Year: 1877

BY MRS. I. A. K.


II was evening in the roomy old-fssh-
ioned kitchen Of Farmer Grey. The
green paper curtains, covered with pic
lures Of impossible scenery and strange
grotesque figures. were lowered. shut
ting out the white moonlight as 1t lay
upon the snow-covered fields like gilt
tering crystals.


Great logs of oak and cedar filed the
wide fireplace, casting ruddy, cheer
ful glow around the room; an Angola
cat lay basking In the bright freight,
while upon the opposite side Of the
hearth, stretched at full length, lay a
great Newfoundland dog; the yellow
painted floor was clean as hands could
make 1t, and altogether the room pre-
sented scene Of rural comfort not to
be despised.


The farmer sat in his easy-chair, deep
IN meditation, with his eyes fastened
upon the fire, while the busy housewife
with deft fingers piled the knitting nee
dies, and glanced occasionally at the
couple seated ut the table busy with
their books. 1t was their daughter and
the district school teacher.


Faith Grey was an only child, and
from the time when she first began to
talk, had ruled her loving subjects in
the little kingdom Of home with abso-
lutte sway. She was now seventeen
years of age. with laughing brown eyes
and waving, auburn hair, that rippled
and shone with touch OF gold ia its
soft meshes when she faced the sum-
Her complexion was fair and pure as an
apple blossom. Her dress was simple
brown merino, with plain, white col
lar fastened at the throat by blue rib
bon, while streamers OF the same azure
hue confined the meshes Of waving hair.
She was tall and slender. with supple.
willowy grace perceptible in every
movement Of her graceful form.


Her companion was apparently about
twenty-five years Of age, with broad
white brow and dark hair, which cius-
tered in little ringlets about his fore
head; his eyes were black and penetrat-
ing; the grave, firm mouth betokened
indomitable will and strength Of char
acter; his face was smooth, and his
large, well-msde form was arraycd In a
suit Of plain black; he was college -edu-
Gated, and while waiting for situation
had learned that he could have the win
ter school in this district to teach, and
being poor. had accepted it rather than
remain idle until more eligible one
presented itself. He was far from de-
spising small beginnings.


He well knew that the school
bore no enviable reputation, for by
report 1t was known far and near
Only the winter before the scholars
had chosen to give the teacher a seat
In a snow-drift, and then entering the
school-room had held high carnival,
laughing and jeering at him as he tried
In vain to enter, and In despair he had
turned his back upon the school and the
town. lie well knew that it was no
light task which he had undertaken, but
only tighter closing Of the firm lips
was visible as he accepted the trust, and
silently vowed to conquer or die. 1t
was school OF fifty scholars, ranging
from four to twenty years Of age. A
mixed assembly, some good, some hid.
and some neither the one nor the other,
but ready to join the strongest party
He was obliged to board around, and as
he was exceedingly particular and fas-
tidious In all his personal affairs, some
encounters which he was obliged to
make were laughable In the extreme
He chose the place sarthest from his
school for his first boarding place, and
a he took bis seat at the supper table
he glanced appalled, at the view which
the board presented. The dishes were
cracked and grimy, and the supper waa
composed Of dish Of potatoes, famili.
arly known among the country people
as the ''long Johns" Gigantic in size,
they lay black and heavy upon the dirty
plate, nanked by a deep. yellow dish,
two-thirds full of pork fat, while slices
Of the pork, fried to a cinder, fioated
upon the top. A plate Of bread, with a
leaden strip at the bottom Of each slice,
and small piece of butter composed OF
alternate stripes of white and yellow,
completed the viands. He crushed
down the rising feeling Of disgust and
made no sign, even when the young son,
q boy Of ten years of age, seized one of
the largest of the potatoes in his dirty,
unwashed hands. and squeezing 1t, ex-
claimed: "Marm, this ERE 'tater aim
done," and laying 1t down, coolly re-
peated the operation with the rest.


This was a sample of the meals which
he was compelled to partake of while
he stayed at his first boarding place, but
he was more fortunate in his next Sc
lection. 1t was at Farmer Grey's, and
Mrs. Grey was noted housewife
Faith was one Of his hardest pupils to
manage. Never doing any mischief
which he could trace directly to her.
yet. by some unaccountable influence,
he was sure that she induced the rest to
act in direct defiance of his authority,
and when detected her own face would
be az demure and innocent-looking al
that of q kitten. She was ready and