THE CORN LADY 



whisper my hopes and ambitions to the lit- 

 tle mother who had taught me to love all 

 growing things. Her eyes would look very 

 gentle, as though they saw far into the fu- 

 ture, as she said: 



"Yes, little daughter; if you try hard and 

 study and work, you may sometime be a 

 great teacher." 



"And can I be a great teacher and teach 

 in the country?" I would ask. 



Her blue eyes, so clear and true, would 

 search deeper than ever in my brown ones 

 as she answered: 



"Yes, the greatest of teachers and teach 

 in the country if you only have the eyes 

 to see and understand your opportunity." 



Mother knew r , didn't she? And in the 

 days that are to come, I shall try to build 

 so well that I can carry out what she said. 

 I already see the great chance for service 

 and, surely, the greatest teacher is the one 

 who helps the most. 



I saw some goldenrod and purple asters 

 as I came to school this morning and have 

 had a bouquet of them on my desk all day. 

 They have brought a flood of happy mem- 

 ories of those days when I walked back and 

 forth over country roads from Sunnyside 



