Year: 1860

Now for school teaching was no bet
ter fitted than for the ministry mean
as Tar as patience was comcerned-yet it
came into my head very suddenly one
morning, as | sat in the old kitchen OF
my fathers house, with my little broth
ers and sisters about me, (and, indeed,
there was a goodly array of them J, that
II was about time for me to be doing
something in the world something out
side of the monotonous round of house
hold duties which | performed day after
pay something, perhaps, to relieve my
father, in small way, of the burden that
rested upon his shoulders. By this do
not mean that he was in debt. or that his
goodly farm failed to give his family a
comfortable, happy support. Not at all.
But let the question go without further
discussion, and suffice it by saying that
for very good reasons of my own, | re
solved, as the old people say, to make
a start in the world"


And so | started How that was
brought about, it would be tedious
enough to relate but this much | will
say, that because of the idea born to me
SO suddenly on that spring morning. |
was chosen-of the numerous applicants
teacher of some forty scholars, at a
distance of twenty miles from Cranston
| need not add that this was source oil
great qualification to me, and that be-
cause of it entered into a vast number
of vague. happy speculatons as TO how
the summer would glide away-how the
days, the long summer days, would seem
as short as the shortest Of the winter
ones-how | would teach the little child.
rem to love me, and by that means find a
reader way Of interesting them in their
books. Dear me it would fill good
sized volume TO write out all chat mag
ined and dreamed of the summer which
| was to spend in the little village of Les
ter.


But change came Ger the spirit OF
my dreams = not before | left home, be
cause in such a case might never have
found courage to have left it but jus,
before arrived at the scene of action.


You are TO teach in Lester village
this summer. if | understand you right.
ly - said the most gentlemanly Of gen.
tlemen before l left the cars al Lester.


The question was not an impertinent
one after our brief morning acquaintance.
and SO answered it in all good faith, a
little pompously. perhaps. for was great.
ly impressed with the importance Of my
calling.


Yes. sir, and anticipate very plea.
SAINT time of it," | said.


f" You do %


He spoke in a quizzical tone, while
the wisest and most inexplcable Of smiles
crossed his face.


Yes, sir, and why not ?" / asked
forgetting that my question was abrupt,
and my manner somewhat disturbed.


Nothing, only TO realize your plea,
SAINT anticipaLions you must meet differ
ent fate than your predecessors for years
back"


And why, sir ?" | questioned. my
face getting redder and redder every mo
ment.


Because, Of all the children under
the sun, those of Lester village are the
most unmanageabie. In the course Of a
summer they usually succeed in dethron-
ing two or three teachers


lie was very handsome gentleman,
as | said before, and AS he said this in n
laughing, pleasant way. displaying sci
Of perfect teeth. he grew handsomel
than ever. But did not think much o.
that, only of the thread of exquisite ex
ultation that thought l detected run.
ming through his remark. grew piqued
in moment, and answered him with a
show of spirit which must have been
quite amusing: