PINE HILL.
Ere long, exaggerated rumors reached Meadow Brook of the very
creditable manner in which I had acquitted myself at the examination,
whereupon Aunt Sally Wright was quite taken aback. Soon rallying,
however, she had recourse to her second prediction, which was that "I
should not teach more than half the summer out." Perhaps I wrong the
old lady, but I cannot help thinking that the ill-natured stories
concerning myself, which she set afloat at Pine Hill, were in a great
measure the cause of her prophecy being fulfilled. Never before, to
my knowledge, had she visited at Captain Thompson's, but now she
spent an entire day there, bringing back to us the intelligence that
John Thompson, a boy just one year my senior, was going to stay at
home that summer, as "Miss Cap'n Thompson hadn't no idee I could
teach him."
Added to this was the comforting assurance, that "Cap'n Thompson was
hoppin' mad because Mr. Randall had hired me in preference to his
sister _Dell_, who had herself applied for the school." This, as I
afterwards learned, was the secret of the dislike which, from the
first, the Thompsons entertained for me. They had no daughter, but
the captain's half sister Dell had lived with him ever since his
marriage, and between her and their hopeful son John, the affections
of himself and wife were nearly equally divided.
Dell Thompson was a proud, overbearing girl, about eighteen years of
age, who esteemed herself far better than her neighbors, with whom
she seldom associated, her acquaintances living mostly at what was
called "the Centre" of the town. It seems that she had applied for
the summer school, but remembering that she had once called him a
"country clown and his wife ignorant and vulgar," Mr. Randall had
refused her and accepted me. Notwithstanding that the people of Pine
Hill generally disliked the Thompsons, there was among them a feeling
of dissatisfaction when it became known that I was preferred to Dell,
who, they thought, would have given _tone_ and _character_ to the
school, for "it wasn't every _big bug_ who would stoop to teach."
Of this state of affairs I was fortunately ignorant, and never do I
remember a happier morning than that on which I first took upon
myself the responsibilities of a teacher. By sunrise, the little
hair trunk, which grandma lent me, was packed and stood waiting on
the doorstep, where I had carried it, thinking thus to accelerate the
movements of my father, who did not seem to be in any particular
hurry, telling me, "he'd no idea that school would be commenced
before we got there!" Grandma had suggested the propriety of letting
down my dresses, a movement which I warmly seconded, but mother said
"No, she did not like to see little girls dressed like grown-up
women;" so, in my new plaid gingham and white pantalets, I waited
impatiently until the clock struck seven, at which time father
announced himself ready.
"When will you come home?" asked mother, as she followed me to the
gate.
"In three weeks," was my reply, as I bounded into the buggy, which
soon moved away.
Pine Hill is not at all remarkable for its beautiful scenery, and as
old Sorrel trotted leisurely along, down one steep hill and up
another, through a _haunted_ swamp, where a man had once, to his
great terror, seen his departed wife, and over a piece of road, where
the little grassy ridges said, as plain as grassy ridges could say,
that the travelers there were few and far between, my spirits lowered
a little. But, anon, the prospect brightened, and in the distance we
saw the white walls of Captain Thompson's residence gleaming through
the mass of evergreens which surrounded it. This, however, soon
disappeared, and for a mile or more my eye met with nothing save
white birches, gray rocks, green ferns, and blackberry bushes, until
suddenly turning a corner, we came to a halt before one of those
slanting-roofed houses so common in New England. It was the home of
Mr. Randall, and it was there that I was to board the first week. In
the doorway, eating bread and molasses, were his three children, who,
the moment they saw us, set up a shout of "somebody's come. I guess
it's the schoolma'am!" and straightway they took to their heels as if
fleeing from the presence of a tigress.
After a moment, the largest of them ventured to return, and his
example was soon followed by the other two, the younger of whom,
after eying me askance, lisped out, "Don Thompthon thays he ain't
afraid of you; he can lick you like _dunder_!"
