A Daughter of the Land

"Well, thank goodness I was before-handed," she said. "The

teacher stayed here last year and she was satisfied, so I ast the

Trustee to mention me to the new teacher. Nobody was expecting

you until the last of the week, but I says to myself, 'always take

time by the fetlock, Samantha, always be ready'; so last week I

put in scouring my spare room to beat the nation, and it's all

ready so's you can walk right in."

"Thank you," said Kate, rather resenting the assumption that she

was to have no option in the matter. "I have four places on my

list where they want the teacher, so I thought I would look at

each of them and then decide."

"My, ain't we choicey!" said Mrs. Holt in sneering tones. Then

she changed instantly, and in suave commendation went on: "That's

exactly right. That's the very thing fer you to do. After you

have seen what Walden has to offer, then a pretty young thing like

you can make up your mind where you will have the most quiet fer

your work, the best room, and be best fed. One of the greatest

advantages here fer a teacher is that she can be quiet, an' not

have her room rummaged. Every place else that takes boarders

there's a lot of children; here there is only me and my son, and

he is grown, and will be off to his medical work next week fer the

year, so all your working time here, you'd be alone with me. This

is the room."

"That surely would be a great advantage, because I have much

studying to do," said Kate as they entered the room.

With one glance, she liked it. It was a large room with low

ceiling, quaintly papered in very old creamy paper, scattered with

delicately cut green leaves, but so carefully had the room been

kept, that it was still clean. There were four large windows to

let in light and air, freshly washed white curtains hanging over

the deep green shades. The floor was carpeted with a freshly

washed rag carpet stretched over straw, the bed was invitingly

clean and looked comfortable, there was a wash stand with bowl and

pitcher, soap and towels, a small table with a lamp, a straight-

backed chair and a rocking chair. Mrs. Holt opened a large closet

having hooks for dresses at one end and shelves at the other. On

the top of these there were a comfort and a pair of heavy

blankets.

"Your winter covers," said Mrs. Holt, indicating these, "and there

is a good stove I take out in summer to make more room, and set up

as soon as it gets cold, and that is a wood box."

She pointed out a shoe box covered with paper similar to that on

the walls.