic classic come for
ward. She wished that Iicc Jenkins
had remained at home that day. Arith-
metic was NOT his forte. She plannC
adroltIy to omit him, but the visitor Il
stantly detected the omission ana
pounced u,on tie unfortunate lad
"Lige." he asked, "how many times
does go in 27?'
TO Lydias dismay Lige promptly
stepped to the blackboard and com
menced a solution via long division,
finally putting down for an an
swer.
TRY again, Lige," urged Wight
cheerfully.
Llge then substituted the figure
for .
you've got another guess coming,
Lige'
The hoy looked bewldered and Ly-
dia desperately came TO his rescue.
"Lige, won't it so three times?" she
asked insinuatingly
Lige looked ut her axiouSly.
why, yes" he replied slowly, at
will, but it's Il dern'd tight squeeze"
Then came that delightful uncon.
strained burst of laughter that Lydia
had heard once before from Hugh
Wight The school joined with him
The teacher looked at the clock and
thankfully observed it was time for
dismissal She stood at the door until
the last scholar had vanished. Then
she came back TO the platform, where
Wight still sat and Lige fingered
Say" observed the lad earnestly,
faint her fault, | never did know
nuthin' about 'rithmetic nohow She's
the best teacher we ever had"
This touch of sympathy from the
little champion was too much for Ly-
dia Her self control slipped, and her
head went down on the desk.
'Iige." said Wight gently, you did
better than / expected. There are lots
of things in life more desirable than a
knowledge of the science of numbers.
Take this dime and 90 down to the
Corners and see what 1t will buy"
The boy sped happily away. Lydia
raised her head. \ little CLEAN of an
ger and defiance flashed through the
tears
"You can send and get man teach
er as soon as you want to. | am glad
] am not man."
$50 am I, LYDIA" he said heartily,
with such earnestness of voice and
eyes that the slender hand of the
schoolteacher went up IN a pathetic
little way to her eyes.
II am your quorum you know" he
said whimsically, but with the new
softness still in his voice, land | didn't
come to inspect the school nor the
scholars, but to take the teacher driv-
ing VIII she go?'
Her hands came quickly down from
her eyes, whose dimness was melting
away in glow of pleasure.
'Yes," she replied, 81 will go"
The New England Kitchen.
There is kind OF sentiment abou.
the kitchen in New En-laud-a kind
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