This was a pleasant commencement, but I smiled down upon the little
boy, patting his curly head, while father inquired for Mrs. Randall,
who, we learned, was sweeping the schoolhouse. Leaving the hair
trunk, which was used by the children for a horse ere we left the
yard, we again set forward, and soon reached our place of
destination, which, without shade-tree or ornament of any kind, stood
half-way up a long, sunny hill, commanding a view of nothing save the
weathercock of Captain Thompson's barn, which was visible across the
orchard opposite. We found Mrs. Randall enveloped in a cloud of
dust, her sleeves rolled up, and her head covered by a black silk
handkerchief.
"The room, wasn't fit for the pigs," she said, "and ought to have
been cleaned, but somehow nobody took any interest in school this
summer, and I'd have to make it answer."
I didn't care particularly for the room, which, in truth, was dirty
and disagreeable enough, but the words "nobody took any interest this
summer," affected me unpleasantly, for in them I saw a dim
foreshadowing of all that ensued. Father, who was in a hurry, soon
left me, bidding me "be a good girl, and not get to _romping_ with
the scholars." From the window I watched him until he disappeared
over the sandy hill, half wishing, though I would not then confess
it, that I and the little trunk were with him. I was roused from my
reverie by Mrs. Randall, who, for some time, had been looking
inquisitively at me, and who now said, "Ain't you but thirteen?"
"No, ma'am," I answered.
"Wall," she returned, "it beats all how much older you look. I
should s'pose you was full sixteen, if not more. But it's all in
your favor, and I guess you'll be more likely to suit the deestrict,
though they're afraid you haven't any government, and they're
terrible hard to suit. So, if I's you," she continued, "I'd hold a
pretty tight rein at first. I give you full liberty to whip my young
ones if they don't behave. They know better than to complain at
home."
Involuntarily I glanced at the clump of alders which grew near the
house, and if they were somewhat diminished ere my reign was over,
the "Deestrict" owed it to Mrs. Randall's suggestion. After sitting
awhile, she arose to go, telling me "she should expect me at night,"
and then I was alone. I looked at my watch; it was half-past eight,
and not a scholar yet. This was widely different from Meadow Brook,
where, by seven, the house was generally filled with children,
hallooing, quarreling over seats, and watching eagerly for the first
sight of "the new schoolma'am." Here the tables were turned, and
"the schoolma'am" was watching for her scholars!
Suddenly a large bumble-bee came buzzing in, and alighted on a window
opposite. Like Sir Thomas the Good, in the Ingoldsby Legends, I have
a passion for capturing insects, especially white-faced bumble-bees,
and now I felt strongly inclined to mount the desks in pursuit of the
intruder, but the thought "What if the scholars should detect me?"
prevented, and, to this day, I have never known whether that
bumble-bee had a _white_ face, or belonged to the class of colored
brethren! Ten minutes of nine, and I began to grow fidgety. I
should have been more so, had I known how much is sometimes said
about teachers not keeping their hours. Five minutes of nine, and
round the corner at the foot of the hill appeared a group of
children, while from another direction came others, shouting for
those in advance to "wait," which they did, and the whole entered the
house together. A few of the girls made a slight obeisance, while
the boys laughed, and throwing down their books in a very
consequential manner, looked distrustfully at me. My age had
preceded me, and in many of these childish hearts there was already a
spirit of rebellion.
Here I would speak against the impropriety of discussing a teacher's
faults in the presence of pupils, who will discover them soon enough.
Many a teacher starts disadvantageously because of some idle tale,
which may or may not be true, but which, borne on the wings of
gossip, reaches its place of destination, and is there thoughtlessly
canvassed in the hearing of children, who thus become prejudiced
against a person they have never seen, and whom they otherwise might
have liked. In my case, the fault was _my age_, which had evidently
been discussed in the neighborhood; for, on opening my desk, I found
inscribed upon the lid, in a bold schoolboy style, "Rosa Lee, aged
13," to which was appended, in a more delicate hand, "Ancient--very!"
