Daily American telegraph., 1852-06-08

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"Dear me who could have done thisq How
did these come here? Alice, do you know any-
thing about it?" For she saw that Alice. who |
was the only one that had not laughed, was
Just on the point of speaking
"No, | don't; but | know somebody that
does 7" said Alice, coloring with anger unlike
her usual gentleness
"Ah, the tell-tale blush betrays the guilty."
said Abby, pointing her fore-fnger at her, with
meaning look. "lt was very wrong of you,
Alice! feel it my duty to report you !"
Alice was quite fustered, and did not reply
The others laughed as though they would kill
themselves. =. Z"
Louise was put into the small classes that
day, with little girls head below herself. Her
teacher told her she thought she could get those
lessons, at least. She hardly seemed to study
them, however, but sat with her head on her
hand, looking vacantly before her.
Two or three weeks passed in this way.
Louise became little less bashful in her class
es; but she did not dare to go near the girls in
their play-hours for she was too painfully con-
scous that they disliked and despised her
Abby had called her a coward, the second day,
and she never went near the group at play,
without seeing the game stopped, and hearing
something nuttered about Ounce" coward"
or "sneak.n
One day, more unhappy than usual she had
gone down to the spring all by herself, to get
a dipper of water. Finding no one there, she
stayed, throwing little pebbles in, and amusing
herself in various ways, until she heard the
laughter of girls very near her She sprang to
her feet and met them on the little hill which
arched up from the spring. like the side of
bowl. She passed them without speaking. She
had walked slowly few steps, whirling pole
which she had picked up for cane, when she
heard terrible scream. She turned, instinct
lively, and ran down the hill. The girls were
running in all directions, like wild-fre, Abby
was the hindmost
"a snake! oh, a snake!" they screamed.
"Abby trod on a snake!"
Abby screamed louder than before, Just here,
| as she caught second sight of the snake coil
ing through the grass. Louise saw it, too.
Being country-bred girl, and not in the least
afraid of snakes she dashed in after it. 1t was
large water adder, and was probably more
afraid of the girls than they were of it. Louise
soon despatched it, by the help of her stick
and, hanging it across the end held it up to
call back the frightened troop. The girls
scarcely dared to approach, even when they
saw their enemy killed But by degrees they
came near, touched it with the stick, and
breathed more freely. Abby was first among
them.
IF this snake hadn't been killed, said she,
"we would none of us have eVor dared come to
the spring again! | declare, Louise, !" and she
turned Suddenly toward her, "you are real
lhefoine, sand q right generous girl, and pll
make friends with you!n
| She reached out her hand but Louise drew
hers behind her back All, Louise! there was
little of the poison of our fallen nature pride,
| ric in uour baart OF hat poopoptI xya
can scarcely blame you for doing on first i'm
pulse what many another, older and wiser
than you would have done.
| All would have been lost and the two would
| perhaps have been enemies forever if Alice had
not sprung forward as Louise half turned
away
"Oh Louise, stay with us-do!" she ex-
claimed, catching her in both arms awe
haven't liked you, know and we have called
you names, and laughed at you; but we are
sorry, all sorry; and won't you forgive us, and
be friends, now?"
"You never have, Alice, said Louise, as her
lip quivered,
her side. "Look here, Louise Stoddard, like
you all the better for your 'spunk' Pve called
you coward, over and over again. | won't
say Pm sorry, but III tell you what tgiH do:
III leave it to all these girls to say which of us
two is the biggest coward! There, will that
suit youl Shake hands on it, them! ~
Louise did not refuse again She Joined the
party, and all clustered around her as they
proceeded to the school-house Louise seemed
another being, by the time they reached the
gate. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes were
lighted up, and a bright smile made her once
pale face beautiful Alice walked beside her
| quietly, with Louise's hand in hers, having
fallen back into her usual calm, sweet mood
| Abby followed but, though Louise often turned
| to her, she did not look on her so lovingly and
trustfuly as on the dear girl at her side.
That night, Alice and Louise had long
confabulaton at twilight, under the pear tree
| in the garden-a place celebrated in the an
nails of Miss Stones school.
"Oh, Alice said Louise, fervently, why
didn't you tell me you liked me, that first day,
if you really did like me .
q 1t was wrong not to- know, Louise" re-
piled Alice sadly. But somehow Abby Boil
den always does mako us do iust as she wants
us to. didn't put the burdocks in your bed,
though You can't think | would be so mean
as that! | didn't know anything about them
until Abby pulled down the clothes"
"Fll try to forget all that they've done, and
all the three weeks pas" said Louise, wiping
her eyes with her apron. /" But, oh, Alice, |
never, neUcr can forget what happened before
that"
/" Did your mamma die 2" asked Alice, softly
and tenderly; for Louise had covered her eyes,
as if to shut out some horrid sight
"Oh, Alice, shall almost be glad when she
docs die" sobbed Louise.
Alice sat, silently wondering
My baby sister ded--she went to Heaven,
they said-half year ago; and the sorrow,
and trouble, and sickness, made my poor
mamma crazy. And they say she never will
get well,n Louise struggled to say They