152 HOW NATURE STUDY SHOULD BE TAUGHT 



week, he received a letter from the country, stating 

 that the entire company had deserted and returned 

 to the city. He waited for no secretary to trans- 

 act this business. He grabbed hat and cane and 

 started for the East Side, to search for, and find, 

 too, the woman who had been prominent in or- 

 ganizing the party. She came to the door, wiping 

 her hands on her apron. He inquired as to the 

 board, the location, and the treatment of the chil- 

 dren. All these had been satisfactory. Finally, 

 almost in exasperation he said, " Tell me, madam, 

 frankly, why did you come home ? Doesn't my 

 kindness to you merit at least some candor on 

 your part ? " 



" Yes, sir, it does ; you're a good man. I tell 

 you, sir, we all came home because there was 

 nothin' doin' ! " 



I have read of a similar experience on the part 

 of a Boston lady, who, upon investigation, found 

 that a poor woman whom she had sent to the 

 country had come home, because she " liked 

 people better than stumps ! " 



And yet, absurd as are these excuses from these 

 uncultured persons, it is to be feared that they 

 have far too many followers who everlastingly 

 want to be where there is " somethin' doin',*' or 