Taking my India-rubber, I erased it while my scholars were settling
the matter of seats, which, strange to say, they did without
disputing. Then there ensued a perfect silence, and the eyes of all
present turned inquiringly upon me, while, with sundry flourishes
with my silver pencil, I proceeded to take down upon a big sheet of
foolscap the names, ages, and "what studies do you intend to pursue?"
of my pupils. After much talking and arranging, the school was
organized; but the first morning dragged heavily, and when 12 o'clock
came, and I drew from my satchel the nice ginger snaps which mother
had made, the sight of them, or the taste, or something else, choked
me so much that I was obliged to wink hard, and count the rows of
trees in the orchard opposite twice, ere I could answer the question
addressed to me by one of the little girls.
In the rear of the house was a long strip of dense woods, and wishing
to be alone and out of sight of the sports in which I felt I must not
join, I took my bonnet and wandered thither. Seating myself upon a
mossy log, I tried to fancy that I was at home beneath the dear old
grapevine, the faintest rustle of whose broad green leaves would, at
that moment, have been to me like the sweetest music. But it could
not be. I was a schoolmistress--_Miss Lee_, they called me, and on
my brow the shadows of life were thus early making their impress.
Slowly to me dragged the hour which always before had been so short,
and when at last I took my way back to school, it seemed that in that
short space I had lived an age. Often since, when I have looked upon
young teachers hastening to their task, I've pitied them, for I knew
full well how long and wearisome would be their first day's labor.
As I approached the schoolhouse I saw that something was the matter,
for the scholars were greatly excited, and with voices raised to the
highest pitch, were discussing something of importance. Thinking
that my presence would perhaps restrain them from such noisy
demonstrations, I hastened forward, but the babel rather increased
than diminished, and it was with difficulty that I could learn the
cause of the commotion. George Randall was crying, while a little
apart from him stood two boys, one of them apparently fourteen and
the other twelve. They were strangers to me, and instinctively I
felt that they were in some way connected with the disturbance; and
that the larger and more important looking was _John Thompson_, a
surmise which proved to be correct.
It seemed that Isaac Ross, one of the newcomers, had some weeks
before selected for himself a corner seat, which, as he was not
present in the morning, had been taken by George Randall, who knew
nothing of Isaac's intentions, and who now refused to give it up. A
fight was the result, the most of the scholars taking sides with
George, while Isaac was urged on and encouraged by John Thompson,
who, though not a pupil, had come up "to see how he liked the
schoolma'am." As a matter of course an appeal was made to me, to
know "if George hadn't the best right to the seat."
Perhaps I was wrong, but I decided that he had, at the same time
asking Isaac "if he were coming to school."
"I ain't goin' to do anything else," said he, glancing towards John,
who, with a wicked leer at me, knocked off one of the little boys'
hats and then threw it up in the air.
What would have ensued next I do not know, for at that moment Captain
Thompson rode round the corner and called to his son, who, with mock
deference, bowed politely to me and walked away. Disagreeable as
Isaac Ross appeared in the presence of John Thompson, I found that
when left to himself he was quite a different boy, and though he at
first manifested some reluctance to taking another seat, he at last
yielded the point, and for the remainder of the day conducted himself
with perfect propriety.
On the whole the afternoon passed away rather pleasantly, and at
night, when school was out, I started for my boarding-place quite
contented with teachers generally, and myself in particular. In
passing the different houses which stood upon the roadside, I
demeaned myself with the utmost dignity, swinging my short dress from
side to side in imitation of a Boston lady who had once taught in our
district, and whose manner of walking I greatly admired! From the
window of Captain Thompson's dwelling I caught a glimpse of two
faces, which were hastily withdrawn, but I felt sure that from behind
the curtains they were scanning my appearance, and I remember
lowering my parasol a little, just to tantalize them! But when at
last I was over the hill and out of sight, oh, how glad I was to be
"Rosa Lee" again, free to pluck the sweet, wild flowers, to watch the
little fishes in the running brook, or even to chase a white-faced
bumble-bee if I liked.
