"I have found one cause for regret," the speaker repeated slowly, "one
big cause."
His deep, feeling voice stopped and he faced the school while the
hearts of pupils and teacher beat with apprehension.
"And that regret is," he said very slowly so that not one word of his
could be lost, "that I have not a dozen teachers just like Miss Reist
to scatter around the county!"
Amanda's lips trembled. The relief and happiness occasioned by the
words of the speaker almost brought her to tears. The children,
appreciating the compliment to their teacher, clapped hands until the
little room resounded with deafening noise.
"That's good," said the distinguished visitor, smiling, as the applause
died down. "You stick to your teacher like that and follow her lead and
I am sure you will develop into men and women of whom Lancaster County
will be proud."
After a few more remarks, a joke or two, he went back to his seat with
the directors. Mr. Mertzheimer avoided meeting his eyes. The father of
Lyman Mertzheimer, who had been so loud in his denunciation of the
tomfoolery baskets and dried weeds, suddenly developed an intense
interest in a tray of butterflies and milkweed.
In a few minutes it was time for dismissal. One of the older girls
played a simple march on the little organ and the scholars marched from
the room. With happy faces they said good-bye, eager to run home and
tell all about the visit of the County Superintendent and the things he
said.
As the visitors rose to go the County Superintendent stepped away from
the others and went to Amanda.
"You have been very kind," she told him, joy showing in her animated
face.
"Honor to whom honor is due, Miss Reist," he said, with that winning
smile of approval so many teachers worked to win. "I have here a little
thing I want you to read after we leave. It is a copy of a letter you
might like to keep, though I feel certain the writer of it would feel
embarrassed if told of your perusal of it. I want to add that I should
have felt the same and made similar remarks to-day if I had not read
that letter, but probably I should not have expressed my opinion quite
so forcibly. Keep the letter. I intend to keep the original. It renews
faith in human nature in general. It makes me feel anew how good a
thing it is to have a friend. Good-bye, Miss Reist. I have enjoyed my
visit to Crow Hill school, I assure you."
Amanda looked at him, wondering. What under the sun could he mean? Why
should she read a letter written to him? She smiled, shook the hand he
offered, but was still at a loss to understand his words. The directors
came up to say good-bye. Mr. Mertzheimer bowed very politely but
refrained from meeting her eyes as he said, "Good-afternoon." The other
men did not bow but they added to their good-bye, "I'm going to vote
for you. We don't want to lose you."