Straight Forward by Lucy Ellen Guernsey

EVERYBODY knows that holidays at schools are not usually very interesting or lively affairs. Mrs. Pomeroy had always been accustomed to do a good deal to make them pass pleasantly to those who stayed, and when some dozen girls remained together, they often found the time fly quite quickly enough.

It happened this year that nearly all the girls went home, and Emily was left with no companions but Alice Parker and Janet Graves, who had already graduated, and was staying at the seminary another year, in order to perfect herself in music and painting. Passionately fond of both pursuits, and rejoicing in the fact of having the best light in the painting room, and the best piano in the house all to herself, Janet kept herself busy from morning till night, and Emily scarcely saw her except at meals. And Alice was at no time a very enlivening companion.

Thus Emily was thrown very much upon her own resources. She had no lessons, except that she read a little with Mr. Fletcher. She had plenty of books to be sure, but she could not read all the time; she hated the very idea of fancy work, and plain sewing did not furnish sufficient employment for her thoughts to keep them from dwelling upon all sorts of disagreeable things. Indeed, she was in a manner obliged to think, whether she would or no.

None of the teachers remained at the seminary except Mr. Fletcher, who never went away, except to take a long journey on foot or on horseback, during the summer vacation. Mr. Fletcher had been with Mrs. Pomeroy a great many years, and had taught mathematics to a dozen generations of girls, yet he never seemed to grow any older, nor could any one remember that he had ever looked younger. He was small and slight of stature, with very black hair and whiskers, with eyes which were grey when he was quiet, black when he was excited, and the color of burning coals when he was angry, an event which did not occur very often, for he was unusually even-tempered. His manners were remarkably kind and gentle, and his voice, though deep, was the softest in the world. Yet no one in the establishment, not even Mrs. Pomeroy herself, was regarded with so much respect, and even awe. Though he often jested with the girls and was particularly fond of playing with children, there was that about him which effectually repressed anything like taking a liberty. Bold indeed was the rebel who dared confront him, and the boldest never tried the experiment a second time.

Mr. Fletcher taught the Bible classes, which all the boarders were obliged to join, so that the whole family of girls came more or less under his influence. He was eminently calculated for the post of religious instructor to the young, not only because his own piety was so deep and fervent, but also because he never employed a false or weak argument to support a just cause-an example which all religious teachers of the young would do well to follow. His knowledge, especially of the manners and customs of Biblical nations, was something wonderful. He had himself travelled in Palestine, in Egypt, and in Assyria, and it was a common remark, that in narrating events and transactions recorded in Sacred History, he spoke almost as if he himself had been an eye witness of the scenes he described, so vivid were the pictures he presented to the minds of his auditors.

Emily had entered one of Mr. Fletcher's classes immediately on her arrival in the school, and for a time had shown much interest in her lessons, taking great pains in preparing them, and often going to Mr. Fletcher during the week for the answer to a difficult question. As we have before remarked, she had been carefully brought up in this respect, and her religious feelings, if not her principles, were very strong, so that she found great pleasure in listening to Mr. Fletcher's earnest and practical lessons; and he had begun to think her one of his most hopeful scholars, when Delia Mason arrived.

It was not long before the influence Delia gained over her room-mate showed itself very perceptibly. She ceased to ask instructions out of the class, lost her interest in her lessons, and contented herself with spending only as much time upon them as would save her from downright disgrace in the class. Mr. Fletcher was not slow in perceiving the change, or in attributing it to the right cause. He soon saw through Delia, and made up his mind as to her true character, but he was habitually reserved and cautious in his speech, and never expressed an opinion of a scholar, unless he was particularly requested to do so by Mrs. Pomeroy herself. So he said nothing, but contented himself with watching the course of events, hoping that a time might come when he should be able to interfere to advantage.

On the Sunday afternoon after Christmas, Emily was in the sitting room, rather listlessly turning over the book she had taken from the library. Mrs. Pomeroy was with Kitty, who, though better, was not yet able to leave her room. Alice Parker had gone to bed with a head-ache, and Janet, wrapped in furs, was walking up and down the long path in the garden, enjoying the fine mild air and the lovely prospect, sometimes reading in the Bible she carried, sometimes looking above and around her.

The house was so still that the ticking of the old clock in the hall below was distinctly heard. Even the animals seemed to feel the quiet influence of the hour, and Grip, Mr. Fletcher's dog,-short for Cornelius Agrippa,-and Posey, Mrs. Pomeroy's cat, intermitted their usual feud, and lay quietly sleeping together on one side of the grate, while Grip's master occupied the other, seated in a luxurious chair, and apparently absorbed in the contents of a great old-fashioned volume with brass clasps and corners, which, from its size and venerable appearance, might have passed for a book of magic, if such things were supposed to exist now-a-days.