About fifty rods from Mr. Randall's stands one of those
old-fashioned, gable-roofed houses, so common in some parts of New
England, and here, at the time of which I am speaking, lived Mrs.
Ross, the mother of Isaac, or _Ike_, as he was familiarly called. I
had never met the lady, but as I approached the house and saw a tall,
square-shouldered woman leaning on a gate, I naturally thought that
it might be she; and on this point I was not long left in doubt, for
the moment I came within speaking distance, she called out, "How dy'
do, Miss Lee--I s'pose 'tis? You pretty well? I'm Miss Ross,
Isick's mother. He telled me that he had some fuss about a seat that
he picked out more'n a month ago, and thinks he orto have. I don't
never calkerlate to take sides with my children, 'cause I've kept
school myself, and I know how bad 'tis, but I do hate to have Isick
git a miff again the schoolma'am on the first start, and if I's you
I'd let him have the seat instead of George Randall, for mebby
folks'll say you're partial to George, bein' that his father's
committee-man, and I've kept school enough to know that _partiality_
won't do."
As well as I could, I explained the matter to her, telling her I
wished to do right, and meant to as far as I knew how.
"I presume you do," said she, "or I shouldn't a' taken the liberty to
speak to you. I knew you's young, and I felt afeard you didn't know
what an undertakin' it was to teach the young idee how to _shute_.
The schoolma'ams have always thought a sight of me, and generally
tell me all their troubles, so I know jest how to take their part
when the rest of the folks are again 'em. Was Susan Brown to school?
But she wasn't though, I know she wasn't."
I replied that there was a little girl present of that name, and my
companion continued: "Now I'll give up, if Miss Brown has come round
enough to send, when she was so dreadfully opposed to your teachin';
you've heerd about it, I s'pose?"
I answered that "I didn't know that any one had opposed me except
Mrs. Thompson."
"Oh, yes," said she, assuming an injured look and tone. "Everybody
knows about that, and there's some sense in their bein' mad, for
'twas plaguy mortifyin' to Dell to offer to teach and be rejected by
Mr. Randall, a man that none of the Thompsons would wipe their old
shoes on, and then, 'tisn't every _big bug_ that would stoop to
teach, for you know 'tain't considered fust cut."
"No, I didn't know it," and so I said, but she assured me of the
fact, quoting as authority, both Mrs. Thompson and Dell, who, I
found, were her oracles in everything. After a time I brought her
back to Mrs. Brown, whose husband, she said, was gone to sea, and who
had herself applied for the school.
"But between you and me," she added, speaking in a whisper, "it's a
mighty good thing that she didn't get it, for she ain't the likeliest
person that ever was, and nobody under the sun would have sent to
her. Isick shouldn't a' gone a single day, for her morals is very
bad. She used to belong to the Orthodox Church, but they turned her
out for dancin' at a party, and when she lived in Wooster she jined
the 'Piscopals, who, you know, let their members cut up all
sorts--but, land sakes! how I'm talkin'! You must not breathe a word
I say, for I make it a pint not to slander my neighbors, and if
everybody minded their own business as well as I do, there wouldn't
be so much back-bitin' as there is. And that makes me think I've
half a mind to caution you--but no, I guess I won't--mebby you'll
tell on't."
Of course my curiosity was roused, and of course I said I wouldn't
tell; whereupon she proceeded to inform me that Mrs. Randall was a
very talkin' woman, and I must be pretty careful in her presence.
"You can tell me anything you wish to," said she, "for I'm a master
hand to keep a secret; but Miss Randall is forever in hot water. She
and Miss Brown are hand in glove, and both on 'em turn up their noses
at Miss Thompson and Dell, who never pretend to make anything of 'em.
