Oxford Democrat., 1907-07-02
MILLIONS
MOTHERS.
By W. r. BRYAN.
Copyright. 1901. by E. c. PARCELS.

Bess gazed through the open win
dow, out past the school yard with Its
well beaten earth trampled hard and
smooth by the play Of generations OF
children, through the orchards, now
pink aud white with the promises OF
fruition, down to where the river
wound It's sllvcry length between green
banks and tiny islands.
It would he hard to give 1t all up.
and yet before her on the desk was the
formal communication from the school
board OF Milton township notifying her
that her services would not be re-
quired during the ensuing term.
The note was cold and formal, but
/ for weeks past she had known OF the
battle being waged against her The
only objection was her age, but every
mother with a marriagable daughter or
son had urged this objection upon the
school board Milton township was
not overwell stocked with young men,
and this girl from the city, with her
self possessed ways, her stylish clothes
and her bright face, constituted a men
ace to the mothers.
For once they united in a common
cause and urged Bess' removal. The
dimple In her chin, the soft color OF
her cheeks, the laughing brown eyes,
the rippling hair and the delicious
curves of her throat each constituted
an objection that found common ex-
preston In the cry that she was too
young to manage the young men who
formed the upper class In the winter
term.
"There's Jed stroughton," urged Man
dy Mills. "Why, he's two years old
er'n she be. And him trottin' over to
her house every evenin' t git help
with bis Latin. What does the boy
want Of Latin anyhow or course it
was the teacher he wanted. When |
was a girl and taught school, you en-
remember I used to whale the boys
good They never had chance to
| tiirt with tn teacher then"
81 Judson, chairman Of the board.
| told himself that that was in part re-
spOnsible for her continuation in a
Il single sta. of blessedIcsS. but Man
| DIV was the sister of the editor of the
Banner, and 81 wanted to be town
clerk at the next election.
So each Of the other members had
been approached, and the result was
| the letter that lay OH the desk in front
| of the girl. Had she been re-engaged
| she Night have spent the summer in
| Milton. Now she must go back to the
hot city and haunt the teachers
agencies until something else offered
for the coming year.
Slowly she rose to her feet and went
to the door. At the threshold she
paused q moment and looked around.
Her eyes filled as her glance swept the
empty benches and the ghastly white
walls with the faded maps. She had
been happy hre in Milton. She was
looking at her schoolroOm for the last
time.
She slipped across the road to Jud-
| sons house and delivered the keys Into
the keeping Of the grim faced Mrs.
Judson.
II should like to say goOdby to Mr..
Judson," she faltered. He has been
very kind to me this winter"
81 sent him over TO the Center" his
mother said stitily Isl amt got no call
to be gaddin' about with young girls.
'Tain't decent"
She closed the door with nice shade
| of emphasis that just avoided POSI-
| tive slam, and Bess turned away to-
ward the river. She loved the river. IT
was both companion and comforter,
and as she reached the bank she sank
into a little nook formed by screen OF
bushes, and the tears that had been
sternly repressed all day flowed un'
checked.
When she had first come she had
looked forward to the long summer
| days which she would spend by the
| river. Then she had been full OF en-
thusiasm, and there was no question In
| uef mlQQ Us tO ueE CODlihudhec III ehe
position. Now, just as the river seem
| ed at its best, she was going back to
the city. She recalled with shudde'
her struggles Of the year before. Her
| father had died just after she had
graduated from college. When the
| small estate was settled II was found
that he had lived UP to every penny OF
his income. There was just enough
left to pay his outstanding debts and
leave a couple of hundred dollars fol
the girl. The half Of this had gone FOL
board while she sought a position. The
rest, together with her small savings
must go this year. She had com
menced the drudgery Of life. She
could meet it bravely. but 1t tore hel
heart to leave the river and the coun
try that she loved so well.
She should see the river In town. sh'
knew. q broad. silent stream. covered