The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-11-16
The Schoolma ans
Strategy
By MRS. C. F. VAN PEARSE


mer Peachblow was an industrious and
Well-to-do woman, but the sons OF
the family, Nathan and Ben, although
good workers, we'll versed in the lore
of their fathers calling, and able to
turn a furrow" straight as "bee
line," were becoming more and more
dissatisfied with home life-were
growing fond of spending their rainy
days and spare evenings at the village
near the farm-were occasionally
guilty of coming home with the odor
of tobacco smoke and vile whisky
upon their breaths; and this it was
that troubled the father and mother
and caused heartaches and wrinkles.
One November evening, as the old
folks were sitting silent and alone by
the kitchen fire, knock was heard at
the door, and to the summons to
come in" neighbor thrust in his
head and exclaimed:
"Hain't time to stop, friends; been
over to the store, and the postmaster
gave me this letter for you-so I'll jest
hand it in, and be going on" and after
few more words the neighbor went
his way.
The letter was for Mr.. Peachblow,
and the following is an, exact copy of
It:
princeton, November l.
Dear Uncle: l have graduated at
last, and am anxious to teach cOun-
try school this winter. If your district
is not already supplied with teacher
please use your influence to secure
your school for me- AS you are one of
the directors, and a good, kind uncle
besides, shall expect to hear a favor
able answer soon. All we'll at home.
Your affectionate niece,
MARY BROWN"
The result of this epistle was that
Miss Mary Brown was installed, some
three weeks after its receipt, in the
teachers chair of the Peachblow dis
trict school.
Mary was shrewd girl, warm.
hearted and sympathetic, and she had
not been long in her uncle's family
before she discovered the state Of af-
fairs regarding the boys" and deter
mined to make an effort to change it
for the better.
Nathan and Ben were both half in
love with their pretty cousin, and she
knew right well that she could infiu-
ence them in the wished-for direction
if anyone could-provided their moth
er would be co-operator. Accordingly,
one Saturday afternoon, when the
brothers appeared, booted and
spurred," in readiness for their usual
Saturday visit to the village Longing
place, she ran after them to the gate
with the request that they would not
fail to call at the post Office and bring
her the expected letter from home.
"And don't keep me waiting long.
please, for I'm really homesick for
letter." and back she darted into the
house.
Nov. auntie, I'm going to tell you
secret. I have noticed how it worries
you to have the boys staying out even
ings with that idle set in the village.
Mamma was troubled in the same way
for a time when Brother Charlie was
younger, and we broke it up by tempt
ing him to stay at home. Now, don't
be offended, auntie-you know l love
you dearly, and wouldn't hurt your
feelings for the world-but don't you
think it rather dull for Nat and Ben,
such bright, active boys, to sit down
in the kitchen every evening without
anything to interest or amuse them?
Uncle takes only the country paper,
there are very few books in the house,
there are no musical instruments, and,
in fact, they are almost compelled to
go from home in search of variety and
recreation. l propose that for the re-
nainder of the winter we have a
cheerful, fire in the sitting room every
evening, that we have good literary
paper, and a couple of entertaining
magazines to read, and that we make
ourselves so exceedingly agreeable
here at home that the boys will enjoy
staying with us. Shall we, auntie?"
Mrs. Peachblow was a sensible wo-
man., and she readily saw that there
was something in it, so she replied:
Pm willing to do anything in the
world to keep my boys at home, and
We will try your plan"
So Mary made CHEEKY fire in the
prim and little-used sitting room.
AS the tidy tea table in the kitchen
was ready for supper Nathan and Ben
came in.
Are you expecting company, Cousin
Mary?" asked Nathan. Il see t'other
room lighed up!"
1--WE did expect company this even.
ing, and am happy to say we were
not disappointed" said Mary, laugh
ingly, at the same time extending her
hand for the package Ben was trying
to extract from his overcoat pocket.
The package proved to be some
well-preserved copies of weekly and
a few magazines which Mary had re-
quested her mother to send to her,
and after supper the whole family
gathered around the center table in