I'm considerable _intimate_ at the Captain's, and I know all about
it. Dell is smart as a steel trap, and it's a pity she's took such a
dislike to you."
"I don't think she ought to blame me," said I, "for I didn't know as
she wanted the school"----
"'Tain't that altogether," resumed Mrs. Ross, again speaking in a
whisper. "'Tain't that altogether, and it you'll never lisp a word
on't I'll tell you the hull story."
I gave the required promise, and then Mrs. Ross proceeded to inform
me that Dell was jealous of me.
"Jealous!" I exclaimed. "How can that be?"
"You remember Dr. Clayton, don't you?" said she.
"Yes, I remember him, but what has he to do with Miss Thompson's
being jealous of me!"
"Why," returned Mrs. Ross, "Dell's kinder settin' her cap for him,
and I guess he's a snickerin' notion after her. Any way he comes
there pretty often. Well, he was there the week after the
examination, and told 'em about you. He said you was bright as a new
guinea, and had better larnin' than half the teachers, and then you
had such u sweet name--_Rose_--he liked it. You orto have seen how
mad Dell was at you after he was gone. I don't believe she'll ever
git over it."
Here Ike called out that "the Johnny-cake was burnt blacker than his
hat," and forth with Mrs. Ross started for the house, first bidding
me "keep dark," and telling me she hoped "I wouldn't be partial to
Mr. Randall's children, for they needed lickin' if ever young ones
did--they warn't brought up like Isick, who was governed so well at
home that he didn't need it at school."
I was learning to read the world's great book fast--very fast--and
with a slightly heavy heart I turned away, pausing once while Mrs.
Ross, from the doorstep, called to me, saying, that "she guessed I'd
better give Isick the seat to-morrow, seein' his heart was set on't."
I found Mrs. Randall waiting to receive me in a clean gingham dress
and apron, with her round, good-humored face shining as if it had
been through the same process with the long line of snow-white linen,
which was swinging in the clothes-yard. The little hair trunk had
been removed to the "best room," which was to be mine. The big
rocking-chair was brought out for me, the round tea-table, nicely
spread, stood in the center of the floor, and Mrs. Randall hoped I
would make myself at home, and put up with her own rough ways if I
could. To be sure, she didn't have things quite as nice as Mrs.
Captain Thompson, but she did as well as she knew how. Dear Mrs.
Randall! how my heart warmed towards her; and as I took my seat at
the table, and she helped me to a larger slice of pure white
honeycomb than I had ever before been allowed to eat at one time, I
felt that I would not exchange her house for a home at Captain
Thompson's.
Without any intention of revealing what Mrs. Ross had imparted to me,
I still felt a great curiosity to know Mrs. Randall's opinion of her;
so, after a time, I ventured to speak of my having seen her, and to
ask when and where she taught school. With a merry laugh, Mrs.
Randall replied, "I wonder, now, if she's made your acquaintance so
soon! She told you, I suppose, to come to her with all your
troubles, for she knew just how to pity you, as she'd been a
schoolma'am herself."
My flushed cheeks betrayed the fact that Mrs. Randall had guessed
rightly, and after a moment she continued: "Her keeping school
amounts to this. When she was a girl, a friend of hers who was
teaching wanted to go away for two days, and got Miss Ross, then
Nancy Smedly, to take her place, and that's the long and short of her
experience. She's a meddlesome woman, and makes more trouble in the
district than anybody else. She tried to make Miss Brown think she
was misused, because we wouldn't hire her instead of you, who applied
first, and for a spell, I guess Miss Brown was a little sideways, but
she's a sensible woman and has got all over it."
I was about to tell her of the trouble between George and Ike, when
she anticipated me by saying, "George says he and Ike Ross _fit_
about a seat, and I've hired him to give it up peaceably, for if Miss
Ross gets miffed in the beginning, there's no knowing what kind of a
row she'll raise, and you are so young I feel kinder tender of you."
