by Jane Peart
Vi held up her hand. "Slow down, Holly, I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about."
Holly took a long breath then very deliberately told Vi about Larkin's leaving and the post of teacher being left vacant as well as the little apartment behind the schoolroom.
While listening attentively, Vi got down two china cups, arranged some thin wafer cookies on a plate, and set them on the table.
"So, what do you think?" Holly asked breathlessly.
"Have you ever taught before?"
"Well, no, but I'm sure I could. After all it's only grammar school. Certainly I could teach six-and seven-year-olds!"
"You'll have all ages, Holly. Or at least for part of the year. The older children attend during the winter. But in the spring the big boys are usually needed to help out on their families' farms, plowing and planting and so on. Strapping farm boys of twelve and fourteen can be a handful—"
"Oh, I've got dozens of young cousins that age, Vi. I don't think that would bother me," Holly said confidently. "My real worry is getting the job! I suppose I'll have to apply and go for an interview before the Town Council."
Vi didn't say anything right away. She poured their tea and offered Holly the plate of cookies, then she looked over at her friend seriously. "Have you prayed about this, Holly?"
Taken aback by Vi's question, Holly replied, "Well, no, not really. I haven't had time. I just got the idea."
"It's a pretty important step for you to take. Don't you think you should have God's guidance?"
"Yes, I suppose so. I just thought you could help me decide what to do," Holly said. Then she asked shyly, "Is that what you do, Vi? I mean, pray about it before anything else?"
"When it's something that's going to change my life as much as this would change yours, Holly, I think it's the wisest thing to do."
"But if I pray and do seem to get a 'go ahead'—will you help me, Vi? I mean, you do think it's a good idea, don't you?"
"Of course, I'll help you every way I can, Holly," Vi promised.
Holly breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you." She stood up. "And I will do as you say, Vi."
As they walked to the door, Vi put her arm around Holly's shoulder. "I'm sure the children would love having you for a teacher—that is, if you decide to do it."
"After I pray about it, you mean?" Holly smiled.
"Of course, after you pray." Vi gave her a mock reproachful look.
At the front door, Holly asked, "Seriously, Vi, how should I pray about it to expect an answer?"
Vi hesitated a moment before replying. "Well, I don't recommend this practice as a general rule, but I must admit that when I've been under pressure to make a decision and have been at a loss for direction, I have done it. First, pray earnestly for guidance, then open the Bible at random and read the pages where it falls open. Search there for what God may be showing you in His Word. That's all I can tell you, Holly. I feel that somewhere in those two pages you're going to find your answer."
Something stubborn in Holly resisted this idea. It seemed too chancy. With all her heart she wanted this job. Mainly, of course, because it provided an avenue of escape from Hetty. Actually, when she thought about it, didn't it seem almost Providential? Great-Aunt Ancilla always said that it is sometimes in circumstances that God makes His will plain. Wasn't this just that sort of circumstance?
Back in the cramped bedroom at Hetty's house, Holly decided she might as well follow Vi's advice. After all, if Vi relied on this method of discovering God's guidance when unsure of what direction to take, why shouldn't she try it?
Holly got out the little Bible that Great-Aunt Ancilla had tucked into her trunk that day when she was packing to leave for the West. Holding it in both hands, she squeezed her eyes tight shut and prayed, "Dear Lord, show me what to do, and please make it plain!" then flipped open the Bible. When she opened her eyes again and looked down at the pages, she was surprised to see she had turned to the Book of Isaiah.
If Holly was familiar with any Scripture, it was mostly the New Testament, and this seemed very strange to her. But remembering Vi's instruction, she began reading from the top of the left-hand page, relying on the possibility that at some point a verse would "quicken" to her, as Great-Aunt Ancilla used to say.
The pages that lay open before her contained Chapters 49 and 50. Running her index finger down line by line, she came to this one: "This place is too small for me; give me a place where I may dwell," and almost laughed.
