Year: 1875




To the Very Wise Men, tho School Directors:


want you to tell me what am to do
with my money. Father said you wouldn't
bother about little girl like me, but said
you wouldn't know what was like, and
you would like me anyway, if you knew
me. Besides, l am not a little girl; am a
young lady, and my mother is Southern
lady, if father did come from the North,
where there are girls and women like our
next door. .neighhor. who keeps house, looks
after the kitchen, and teaches her girls to
work. I've been regularly to school, and
stack to it right steady, and would have
continued right on until had learned too
much to nave diploma, and been praised
in the paper for being such wise little
girl, and could have cut the piece out and
put it with my pictures Of George and his
hatchet" and ''Franklin and his kite" if
this trouble hadn't come up. But that is
all over now, and 1 haven't any ambition
left, for can't find anybody that is wise
enough to help me, unless it is you. think
you could, for heard the gentleman next
door say that only the wisest and best men
should manage the schools, and when asked
my father if that meant you, he said he reck-
oned it did, for that is what you were put
there for, and if you didn't know anything
when you we're put in, it was likely enough
you would when you were put 0ut-if you
stayed long enough. know my teacher
knows more than do, and the principal
knows more than she does, or else she don't
amount to much; but they can't help me.
and go l come to you. You could know
more than they do and not know much
either.


just little while ago, you know, you
found out by studying them very carefully
that there was one book for US scholars that
was better than the rest. and we ought to
have it. thought 80 too, for knew what
ever you determined in your wisdom was
the best, was the best. So gave my old
book to the little girl next door, and she
has learned half of it by this time.


Then told father l had to have new
book, for the other girls had got theirs al
ready, and didn't have any.


He gave me the money, but he said
something about it that you wouldn't like
to hear, and mamma must have agreed
with him, for she didn't say hush. as she
usually does when the children are near.
But when l gave my teacher the money for
the book, she said mot IN uch.'


said father thought it was great deal,
but she told me I couldn't have any book,
fOr tho Roor1 hod mod a n ro- ,,,Io <ho<
those who had the new books should keep
what they had.


I hadn't any, and she said l couldn't
have new one, and if I got any other it
wouldn't be of any use to me, because the
whole class had the new ones


So I went to the prin cipal and got
scolded for giving away my old book, but l
didn't think that was right, for it was my
own and wouldn't be of any use now, any
way.


l was going down to the store to
get one myself, but couldn't get a
single one for the money l had,
as the teachers, getting them in largo
numbers, gave the children the benefit
of the discount. Besides the teachers
said the "papers" proven ted the new
books being sold by abusing you; and 1
was afraid I would be ab used too if l
bought one. l told my brother Charlie, and
he said "too thin," which made me real
angry, and didn't speak to him for at
least ten minutes, for l knew he didn't
think SO, and only said it to tease me, for
knew he told boy in his class that he had
! nice plump sister that he would like to
know, for the boy told me 80 himself, and
John said he did like me, though l don't |
;hink you care much about that, but it is |
7ery interesting to me.


Then Charlie said I'd better read david |
;opperfald" and see what Mr.. Peggotty |
aid about it, and suppose he meant when |
Emily and Ham agreed to be "both as they
vas," and they was as they was. But he
eedn't have crowed over me in that way
Or that's the only book he has ever read,
nd he has it in his hand all the time SO
ever can get chance at it.


But l don't want to ba as I was,
nd SO l asked father, who l thought
ould give the desired advice, and he said
nat, as there was money in it, the chair
ian of the finance committee would be
ood one to go to.


He thought wouldn't do it, but l had
card the gentleman next door say the
oard had showed its sense of the fitness of
lings by giving charge of its money affairs
its greatest linguist, and put the only
anker to doing something else. told
harlie was going to see the greatest lin
1lst, and he said had batter not, for he
ould talk me blind. didn't believe that,
r Charlie is always saying something to
ase me, and l knew could talk fast
lough for what money had, SO | went [
ID asked the gentleman next door who
as the greatest talker in the school board, :
ID he said it was toss bel tween Ingraham t
ID Gaudet, for both of them had some 6
ing to say on every subject that was dis I
ssed. l asked him which waB chairman "
the finance committee. for knew both of Il
em couldn't be, and he sal d, "Oh, pshaw" v
itch l think was very impolite. after
lad been led on by what he had said.
mt you? He told me had better not
up to the meeting for the would be in
ecutive session. most like II, but write to
I'm. had half mind to go any way, p;
Y 81