If there were tears in my eyes, they were not tears of grief, and if
I was pleased with Mrs. Randall before, I liked her ten times better
now, for I saw in her a genuine sincerity which convinced me she was
my friend indeed. To be sure, she was rather rough and unrefined,
but her heart was right, and in her treatment of me, she was always
kind and considerate, making ample allowance for my errors and warmly
defending me when she thought I was misused. If in every District
there were more like Mrs. Randall, the teacher's lot would not be
one-half so hard to bear as oftentimes it is.
When I awoke next morning I heard the large raindrops pattering
against the window, and on pushing aside the curtain, I saw that the
dark heavy clouds betokened a dull, rainy day. Involuntarily, I
thought of the old garret at home, where on such occasions we always
resorted, "raising Cain generally," as Sally said, and when, with
umbrella, blanket-shawl, and overshoes, I started for school, I
looked and felt forlorn indeed. Raining as it was, it did not
prevent Mrs. Ross from coming out with the table-spread over her
head, to tell me that "though she never warn't an atom particular,
and never meant to interfere with teachers, as she knew just what it
was, she _did_ hope I'd give Isick the seat, and not be partial to
George Randall."
I replied that "I'd see to it," and was hurrying along, when she
again stopped me to know "what I'd got in my dinner basket that was
good."
Afterwards I found it to be one of her greatest peculiarities, this
desire to know what her neighbors had to eat, and I seldom passed her
door that she did not inquire of me concerning the "kind of fare" I
had at the different places where I boarded. When I reached the
schoolhouse, I found George Randall transferring his books to another
part of the room, at the same time telling Isaac "he could have the
disputed seat if he wanted it."
With the right kind of training and influence Isaac Ross would have
been a fine boy, for there were in his disposition many noble traits
of character, and when he saw how readily George gave up the seat, he
refused to take it, saying, "he didn't care a _darn_ where he
sat--one place was as good as another."
That day was long and dreary enough. Not more than half the children
were there, and I found it exceedingly tiresome and monotonous,
sitting in that hard, splint-bottomed chair, and telling Emma Fitch
and Sophia Brown, for the hundredth time, that the round letter was
"O" and the crooked one "S." The scholars, too, began to grow noisy,
and to ask me scores of useless questions. Their lessons were half
learned, and if I made a suggestion, I was quickly informed that
their former teacher, Sally Damm, didn't do so. Even little Emma
Fitch, when I bade her keep her eyes on the book instead of letting
them wander about the room, lisped out that "Thally Damm let her look
off;" a fact I did not dispute when I found that she had been to
school all winter without learning a single letter by sight, though
she could repeat the entire alphabet forward and back and be all the
while watching a squirrel on the branches of the tree which grew near
the window.
Before night a peculiar kind of sickness, never dangerous, but
decidedly disagreeable, began to creep over me, and had it not been
for the mud, I should probably have footed it to Meadow Brook, where
alone could be found the cure for my disease. Just before school was
out a little boy cried to go home, and this was the one straw too
many. Hastily dismissing the scholars, I turned towards the window
and my tears fell as fast as did the rain in the early morning.
"The schoolma'am's cryin',--she is. I saw her," circulated rapidly
among the children, who all rushed back to ascertain the truth for
themselves.
"I should think she would cry," said one of the girls to her brother.
"You've acted ugly enough to make anybody cry, and if you don't
behave better to-morrow, Jim Maxwell, I'll tell mother!"
After the delivery of this speech, the entire group moved away,
leaving me alone; and sure am I there was never a more homesick child
than was the one, who, with her head lying upon the desk, sat there
weeping in that low, dirty schoolroom, on that dark, rainy afternoon.
Where now was all the happiness I had promised myself in teaching?
Alas! it was rapidly disappearing, and I was just making up my mind
to brave the ridicule of Meadow Brook, and give up my school at once,
when a hand was laid very gently on my shoulder, and a voice
partially familiar said, "What's the matter, _Rose_?"
