Rhoda's Education by Lucy Ellen Guernsey

"MOTHER," said Rhoda one evening at the supper-table, "if we should ever go to the city, I should like to go and see the old ladies' 'Home."

Mr. and Mrs. Bowers exchanged glances, and Mrs. Bowers said,-

"How would you like to make a little visit there?"

"I should like it ever so much, though I suppose hardly any one is left in the house that I know, except Miss Carpenter. I wonder what has become of all the children I used to play with? I hope they are all as well off as I am. But, mother-"

"Well? " said Mrs. Bowers as Rhoda paused. "But what?"

"I thought-I hoped, rather-that I was getting ready to go away to school."

"Perhaps you may go to school too," said Mrs. Bowers, again glancing at her husband.

"Perhaps some arrangement may be made for you to board at 'The Home' and go to school in the city."

"Really! " said Rhoda, with sparkling eyes.

"Mind, I said 'Perhaps," answered her mother. "If you go to school, you must live somewhere, you know. You can't board at home and go to school in Milby very well."

"No, of course not. But what school shall I attend? -Mrs. Anderson's?"

"We will see about that when you get there. We don't know much about the Milby schools, and shall have to consult somebody. There! Don't be all upset now, but run down to the mill and ask if Mr. Antis is going to Hobarttown to-morrow. I want to send by him if he is."

"Well, Maria, I must say you have a good deal of assurance," said Mr. Bowers when Rhoda had left the room. "I don't see how you could tell such a string of stories with such a straight face."

"I didn't tell any lies," said Mrs. Bowers. "She may go to school, for aught I know, and she may as well think she is going, and let other people think so. It will make less of a talk."

"Well, I wish I could feel sure we were doing right," returned Mr. Bowers.

"I declare, I think you are too bad, Mr. Bowers," said his wife. "You must admit that our first duty is to our own child, and you know what Uncle Jacob said. When we took Rhoda, we did not suppose we should have any of our own; and now that we have, of course the case is entirely altered. I am sure Rhoda has no cause of complaint; and besides, I don't believe she will care very much. You see how pleased she is at the mere thought of going away."

"Yes, of going away to school."

"It would be just the same if she were going away anywhere else. She would rather be at Aunt Hannah's all day long than at home."

"What do you suppose Aunt Hannah will say?"

"I don't know; I am glad she is not here. You know she is going to stay away four weeks longer. Anyhow, you can't help yourself now. You know what Uncle Jacob made a condition, and he never goes back from his word."