Richmond palladium., 1849-10-17
S Ell ECT TALE .
| From the Savannah Republican.
MARY NAElONY.
a TORY OF BOSTON

Mary Mahony! Mary Mahony! Wei
is it for US it the name rings pleasantly
and its echoes whisper pleasant images
, There is not nook or alley all over tn
world that has swecter. ave. and not (;
square or stately street. not country
farmhouse or village holds purer spiri
crst was Mary Mahonv's
}, Meek. gentle Mary Mahonv! The frs
time we have note of her. was more thar
thirty wears ago. at her first essay at school
TINS was in one Of the then large primar,
schools of Boston; (what need is there o
using cabalstic blanks! Every body mus,
have known Mary Mahonv.) a season o
the day when the children had dropped
their heads. and almost closed their eve.
lids. every one. in very lisilessness. when
the door was pushed open. and there stole
in. nosclessly as a sunbeam. little pare
footed stranger child.
So quiet had been her entrance, even
the teacher was taken BY surprise. and
! dropped the half formed question. t. OBJ
serve her, whic, it is related the chil!rcn.
all as one. arose from their lcthargic po,
lures and stared and gazed at her with
ono accord. until their very eye-balls quiz
vcrcd.
But the intruler. instead of being dis
concerted. looked into the teachers face,
crossed the floor, and took the only va
cant seat. as composedv as though she
had been all along at home there. The
little irock, it was observed. was old and
the sunbonnct she carried. told Of long
acquaintance with wind and weather But
there was a wondrous light in the little
face wondrous beauty in the yellow curls
and graceful neck. that seemed TO max e
amends for everything.
'.What is your name, child?" ?"demanded
the teacher, recovering from her astonish-
ment. and regarding her sternlv.
The reply was very low. though uttered
with perfect selEpossession-"M Mary Ma
hony.''
MARY Mahony9 And who sent YOU
here Pray?'
mo one; came"
''CameH' repeated the instructress an
grllv. .'i}ut do You know where you are!
Can you tell what house you are intruding
into in this manner. child -
For the first time. the stranger lifted up
her beautiful head with an expression of
IVY hy is it not school?' she asked
apprchcnsvely, land cannot any children
come hcre!'
The teacher frowned.
"Will do any haIm here!" cntreatel
the little one, unawcd and unembarrasscd
still. looking anxiouSly around upon the
school.
The flush began to fade away from the
teacher 5 face; and people love to relate
how the lone. self-relying thing was really
wclc omcd in at last for who could have
rcpulSed her! The meek. pure hearted
Mary Mahony. her age and requirements
we're taken. a desk was appointed her, and
she was written down Il member of the
school. Alas! she was seven wears old.
and could not name letter Of the alphabet.
but then" she added. very gracefully.
'shc could learn"
1t was long before there came ulimpses
of Narv's history to the school. and there
came only glimpses. Little Mary was an
orphan. That was soon told; and accord
ing to the beautiful fraternity always ex-
is;ng among the children Of Ireland, Mary /
was every bodv's child. Never had She
wanted the wholesome supper. or warm
bed at night: never had Mary felt the cold .
north wind of winter. or gone thinIv clad
through the rain and sleet: and never had
she wanted for kind words and loyinr
hearts - comfort her. Still who guided
Mary! Who gave her gentle words al
night. and taught her little heart aright!
Mes! no one; winds and rain drops were
not treer. yet still there lay deep in her
lcart, vearning for the teaching and the
speech Of home. This had brought her
o the school. for rumor had made it to the
Of the little girl like verify
pleasant household. and she had zone in
expecting 10 be welcomed even as a child.
What a serious child's face was hers
Not sunburnt. like almost anv other child
'f her grade. but looking out fresh and
'iear. with Mo"sht for everything. She /.
'af at her solitary desk all recess time.
lot as though abashed and afraid to min
gle with the throng. but deep in thought; /
he next day she had her entire a. b. G.
II was wonderful how she prorressed:
two months it was necessary to remove {
Ter TO higher school. And there we
gam hear Of her. the same lone. quiet 5
who never joined the children |
II 'neir Sports-never shouted or halloed. {
'ut IN every school-roon feat. one who
vas forever foremost. No matter how &
.ithcuit the task. Mary never asked assis. t
ance. and never. nerer was at fault, liz. +
!e can be CLEANED of her in those times a
however. save that she shot up from class +
o class with rapdity it was in vain - {
mulate. 5
Next. We hear Of Mary. some three |
ears later, as member of a CITY hioh S
chool. And now behold the interior Of i
lrge well-lghied. well-ordered school.
pom. Here was the teachers desk. isolat. {
and upon an elevated platform in front. v
ows Of girls. sixteen, eighteen and even G
venty years of age and more. mostly a
ompe'i'ors for prize, which was TO be
estowed upon the first scholar in school v
the close Of the term. Behind them h
nd on the other side. we're ranged the o
ounSer grades. and far in the loneliest \
orner arose golden head that would
ave attracted notice anywhere. Its MANY b