So absorbed was I in my grief, that I had not heard the sound of
footsteps, and with a start of surprise I looked up and met the
serene, handsome eyes of _Dr. Clayton_, who stood at my side! He had
been to visit a patient, he said, and was on his way home, when,
seeing the door ajar, he had come in, hoping to find me there, "but I
did not expect this," he continued, pointing to the tears on my
cheeks. "What is the matter? Don't the scholars behave well, or are
you homesick?"
At this question I began to cry so violently, that the doctor, after
exhausting all his powers of persuasion, finally laid his hand
soothingly on my rough, tangled curls, ere I could be induced to
stop. Then, when I told him how disappointed I was, how I wished I
had never tried to teach, and how I meant to give it up, he talked to
me so kindly, so brotherlike, still keeping his hand on my shoulder,
where it had fallen when I lifted up my head, that I grew very calm,
thinking I could stay in that gloomy room forever, if _he_ were only
there! He was, as I have said before, very handsome, and his manner
was so very fascinating, and his treatment of me so much like what I
fancied Charlie's would be, were he a grownup man and I a little
girl, that I began to like him very, very much, thinking then that my
feeling for him was, such as a child would entertain for a father,
for I had heard that he was twenty-seven, and between that and
thirteen there was, in my estimation, an impassable gulf.
"I wish I had my buggy here," he said at last, after consulting his
watch, which pointed to half-past five, "I wish I had my buggy here,
for then I could carry you home. You'll wet your feet, and you ought
not to walk. Suppose you ride in my lap; but no," he added, quickly,
"you'd better not, for Mrs. Thompson and Mother Ross would make it a
neighborhood talk."
There was a wicked look in his eye as he said this, and I secretly
wondered if he entertained the same opinion of _Dell_, that he
evidently did of her sister. At length, shaking my hand, he bade me
good-by, telling me that the Examining Committee had placed _me_ and
my school in his charge, and that he should probably visit me
officially on Thursday of the following week. Like a very foolish
child, I watched him until a turn in the road hid him from view, and
then with a feeling I could not analyze, I started for my
boarding-place, thinking that if I gave up my school I should wait
until after Thursday.
In the doorway, with her sleeves rolled up above her elbows, and her
hair, as she herself said, "at sixes and sevens," was Mrs. Ross, who,
after informing me that "it had been a desput rainy day," asked, "if
I knew whether Dr. Clayton had been to Captain Thompson's?"
There was no reason why I should blush at this question, but I did,
though my sunbonnet fortunately concealed the fact from my
interrogator, who, without waiting for an answer, continued, "He
drove past here about fifteen minutes ago, and I guess he's been
sparkin' Dell."
It must have been an evil spirit surely which prompted my reply that
"he had been at the schoolhouse with me."
"How you talk! Isick never said a word about it!" was Mrs. Ross's
exclamation, the blank expression of her face growing still more
blank when I told her that he did not come until the scholars were
gone.
"You two been there all sole alone since four o'clock! I'll give up
now! I hope Dell Thompson won't find it out, for she's awful
slandersome; but," she added, coming to the gate, and speaking in a
whisper, "I'm glad on't, and mebby she'll draw in her horns, if she
finds that some of the _under crust_, as she calls 'em, can be
noticed by Dr. Clayton as well as herself."
Equivocal as this compliment was, it gratified me, and from that
moment I felt a spirit of rivalry towards Dell Thompson. Still, I
did not wish her to know of Dr. Clayton's call, and so I said to Mrs.
Ross, who replied, "You needn't be an atom afeard of _my_ tattlin'.
I know too well what 'tis to be a schoolmarm, and have the hull
Deestrict peekin' at you. So if you've anything you want kept, I'm
the one; for I can be still as the grave. Did the doctor say
anything about Dell, but he didn't, I know, and 'taint likely he said
anything about anybody."
