The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-06-30
"oh, AHce,p said Louise, fsvensy, .why

S'-yb" yOe tOohy otk iiho ai'#
ut was wrong not to, I know, Louise"
replied Alice, sadly. "But somehow,
Abby Bolden always does make us do
just as she wants us to. I didn't put the
burdocks in your bed, thought You can't
think would be so mean as that didn't
know anything about them, until Abby
pulled down the clothes"
"Pll 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, I never, ,aever can forget
what happened before thatw r
"Did your mamma die 7" asked Alice,
softly and tepderly for Louise had cov-
cred her eyes, as if to shut out some hor-
rid sight. ............ ....r ...
"Oh, Alice shall almost be glad when
she does die" 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 came here
they tied her hands, and took her OFF to
great stone house, an 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 1 would be close
beside her, studying, or sewing, or ta-
king lessons of her. l never went to
school day, before l came here; and
l never played with any girls. Mamma
played with me sometimes, and played
with the baby. Oh, was so happy"
She leaned her head on Alce'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. "I haven't cared to
study before !; bat now | do care. That
first day when you were all looking at me
and laughing, and | was thinking so about
poor mamma, I couldn't say anything nor
do anything. thought would have to
stay here, and be unhappy all my life; be,
cause my papa is gone to Europe, and he
lett me here until his comming back"
But you will be happy now, Louise, I"
said Alice, giving her an affectionate kiss.
Il could cry to think how we plagued you,
when you were feeling so dreadfully"
"Neverplague another new girl Alice"
said Lonise- 81 tell you, the very first
scholar that comes here after me, I'll make
friends with her the first day, if l can.
You want be jealous if do, will you
| Alicel"
mo, indeed I'll help you all can."
Louise kept her resolutions. She rose in
her classes Immediately. She studied with
such energy as even to rival Abby in her
classes. That tormentor was changed, so
far as respected Louise, into an affectionate
friend. Louise gained influence over her,
after awhile,greater than any other girl had
done; because she was the only one who
would not be laughed out of what she
thought right to do. She, the timid child
before, became the courageous, erect, cheer.
full girl, whom every scholar, young and
old, admired and loved Her teacher, too
loved, praised and rewarded her.
Louise was also as good as her word, in
watching over every succeeding "new
scholar" If ever she saw Abby Bolden
disposed to shoot her arrows of ridicule
against one, she would give her alaughieg
hint, such as ....
"Take care, Abby ! she may kill a snake
yetr' ~ ~,
And Abby would reply "Ifshe'll kill
me, that's sure You half did that, you
know. I havnt been more than half my
self since But you're jewel Of girl"
But Louise is no longer "new scholar"
and we will leave her among her school
mates now, hoping that her story may win
some young laughing eyes to look more
tenderly than they are wont to do on some
other bashful Ns~ Scholar. .r