CHAPTER XVIII.
A NEW PLAN.
The summer was drawing to a close, and with it Mary's school.

She had succeeded in giving satisfaction to the entire district with the exception of Mrs.Bradley, who "didn't know why Tim should be licked and thrashed round just because his folks wasn't wuth quite so much as some others," this being, in her estimation, the only reason why the notorious Timothy was never much beloved by his teachers.

Mr Knight, with whom Mary was a great favorite, offered her the school for the coming winter, but she had decided upon attending school herself, and after modestly declining his offer, told him of her intention.
"But where's the money coming from ?" said he.
Mary laughingly asked him how many bags of shoes he supposed she had stitched during the last two years.
"More'n two hundred, I'll bet," said he.
"Not quite as many as that," answered Mary; "but still I have managed to earn my clothes, and thirty dollars besides; and this, together with my school wages, will pay for one term, and part of another." "Well, go ahead," returned Mr.Knight.

"I'd help you if I could.

Go ahead, and who knows but you'll one day be the President's wife." Like the majority of New England farmers, Mr Knight was far from being wealthy.