Middletown transcript., 1908-02-29
HOW FIILDA GOT A SCHOOL
By LEILA MUNsELL

i
up for the long, cold ride.
| Hilda readily consented to this,
but she almost rued her bargain
In the morning when her mother
insisted on putting a large coat
Of her own over Hilda's and IN
trying q scarf over the warm.
thood, and when the girl had
climbed on the horse she had
wrapped a warm shawl about
her.
How in the world am 4 to get on
and off again with all this stuff,
mama2 she asked. I feel as
wrapped up as a mummy. I
know I'll frighten all the horses
| I meet.
It was well, perhaps, that she
could not see herself, for she
certainly cut rather ridiculous
figure. Added to all the rest, she
was riding her fathers saddle.
The right stirrup had been
| thrown over, and in this her foot
rested, while the left stirrup
dangled below. She had never
been fortunate enough to possess
| a side-saddle, and had often ridden
| in this way about the farm. But
lshe could not help feeling little
sensitive about her appearance
on this occasion, which meant so
much to her; and she wished her
mother would not be SO fussy.
As she drew near Mr.. Johns
sons house, she considered.
1t would take her some time to
disentangle herself from her
many Wrappings, and to any
one watching from the house
she would present rather a ridic-
ulous appearance in her neces-
sarily clumsy efforts to dismount.
| So she halted old Selim some dis.
tance from the front gate, and
here, hidden by the trees, she
divested herself of her extra gar
ments.
Her heart was pounding away
vigorously as she knocked and
inquired if Mr.. Johnston was in.
She had known him ever since
she could remember, but he
seemed suddenly to have become
almost stranger. Outwardly,
however, it was a very dignifed
young lady who presented her
case before him.
1t seemed to her that he looked
at her for fully five minutes with
out speaking. So you want to
teach? he asked at last. Pretty |
young, aren't you? How old are
you ? Seventeen?
Yes, sir, answered Hilda. | !
suppose that isn't very old, but
/ have a good certificate, and / |
am pretty sure that / can teach
a good school. At least, I'd try |
my best if you would give me a
chance.
That's what they all say, re-
marked Mr.. Johnston.
know. But that is all I can say
till somebody gives me chance
to show what I can do.
You have had no experience,
of course.
No. But if am ever to make a
teacher, I'll have to teach my first
school sometime and somewhere.
I guess that's so. Got some
pretty good grades here. He
had been examining the certifi-
cate she had handed him.
Yes, sir, answered Hilda, mod
estly.
Again he was silent. Then he
handed her back her certificate.
Well, I'll tell you, Hilda. So far
as am concerned, am willing
to give you achance. I've known
you ever since you we're baby,
and know you are a wide-awake
energetic little girl. But I'm
only one of three, and am afraid
you won't stand the best of
chances With the other two. You
don't know. either Of them person
ally, do you? | thought not. i
Andrews wants the place for a
cousin of his, and Smith will think |
you are too young. But go and
see both of them. Don t tell them.
what I've said. Simply say that |
you spoke to me about it. Smith
is president of the board.
Hilda thanked him and wenther
way, much encouraged in spite
Of what he had said abouther pos !
slble reception by the other two /
members. z