A Daughter of the Land

"I am going to teach the village school in Walden," said Kate.

"It is a brick building, has a janitor, I can board reasonably,

near my work, and I get twenty dollars more a month than our

school pays, while the term is four months longer."

"Well, it is a pity about that; but it makes no difference," said

her mother. "Our home school has got to be taught as Pa

contracted, and Nancy Ellen has got to have her chance."

"What about my chance?" asked Kate evenly. "Not one of the girls,

even Exceptional Ability, ever had as good a school or as high

wages to start on. If I do well there this winter, I am sure I

can get in the Hartley graded schools next fall."

"Don't you dare nickname your sister," cried Mrs. Bates, shrilly.

"You stop your impudence and mind your father."

"Ma, you leave this to me," said Adam Bates, thickly. Then he

glared at Kate as he arose, stretching himself to full height.

"You've signed a contract for a school?" he demanded.

"I have," said Kate.

"Why didn't you wait until you got home and talked it over with

us?" he questioned.

"I went to you to talk over the subject to going," said Kate.

"You would not even allow me to speak. How was I to know that you

would have the slightest interest in what school I took, or

where."

"When did you sign this contract?" he continued.

"Yesterday afternoon, in Hartley," said Kate.

"Aha! Then I did miss a letter from my pocket. When did you get

to be a thief?" he demanded.

"Oh, Father!" cried Kate. "It was my letter. I could see my name

on the envelope. I ASKED you for it, before I took it."

"From behind my back, like the sneak-thief you are. You are not

fit to teach in a school where half the scholars are the children

of your brothers and sisters, and you are not fit to live with

honest people. Pack your things and be off!"

"Now? This afternoon?" asked Kate.

"This minute!" he cried.

"All right. You will be surprised at how quickly I can go," said

Kate.

She set down the telescope and gathered a straw sunshade and an

apron from the hooks at the end of the room, opened the dish

cupboard, and took out a mug decorated with the pinkest of wild

roses and the reddest and fattest of robins, bearing the

inscription in gold, "For a Good Girl" on a banner in its beak.

Kate smiled at it grimly as she took the telescope and ran

upstairs. It was the work of only a few minutes to gather her

books and clothing and pack the big telescope, then she went down

the front stairs and left the house by the front door carrying in

her hand everything she possessed on earth. As she went down the

walk Nancy Ellen sprang up and ran to her while Robert Gray

followed.