I replied, that he talked with me about my school, and then as I
heard the clock strike six I walked along. Looking back, as I
entered Mr. Randall's gate, I saw Mrs. Ross's old plaid shawl and
brown bonnet disappearing over the hill as fast as her feet could
take them, but I had no suspicion that her destination was _Captain
Thompson's_! I did not know the world then as well as I do now, and
when the next morning I met Dell Thompson, who stared at me
insolently, while a haughty sneer curled her lip, I had no idea that
she was jealous of me, little Rosa Lee, whose heart was lighter, and
whose task seemed far easier on account of Dr. Clayton's past and
promised visit.
Saturday night came at last, and very joyfully I started home on
foot, feeling not at all burdened with the compliments of my patrons
or the esteem of my pupils. Oh, what a shout was raised at the
shortness of my three weeks, as I entered our sitting-room! All
laughed at me, except my mother. She was not disappointed, and when
I drew Carrie's little rocking-chair to her side, and told her how
hard my head was aching, she laid her soft hand caressingly upon my
brow, and gently smoothing my short curls, bathed my forehead in
camphor until the pain was gone. Had there been no one present but
our own family, I should probably have cried; but owing to some
untoward circumstance, Aunt Sally Wright was there visiting that
afternoon, and as a teacher I felt obliged to maintain my dignity
before her prying eyes. Almost her first salutation to me was,
"Wall, Rosa, so you've grown old since you left home?"
"I do not understand what you mean," I answered.
"Why, I mean," said she, "that somebody told me that Mrs. Green told
them, that Major Pond's wife told her, that Mary Downes said, that
Nancy Rice heard Miss Cap'n Thompson say that you told Dr. Clayton
you was sixteen!"
I knew that the subject of my age had not come up between me and the
doctor, but it was useless to deny a story so well authenticated, so
I said nothing, and Aunt Sally continued: "They do say you thrash 'em
round about right," while mother asked "who Dr. Clayton was?"
"Why, he's a young pill-pedler, who's taken a shine to Rosa, and
stayed with her alone in the schoolhouse until _pitch dark_," said
Aunt Sally, her little green eyes twinkling with the immense
satisfaction she felt.
Greatly I marveled as to the source whence she obtained the
information, which so greatly exceeded the truth; and considering
that no one knew of the doctor's call but _Mrs. Ross_, it really was
a wonder! She was proceeding with her remarks, when we were summoned
to the supper table, where green tea had so good an effect upon her,
that by the time she was blowing her third cup, she began to unbend,
repeating to me several complimentary remarks which she said came
from Mrs. Ross. By this I knew that she had Pine Hill as well as
Meadow Brook upon her hands, and, indeed, 'twas strange how much Aunt
Sally did manage to attend to at once; for, besides keeping her son's
wife continually fretted, and her daughter constantly quarreling with
her husband, by her foolish interference; there was scarcely a thing
transpired in the neighborhood in which she did not have a part. Not
a marriage was in prospect, but she knew something bad of both
parties; not a family _jar_ occurred in which she did not have a
finger. Not a man owed more than he was worth, but she had foreseen
it from the first in the extravagance of his wife. But everybody in
Meadow Brook knew Aunt Sally, and it was a common saying, that "her
tongue was no slander;" so I did not feel as much annoyed as I
otherwise should at her spiteful remarks, which continued with little
intermission until dark, when, gathering up her snuff-box, knitting,
and work-bag, she started for home.
The next day was the Sabbath, and if at church, I _did_ now and then
cast a furtive glance at the congregation, to see if they were
looking at me because _I_ was a "school-ma'am," it was a childish
vanity, which _I_ have long since forgiven, as I trust my reader will
do. Among the audience was our minister's young bride, and when,
after church, he introduced her to me, saying to her, "This is Rose,
who, I told you, was only thirteen and teaching school," I felt quite
reconciled to my lot, and thought that after all, it was an honor to
be a teacher.