And my competitors have both the advantage of me; one is a Mississippian-an old teacher, well known to the people. The other is a Missourian, residing with a relative who is one of the patrons of the school.

I had gone to Milldale the day previous to the trial, for we understood that we were to be examined by a graduate from college, and the one that passed best was to be selected as their teacher.

It was 10 o'clock in the morning of a beautiful day— one of those days in which "nature is glad all over from flower to star," as I reined my horse up to the blacksmith's shop, about which the people had assembled, ere going over to the school-house, to witness the examination. The whole neighboring country had turned out, as if it had been training-day.

Colonel R.'s son riding by in his carriage, seeing me, a stranger-Dr. H. could not be present-stopped his carriage and introduced me to five or six of the gentlemen present. It was one of the many kind and gentlemanly acts that it had been my lot to experience South, but this was of a nature deserving one's warm and sincerest thanks.

At the appointed time we all went over to the schoolhouse. It was a frame building, and the finest one I had seen of the kind, situated on a pleasant knoll, back from the road in a fine grove of trees.

The Missourian told me, on the way there, that although he had taught school once, he had been training horses. lately, and was rather rusty in his knowledge. He was an athlete stout and robust, fitter for any other arena, I thought, than that of the school-room.

The trustees were men of sober judgment, and possessed of intelligence sufficient, at least, to perform the functions of the highest official duties in the county. Mr. H., the collegian, and the gentleman who was to examine us, ap

peared to be a man of sound intelligence and good attain

ments.

After an hour's attention to other matters, the officers came to the affair on hand. The Mississippian was well known, he "rested his case with the people." Not so with the Missourian and myself. We were called on, lawyer-like, to make the "points in our case," that they might get some clue to our character and standing. The Missourian took the floor first. I have no intention to disparage the fellow, because he was a rival for the school; I certainly feared the Mississippian the most in the trial; but I could not help thinking, while he. was relating his experience in teaching, which was not very interesting, that he, like TONY LUMPKINS, in GOLDSMITH's play, had

never

-puzzled his brains

With grammar, and nonsense, and learning."

After he had got through, they called for a letter of recommendation. He had none. But his relative-one of the patrons of the school-would inform them, should they wish to know anything more about him.

I had the advantage of the closing plea. What I had to say "was summed up in brief." They then called for a letter of recommendation. This was a "bar" to my plea. I was worse off than the Missourian; I had given away all my letters of recommendation, and had no friend to vouch for me. At this juncture, I chanced to think that I had two letters that Professor H., of Detroit, Michigan, had given me, and although they were not addressed to gentlemen whom they knew, I presented them as my dernier resort. It was a timely hit; from the fact that they were addressed to Southrons, they carried much weight with them. Having read them, they appeared to be satisfied.

But yet, the real combat was to come. We, as champions, had entered the "list," by merely "touching the refrain of our spears to the shield." We were now to enter the arena by "touching their points against it." A critical examination was to ensue. But, at this crisis in our trial, the trustees held a short conference by themselves, after which they deliberately told us, that all they could now do for us, was to give us the chance of getting the school by drawing up a subscription, which we could have the privilege of circulating among the patrons of the school, and the one that got the most signers, Mr. H. would examine, by way of installing him into his office. This was a poser-a poser.

I concluded to parley no more about the matter. But, before I left Milldale, through the solicitation of Dr. H., I drew up a writing in regard to my teaching the school, which, he assured me, he would have circulated, and let me know the result. The other applicants, of course, would do the same.

I stayed all night with him, at his fine home, and very much enjoyed his society, and that of his lady and their two pretty daughters, who had lately been attending boardingschool in Vicksburgh. Mrs. H.'s brother, Mr. Frank J., an intelligent and worthy young gentleman, was residing in their family. He had been their late teacher.

The next morning I started for home. Giving the loose reins to my horse, I rode along enjoying the lovely weather of a tropical December-the Southern woods, in their long spanish beards, though faded and partly leafless, yet beautiful with their ridges crowned with oak and unknown trees; with their evergreens-their clambering and tangled vine-work; with their dells "choked up" with the green, luxuriant cane; with their bird-songs, and soft gushes of rustling leaf-music.

Tired of sitting so long in the saddle, I got down from it at the gate of the Ridge House, past mid-afternoon. But much to my disappointment, I found no letters from home-none from anywhere else.

This, with all of my fruitless adventures in search of a school, made me feel rather melancholy. I don't believe that disappointment has any new springs that she has not lately touched to surprise me.

I never was a favorite of Dame FORTUNE; I believe, instead of recognizing me as one of her children, she has played the cruel step-mother to me; and, considering me a little truant, has laid the rod on unsparingly. If, in a ramble in the woods, with my play-fellows, I cut my name on a tree, visiting the spot again, I was sure to find it effaced, while those of my mates remained untouched, as if guarded by her. I really believe she, from the first, intended to thwart my schemes-cross my luck, and disinherit me from my share of enjoyment in this life, that her favorite children might have it all. If there was a shadow, she has thrown it across my path, and often, with more cruelty, across my heart. And, in fine, if I am to judge of her, from the rigid lessons, she has given me through life, she has considered me her little HERCULES; for my tasks have always been the hardest, and most severely imposed.

"Dame LIFE, though fiction out may trick her,

And in paste gems and frippery deck her;

Oh! flickering feeble and unsicker,

I've found her still,

On wavering like the willow wicker
'Tween good and ill."

Reader! don't consider this a do-lo-rous lament, just on the eve of a felo-de-se. No; It is merely what, in friendly parlance, is termed "unbosoming" one's self of troubles,

H

to some "bosomed-friend;" or, I felt a little of the "woful agony" of the "ancient mariner,"

But I sometimes fear that my pedagoguic "laurels" here, will turn to Southern willows; or, that I shall have to twine my wreath of magnolias, hollies, Cherokee roses, that I shall earn in trying to find a school, and go home.

But we are to have the holidays next week; we shall enjoy them and tell you something about them among this feudal people.

CHAPTER XI.

"Lo, now is come our joyfulest feast!
Let every man be jolly,

Eache roome with yvie leaves is drest,
And every post with holly.

Now all our neighbors' chimneys smoke,

And Christmas blocks are burning;
Their ovens they with bak't meats choke,
And all their spits are turning.
Without the door let sorrow lie,
And if from cold, it hap to die,
We'll bury 't in a Christmas pie
And evermore be merry."

Sketch-Book.

"And is old, old, good old Christmas gone? Nothing but the hair of his good old gray head and beard left? Well, I will have that, seeing I cannot have more of him."