"

"Try that, then," said General Smith, who was standing instead of
sitting down at the long table. "Just a suggestion."

Every trustee had something to say as to how he had been besieged by
applicants, until the seventh, who remarked:

"I've just returned from Europe, gentlemen. I'll vote for the
candidate having the most votes on this ballot. I don't care who wins."

"I agree to that," quickly responded General Smith, handing him a
folded paper. "Put it in, Dr. Dillingham. It's better that none of us
should do any log-rolling or try to influence others. I'll adopt your
idea."

"I won't then," said Squire Crowninshield, pleasantly but very
positively. "Murdoch, what's the name of that young woman who edited
the _Eagle_ for a week?"

"Miss Mary Ogden," said the editor, with a slight smile.

"A clever girl," said the Squire, as he wrote on a paper, folded it,
and threw it into a hat in the middle of the table. He had not heard
Judge Edwards's whispered exclamation:

"That reminds me! I promised my wife that I'd mention Mary for the
place; but then there wasn't the ghost of a chance!"

In went all the papers, and the hat was turned over.

"Now, gentlemen," said General Smith, "before the ballots are opened
and counted, I wish to ask: Is this vote to be considered regular and
formal? Shall we stand by the result?"

"Certainly, certainly," said the trustees in chorus.

"Count the ballots!" said the Elder.

The hat was lifted and the count began.

"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven--for Mary Ogden," said Elder
Holloway calmly.

"I declare!" said General Smith. "Unanimous? Why, gentlemen, we were
agreed! There really was no difference of opinion whatever."

"I'm glad she is such a favorite," said Judge Edwards; "but we can't
raise the salary on that account. It'll have to remain at forty
dollars a month."

"I'm glad she's got it!" said Mr. Murdoch. "And a unanimous vote is a
high testimonial!"

And so Mary was elected.

Each of them had other business to attend to, and it was not until
Judge Edwards went home, at noon, that the news was known to Mary, for
the Judge carried the pleasant tidings to Mary Ogden at the
dinner-table.

"Oh, Judge Edwards!" exclaimed Mary, turning pale. "I? At my age--to
be assistant principal of the academy?"

"There's only the Primary Department to teach," said the Judge
encouragingly. "Not half so hard as that big, overgrown Sunday-school
class