The Delta independent., 1907-06-21

on their work in the same way. Why
Hortensia, two of my own old teachers
are at work today right where left
them,- won't say how many years
ago-one in the fifth and the other in
the first grade. To refer once more to
Mrs. Bent, suppose she would see in
them only two of the most hopeless of
skinny old maids; but l am glad to
say my native town has the good sense
to hold them in high honor and pay them
salaries equal to those paid for instruc-
tion in the high school" :"
II don't suppose they are really old
maidish bit either. are they?" asked
Hortensia. Grand good women they
would have to be, to hold their positions
so long,"
"You remember the maiden aunt in
Whittier's Snow Bound?' said Sophro-
MIA:
The sweetest woman ever Fate
Perverse denied household mate,-
Whose presence seemed the sweet in
come
And womanly atmosphere of home
Well, they are like her; only the
maiden aunts of today, not being so
greatly needed in the home, now that
mechanical inventions have taken the
place of large proportion of the hand
labor of the old days, have betaken
themselves to the school-room instead :;
where l think Whittier's aunt would be
if she were living
but Sophronia, DEAR" said Horton
sia, even Whittier, old bachelor as he
was himself, calls it Fate perverse'
that kept his aunt single. Wouldn't it
have been better if she had married."
II am not so sure of that" replied
Sophronia. 'In my opinion the social
economy has always required single
women and not few of them, to sup
plement the shortcomings of parents.
Some mothers know, seem to me like
tree, full of luxuriant foliage. but
with only small specimen or two of
sour and wizened fruit on its branches!
I have an idea that those two old
teachers of mine have done more for
the world and have quite possibly been
happier, as foster mothers of other
peoples children, than they would have
been in homes of their own. Why,
think, Hortensia. of the hundreds and
hundreds of children who have come
under their influence for the better
part of a year! Child-training has
always been woman's hereditary prvi-
lege, but don, know why she should
be respected any less for being the
spiritual mother of many, than for be-
ing the actual mother of few"
''The trouble is," said Hortensia,
that sort of woman, the ideal teacher,
is just the one above all others who
ought to have married. Forgive me,
friend, if shouldn't say it, but you
are the one who should be marrying
now, instead of me. I've thought it
hundred times this year when I've felt
the loyalty to you in this ROOM
"You might mention the matter to
your jack" said Sophronia with mock
seriousness. 'I've never met him, but
possibly it could be arranged. since this
ls the way you feel about It," Then,
laughing at Hortensia's rather blank
expression. she sprang up and tax ing
bouquet of roses from the vase on the
big desk, tossed one to Hortensia.
"What nonsense!" she said, "as il you
weren't meant for your Jack as newt
ably as that rose was meant for June!
All l am trying to say is, that there is
always minority for whom happiness
and the highest usefulness lies in the
single pathway. Wait till l get my
hat and we'll go. can't bear to think
what this room will be next year with
out you'll
When Sophronia returned, still deal
ing with refractory hat. pin, Hortensia
stood half way down the aisle dismiss
ing messenger-boy and reading line
from the fateful yellow of the W estern
Union.
Read it," she cried as Sophronia
joined her, and Sophronia read:
':Arrive five ten tonight. Meet me
without fail, Jack"
otis nearly train time now. You'll
have to hurry. No, will not 20 too.