The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-07-12

ters became mingled together-the room became
dark ,lhe shrill child screaming its in front of
her desk, grew fainter and fainter-her head sunk
upon her book, and she fell to the floor.
Painting was so unusual in this school, that all
was instantly confusion; and it was some minutes
before the teachers could restore order. Helen
was brought to the air, two Of her companions des
patched for water, and mono were allowed to re-
main near, except Clara, who stood by, trembling
from head to foot, and almost white as the in>
sensible object before her. o! what moment of
anguish was this-deep, bitter anguish! Her anger
melted away at once; and she would almost have
sacrificed her own life, to recall the events of the
morning. 1t Helen only recovered, she would
spend the future in endeavoring to atone for past
unkindness. 1t seemed, for short time, indeed
as if she would be called to fulfil her promises.
Helen gradually grew better, and in about an
hour was apparently as we'll as usual. 1t was judy
ed best, however, for her to return home, and a
| farmer, who happened to pass by in new gig,
very kindly offered TO take her.
Clara could not play with tho girls as usual.
Her heart was full, and she very impatient to
be once more by her sister s side. o, how eager.
ly she watched the sun in his passage round the
school-house; and when at length he threw his
santlng beams in through the west window, she
was the first TO obey the joyful signal, and books,
| paper, pen, ink, and slate, instantly disappeared
| from her desk.
| Clara did not linger on her way home. She even
passed the halfway stone with other emotion
than deep sigh. She hurried to her sisters bed
side, impatient to make up by every little attention
Tor her unkindness: Helen asleep. Her face
was not pale, but flushed with burning fever
Her little hands were hot; and as she tossed rest
lessly about on her pillow,she would mutter tc
herself, ''stop stop and then again beg her
| throw her to the fishes.
! Clara watched long in agony for her to awake
This she did at last, but it brought relief to the
distressed sister and friends She did not know
them, and continued to talk incoherenlly about the
events of the morning II was too much for Clara
! to bear; she retired to her little room and
lonely bed, and wept there. By the first dawn oil
light, she at her sisters bed side; but there
was alteration. For three days Helen contin.
ued in this state. At he close of tho third day
Helen gave signs of returning consciousness-re.
cognized her mother, and anx iously inquired for
| Clara. She had just STEPPED out, and was imme.
diatoy told of this. o! how joyful the sum
| mons.
| She fastened TO her sister who at her approach
looked up and smiled; the flush in her cheek wa:
gone, and her face was deadly pale. Clara was
entirely overcome; she could only weep; and "a
she stopped to kiss her sisters white lips the chile
threw her arms round her neck, and drew her still
nearer. 1t long embrace-then her arm
moved convusiveiy, and fell by her side-ther
were few srugges-she gasped once twice
and little Helen never breathed again.
Days, weeks, and months rolled on. Time hat
somewhat healed the wound, which grief for tn,
loss Of an only sister had made. But il had no
power to remove from Ciara's heart, The memory
OF her unkindness. She never took her little has
! kot OF dinner to school, passed the half way
stone without deep sigh, and sometimes tear Of
bitter regret. Children, who are what Clara was
90 and be now what Clara is, mild, amiable, obg
| ing and pleasant to all Medallion.