If that wasn't to the point, she didn't know what was! Did God have a sense of humor? Quickly hoping that He wouldn't think her irreverent, Holly read on. A kind of quiet settled over her as she did, and she realized that the Scriptures had effects other than just giving answers. Then her finger stopped on a verse, and as she read it over two or three times, she began to feel it was her direction to pursue the position of schoolteacher. Chapter 50, verses 7-8: "For the Lord will help me, Therefore I will not be disgraced—Therefore I have set my face like flint and I know I will not be ashamed. He is near who justifies me, who will contend with me?" If she was interpreting this as an answer to her own question, it seemed to Holly that she was to step boldly forward, with a "face set like flint," and God would help her.
She closed the Bible thoughtfully. This was all new to her. She had never before exercised faith in such a manner. But she admired Vi Dodd, and if Vi thought this was how to go about it, who was she to argue?
That evening at the supper table Holly took a deep breath and announced her intention. "Well, that's splendid, Holly," was Ned's immediate response. "I think that's a great idea, you'd make a fine teacher."
"Oh, Holly, will you teach me when I go to school?" Aurelia almost bounced off her chair in her excitement.
"I haven't got the job yet, honey. I'm just going to apply for it." Holly smiled across the table at her, then glanced at Hetty, whose fork had stopped halfway to her mouth; she had paled, her expression blank. For politeness' sake Holly asked, "What do you think, Hetty?"
Hetty put down her fork, got to her feet, and picked up her unfinished plate, took it over to the drainboard and said over her shoulder, "I never thought you were much for school when you were a pupil, so how come you think you can teach?"
Holly felt her face burn at this barbed comment. She knew that she had not been a prize student as Hetty had been. Still her marks were reasonably good, and she certainly was no dunce!
Suppressing her indignation at Hetty's attempt to embarrass her, Holly replied gaily, "Well, isn't there an old saying, that 'if you become a teacher, by your students you'll be taught'? I'm open to learning all I can even this late in my life."
"I think you'll do just fine, Holly," Ned said heartily, which was a brave thing to do in the wake of his wife's blatant disapproval.
Hetty said nothing more, but her opinion was obvious in the way she brought the dessert dish of blackberry cobbler and slammed it down on the table.
PART 2
I a small house and large garden have,
And a few friends, and many books, both true,
both wise and both delightful, tool!
Abraham Cowley
Chapter 11
Taking some liberty with the Scripture, Holly "set her face like flint" toward the coming meeting of the Town Council. Making many false starts and revisions of the text, Holly labored over her letter of application for the position of grammar school teacher until she was satisfied. Writing in her very best penmanship, she stated her qualifications and addressed it to the membership of the Riverbend Town Council acting in its capacity as school board. Within a few days Holly received a letter from Mayor Ed Morrison that her application was being studied and considered by each member. A decision would be announced at the next town meeting.
It was the longest week of her life. Finally on the morning before the meeting, Holly hurried along Main Street on her way over to consult with Vi on an appropriate outfit to wear. Preoccupied, she nearly collided with Adam Corco
ran as she rounded the corner.
He took off his hat, made her an exaggerated bow, and greeted her, "Good day, Miss Lambeth. Rumor has it that you will be Riverbend's new schoolmarm in place of the lately departed but not lamented Larkin."
"Well, it certainly has not been decided, Mr. Corcoran, but I have applied for the position."
Regarding her with a skeptical smile, he said, "Perhaps I'm wrong, I often am, but my first impression of you was not of a schoolmarm. Probably that might be colored by the fact that I don't remember my own schooldays with much pleasure, due in large part, I'm sure, to a series of teachers who were neither pleasant nor charming nor even, I might add, erudite."
Although Holly knew he was teasing her, she was aware of a sense of irony in the situation herself but affected an air of indignant dignity and replied, "I find that very unfortunate, indeed, Mr. Corcoran. I myself have most happy memories of my school days and my teachers. And if I am awarded this important position, I certainly hope to emulate those paragons of wisdom and kindness." With satisfaction at matching Adam at his own game, Holly bestowed one of her most winsome smiles on him and moved past. "Now if you will excuse me, Mr. Corcoran, I have an errand to complete."
