The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-06-30


ut was wrong not to, 1 know, Louise"
replied Alice, sadly. "But somehow,
Abby Bolden always does make us do
just as she wants us to. didn't pnt the
burdocks in your bed, though You can't
think Iwould be so mean as hag didn't
know anything about them, until Abby
pulled Gown the clothes"
"rll try to forget all that they have
done, and all the three weeks past,n said
Louise, wiping her eyes with her apron.
"But, oh, Alice, l never, nsver can forget
what happened before thatr' s r'
"Did your mamma die 7" asked Alice,
softly and tenderly; for Louise had COW
cred her eyes, as if to shut out some hor-
rid sight ........... .....
"Oh, Alice l shall almost be glad when
she does dep sobbed Louise.
Alice sat- silently wondering.
"My baby sister died-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" Louise
struggled to say. "They took her-oh, it
was two days only before l came here
they tied her hands, and took her off to
a great stone house, au insane asylum,
to shut her up there; because, they said
she would kill us all if she staid at home.
She never, never would have hurt me-"
sobbed the child. Oh, mamma loved me
so much and loved her so much, too.
Before she was taken bad, we used to be
studying and writing together the whole
morning. Mamma woul write, or paint,
or practice music, and would be close
beside her, studying, or sewing, or ia
king lessons of her. l never went to
school day, before l came here; and
| never played with any girls. Mamma
played with me sometimes, and played
with the baby. Oh, was so happy"
She leaned her head on Alice's shoulder
relieved by this outpouring of her sad
hearts troubles.
"What did you use to study with your
mammal" said Alice.
"Oh, all the things that you study
arithmetic, and geography, and history,
and French; and all sorts of studies"
"Why, then you needn't stay in the lit
tie classes, need you ~
al won't stay there day longer, said
Louise resolutely. 81 haven't cared tc
study before but now do care. That
first day when you were all looking at m,
and laughing, and l was thinking so about
poor mamma, couldn't say anything MOI
do anything. thought l would have tc
stay here, and be unhappy all my life; be
cause my papa is gone to Europe, and h'
lett me here until his comming back"
But you will be happy no,O, Louise,
said Alice, giving her an affectionate kiss
IL could cry to think how we plagued you
when you were feeling so dreadfullyT'
"Never plague another new girl Alice,
said Lonise- 81 tell you, the very frs
scholar that comes here after me, ,I'll max,
friends with her the first day, if I can
You want be jealous if do, will yor
Alicel" ......
mo, indeed I'll help you all l can."
Louise kept her resolutions. She rose il
her classes Immediately. She studied witt
such energy as even to rival Abby in he
classes. That tormentor was changed, 5,
far as respected Louise, into an affectionat
friend. Louise gained influence over her
after awhile,greater than any other girl hac
done; because she was the only one VIII,
would not be laughed out of what sh
thought right to do. She, the timid chill,
before, became the courageous, erect, cheer
ful girl. whom every scholar, young ant
old, admired and loved. Her teacher, toe
loved, praised and rewarded her.
Louise was also as good as her word, il
watching over every succeeding "nev
scholar" Ifever she saw Abby Bolder
disposed to shoot her arrows Of ridicul
against one, she would give her laughie e,
hint, such as .n.. .I
"Take care, Abby she may kill snak
yetp' ~.
And Abby would reply "Ifshe'll xii
me, that's sure You half did that, 20,
know. hayn't been more than half my
self since But you're jewel Of girIr'
But Louise is no longer "new scholar;
and we will leave her among her schoo
mates now, hoping that her story may vii
some young laughing eyes to look NOR
tenderly than they are wont to do on SOM
| other haahfnl Ne,r SeboEor ....