Beulah - Page 116/348

"I have."

"Good-night." His tone was stern, and she immediately retreated.

Unable to sleep, she passed the remaining hours of the short night

in pacing the floor, or watching the clockwork of stars point to the

coming dawn. Though not quite eighteen, her face was prematurely

grave and thoughtful, and its restless, unsatisfied expression

plainly discovered a perturbed state of mind and heart. The time had

come when she must go out into the world and depend only upon

herself; and though she was anxious to commence the work she had

assigned herself, she shrank from the thought of quitting her

guardian's home and thus losing the only companionship she really

prized. He had not sought to dissuade her; had appeared perfectly

indifferent to her plans; and this unconcern had wounded her deeply.

To-morrow would decide her election as teacher, and, as the

committee would be present at her examination (which was to be more

than usually minute in view of her application), she looked forward

impatiently to this occasion. Morning dawned, and she hailed it

gladly; breakfast came, and she took hers alone; the doctor had

already gone out for the day. This was not an unusual occurrence,

yet this morning she noted it particularly. At ten o'clock the

academy was crowded with visitors, and the commissioners and

teachers were formidably arrayed on the platform raised for this

purpose. The examination began; Greek and Latin classes were

carefully questioned, and called on to parse and scan to a tiresome

extent; then came mathematical demonstrations. Every conceivable

variety of lines and angles adorned the blackboards; and next in

succession were classes in rhetoric and natural history. There was a

tediousness in the examinations incident to such occasions, and, as

repeated inquiries were propounded, Beulah rejoiced at the prospect

of release. Finally the commissioners declared themselves quite

satisfied with the proficiency attained, and the graduating class

read the compositions for the day. At length, at a signal from the

superintendent of the department, Beulah ascended the platform, and,

surrounded by men signalized by scholarship and venerable from age,

she began her address. She wore a white mull muslin, and her glossy

black hair was arranged with the severe simplicity which

characterized her style of dress. Her face was well-nigh as

colorless as the paper she held, and her voice faltered with the

first few sentences.

The theme was "Female Heroism," and as she sought among the dusky

annals of the past for instances in confirmation of her predicate,

that female intellect was capable of the most exalted attainments,

and that the elements of her character would enable woman to cope

successfully with difficulties of every class, her voice grew clear,

firm, and deep. Quitting the fertile fields of history, she painted

the trials which hedge woman's path, and with unerring skill defined

her peculiar sphere, her true position. The reasoning was singularly

forcible, the imagery glowing and gorgeous, and occasional passages

of exquisite pathos drew tears from her fascinated audience; while

more than once a beautiful burst of enthusiasm was received with

flattering applause. Instead of flushing, her face grew paler, and

the large eyes were full of lambent light, which seemed to flash out

from her soul. In conclusion, she bade adieu to the honored halls

where her feet had sought the paths of knowledge; paid a just and

grateful tribute to the Institution of Public Schools, and to the

Commissioners through whose agency she had been enabled to enjoy so

many privileges; and, turning to her fellow-graduates, touchingly

reminded them of the happy past and warned of the shrouded future.

Crumpling the paper in one hand, she extended the other toward her

companions, and in thrilling accents conjured them, in any and every

emergency, to prove themselves true women of America--ornaments of

the social circle, angel guardians of the sacred hearthstone,

ministering spirits where suffering and want demanded succor; women

qualified to assist in a council of statesmen, if dire necessity

ever required it; while, in whatever positions they might be placed,

their examples should remain imperishable monuments of true female

heroism. As the last words passed her lips she glanced swiftly over

the sea of heads, and perceived her guardian leaning with folded

arms against a pillar, while his luminous eyes were fastened on her

face. A flash of joy irradiated her countenance, and, bending her

head amid the applause of the assembly, she retired to her seat. She

felt that her triumph was complete; the whispered, yet audible,

inquiries regarding her name, the admiring, curious glances directed

toward her, were not necessary to assure her of success; and when,

immediately after the diplomas were distributed, she rose and

received hers with the calm look of one who has toiled long for some

need, and puts forth her hand for what she is conscious of having

deserved. The crowd slowly dispersed, and, beckoned forward once

more, Beulah confronted the august committee whose prerogative it

was to elect teachers. A certificate was handed her, and the

chairman informed her of her election to a vacant post in the

Intermediate Department. The salary was six hundred dollars, to be

paid monthly, and her duties would commence with the opening of the

next session, after two months' vacation. In addition he

congratulated her warmly on the success of her valedictory effort,

and suggested the propriety of cultivating talents which might

achieve for her an enviable distinction. She bowed in silence, and

turned away to collect her books. Her guardian approached, and said

in a low voice: "Put on your bonnet and come down to the side gate. It is too warm

for you to walk home."