Holly might have been both flattered and disturbed had she seen the mixture of admiration and challenge in Adam Corcoran's glance following her.
At Vi's the two women put their heads together to decide just what Holly should wear the night she appeared before the Council. "You want to look well but not too fashionable," Vi told her. "That might put them off since most of them have wives who are busy, hard-working mothers with very few opportunities to dress up."
"Should I look drab, dowdy?" asked Holly worriedly, already thinking of the wardrobe of bright-colored stylish clothes she had brought with her.
"No, not that, but . . ." Vi hesitated. Looking at Holly, she could not help wondering how in the world this pretty, vivacious young woman could convince five middle-aged men she was capable of overseeing thirty or more children—no matter what she wore!
"Maybe, I can remodel something. I mean, take off the trimmings or flounces," Holly suggested, mentally reviewing her possibilities. Perhaps the blue traveling suit or her gray walking dress or even the cinnamon brown wool—she wrinkled her brow and asked Vi, "You think I should look more reliable and serious, don't you? Not flighty or—more Quakerish, right?"
"Well, not exactly, Holly," Vi laughed. "But I think you get the idea. You've got good taste and judgment. Just don't show up with too many feathers or flowers on your hat!"
Monday was the regular meeting night of Riverbend's Town Council. As usual the time and agenda was published in the Monitor with the added notice that the subject of hiring a new schoolteacher would be discussed after the previously announced items on the agenda.
Riverbend, so newly evolved from its raw mining camp beginnings, now had a citizenry eager to exhibit responsible civic interest and pride in its development. Therefore the Town Council meetings were usually well-attended. This Monday every seat was filled a half hour before the meeting would be called to order, extra chairs were even brought into place on the side aisles. It seemed that everyone in Riverbend had a personal reason to be present for this particular meeting.
It had already circulated around town that Ned Thornton's wife's cousin was applying for the teacher's job. Those who had met Holly through the lending library were pleased at the idea, confident that anyone who knew so much about books had to be a good teacher as well. Others who only knew her by sight had their own unexplored opinion that she was "too citified" and probably "stuck up." If she wasn't, why was it she never came along with her cousin Hetty to their Sewing Circle or Missionary Society? It didn't occur to those who held this attitude that Holly had never been invited. Others, mainly those with children in need of a teacher, were anxious to have the vacancy filled as soon as possible and had come to hear and see for themselves what the young lady from "back east" had to say for herself. Certainly no one who came to the meeting was disinterested in the outcome.
Holly herself had been in a frenzy of nerves all afternoon and at five went over to see Vi, who was going to accompany her to Town Hall, to get her final approval on her appearance. As she left for Vi's house, Holly paused in the kitchen and trying to keep her tone light, said, "Well, Hetty, I'm off to the lion's den, wish me luck!"
Hetty looked up from the bread she was kneading for the next day's baking. Surveying every inch of her cousin, she replied coldly, "Hmmph, you'll need more than good luck."
Holly pretended to adjust the scalloped cuffs of her coffee-colored boucle-wool jacket and ignored Hetty's mean-spirited remark. What else could she expect from her cousin? Hetty had made no secret of how she felt about Holly's ability to get the job.
Keeping her voice even, she said good-bye and went out the door. As she walked briskly toward Vi's house, Holly thought she would never understand Hetty, not if she lived to be a hundred. You'd think Hetty would hope I'd get the job and get out of her hair!
But she had more important things now to be concerned about than Hetty's predictable attitude. She had to concentrate on making a good impression on the members of the Town Council, convince them that she was their best possible choice for teacher.
Holly knew that even if she embellished her educational qualifications it would not be enough. Her lack of references and experience were the first obstacles she had to hurdle. But then after the Larkin debacle, plus the fact that the school year session was already three weeks behind, put great pressure on the council to appoint someone soon. The time needed to advertise the position, receive and check applications, vote on the one to be selected, plus the expense of sending for someone were factors to be considered. Paying train or stagecoach fare for the person to get to Riverbend would seem prohibitive to the frugal council members and would strain the town coffers. All this might stand Holly in good stead, she told herself as she went up the porch steps of Vi's house.
Vi was dressed and ready to go when she let Holly inside.
"So, how do I look?" Holly asked her, spinning around slowly. "Like a potential, proper schoolmarm, I hope?"
Vi's critical eye reviewed Holly's outfit. The suit with its high collar over which a narrow rim of silk ruching peeked was subdued enough. Since Holly had taken Vi's suggestion to remove the small blue-feathered bird nested in green velvet leaves, leaving only the dark brown grosgrain ribbons, her bonnet was now acceptable. Vi nodded.
"Very nice indeed."
"Good! If you approve of my appearance, the Town Council will surely agree." Holly's eyes sparkled. "Come on, let's go."
On their way to the Town Hall, Vi tried not to let her own anxiety about the outcome of the meeting dim Holly's enthusiasm. "What a night!" Holly exclaimed. "Look!" she said pointing up to the stars glittering in the sky. "This is the kind of night that good things happen," she declared squeezing Vi's arm.
Inwardly Vi's heart sank. She was afraid that Holly's attractiveness might be the very thing that would do her the most damage. Even with her outfit carefully chosen for its conservative effect, Holly Lambeth was hardly anyone's idea of a schoolteacher.
There was a definite autumn crispness in the air and as they hurried up the steps leading into the brick building, Vi shivered. But it was more from nerves than cold.
Standing just outside the entrance was Adam Corcoran. "Why, Mr. Corcoran," Holly exclaimed, "What are you doing here? I shouldn't think you'd care who was hired for schoolteacher."
"Good evening, Miss Lambeth, Mrs. Dodd," he tipped his hat to both women. Then smiling at Holly said, "Of course, I'm interested in everything that happens in Riverbend. Especially who is appointed to the important position of teaching our young people. As I'm sure you're aware, a schoolteacher has great influence in a community. I wish you the best, even though I'm not quite sure why you are doing it."
He regarded her in that half-amused, half-skeptical way she had come to expect whenever they met. She fe
lt sure that he knew about Larkin, probably knew about her helping Blaine the day they found Larkin inebriated along the side of the road. He may even have put two and two together and figured out why she was applying for the job. He had seen firsthand Hetty's ill-humor, perhaps even read between the lines of her cautious answers to his often pointed questions about her situation at the Thorntons'.
Adam had not come to call on her as he had first asked permission to do. Holly was certain this was because of his wish to avoid Hetty. But on the days she worked at the lending library he visited her frequently there. Of course, he made all sorts of excuses for doing so: returning books, looking for recent arrivals, then lingering to chat. In spite of his cynicism and sometimes barbed comments, Holly had come to know and like Adam. She even thought she could see through that veneer of superiority he affected. So now she replied in the same vein, "It is very encouraging to realize that the editor of the town paper is so interested." Then she added candidly, "I'm glad you're here. I need all the support I can get."
"Rest assured you do have my support, Miss Lambeth. Only I'm afraid I don't have the power to sway any votes on the Council. I'm here in the capacity of editor of the Monitor. I always cover the Town Council meetings."
"Nevertheless, it's nice to feel I have some friends in the audience."
"I'm sure you do, Miss Lambeth," he said and opened the door for them to enter the building.
Watching Holly as she walked inside, Adam thought, What a plucky little creature she is! He hadn't imagined that she had it in her to face a five-man board and a room full of strangers, some of them probably hostile, ready to criticize or condemn her for her Eastern looks and manners.
Adam sauntered to a place on the left-hand side in the front row where he could get a good look at the members, try to judge their reactions, see and hear everything he could. He was betting on Holly to win, but he was also hedging his bet. The men of the Town Council took their roles very seriously. No doubt they'd been coached, argued with, and given opinions about the last item on tonight's agenda from everyone and anyone who had cornered them, bent their ear, or buttonholed them in the general store.
