Daily American telegraph., 1852-06-26
AMERICAN TELEGRAPH
The Two school Girls.


modest-looking child in the centre was trying in
vain to wipe away the tears, that in spite Of all
her efforts, would roll over her cheeks.
. Never mind, Mary" said one, "we all know
you ought to have been at the head and that
you would have been, if 1T had not been for Mar
garet Nelson"
81 feel sorry have lost my place." said Mary,
but | am not crying for that. / loved Maggie,
and thought she loved me; but do not like to
think that any one could have been SO selfish
and mean"
"You might have let me tell Mrs Carter, and
know you would not have lost your place then,
Mary"
"Oh, no, Kitty do not want to disgrace
Margaret in Mrs Carter's eyes. 1t is bad enough
that you happened to hear her, and to know it"
" don believe there is a single girl in our
class who will speak to her after this, unless you
do"
- hope | shall try to do right about it, an
swered Mary
"l4l leave her no peace" said Lucy ''for
I'll talk tSeher every chance | can get and
only wish | could make my voice sound as if it
came from all corners OF the room, like ven
triloquist and she should hear all sorts of
sounds"
Q don't believe that would do any good Lucy
1t is best to say nothing about it,"
. will not promise to say nothing about it, /"
replied Anna; :" for l do not think | can help
speaking, The mean, contemplate girl !"
"Well, answered Mary, "we shall not be in
season for our dinners, if we talk here much
longer. We must 60"
Mary and Anna turned down the road, and the
other girl went in an opposite direction.
"Now, what are you going to do? 2" asked
Anna. :" You surely will not treat Margaret just
as you did before, will you?''
q Il "a.
shall. | hope l shall be able. But it is very
hard not to make any difference and, in spite
Of myself, my manner or my tone might show l
felt injured, if my words did not | am sure
did not think last Sunday, when Miss Deane, my
Sunday school teacher, told us about forgiveness
Of injuries, that should have to practise it so
soon"
= If you do" said Anna, "you will be the first
school girl that ever did But you're dear,
good girl, Mary" added Anna, kissing her
" and we all know where your place should be, il
Mrs. Carter doesn't Good bye" And Anna
ran across the street, leaving Mary on her own
door steps.
Mary stood in the large entry closet while
she was putting away her bonnet and shawl, and
tried to feel kindly towards Margaret; but it
was hard work, and Mrs. Coleman saw, when she
raised her eyes as Mary entered the parlor, that
her face was clouded.
well, DEAR" she said nquiringly, "tcll me
all about it. Your face tells history, though
am not quite skilful enough to read it exactly"
:" | can tell you the story, mother; but think
had better not tell you the name of the person
except | will say that she is one of my best
friends. She was next me in the class and al
ways thought she did not care to get above nc
at least she has often told me So To-day there
was hard question in arithmetic; and ! asked
her the explanation of it in recess, because had
seen her ask Mrs. Carter just before, and knew
she must have told her the right one. She gave
me the explanation, and two or three Of the
other girls listened, and heard it too. The ques-
tion came to me, and | explained il as she had
told me. Mrs. Carter said il was wrong, and
passed it to her. without waiting to hear what
had to say She did it correctly, and went above
me. ] thought ] must have mistaken what the
girl had said, though did not see how could
have done so but Sarah Lee was standing by
the desk when Mrs. Carter explained the sum !;
and she showed it afterwards to one Of the girls
who had heard what my friend had said. This
girl was coming to tell me; but recess was over
before she could find me- Sarah accused her OF
telling me the wrong way when school was done !;
and all the girlswho were near said she looked
very guilty, and muttered something to herself,
and then hurried off as fast as possible"
"Could any child do such a mean, selfish ac-
ton ? | can hardly believe it."
:" / tried not to believe it, mother; but ii must
be true | cannot bear to think any ono would
do it."
"Did you tell Mrs. Carter, after school,
"No, ma am. | did not want her to know it.
The girls were going to tell her, but | begged
they would not. / feel troubled about ii, and
grievcd that any one love should do SO"
Are you sure you arc not aRgrg, instead Of
grieycd? -
Il think 50, mama. was very angry at first
but do not feel at all as | did then"
Il am sorry this should have happened but
| want you TO try to do right about it, Try to
treat ler as if she had not injured you" Mary
promised 10 do her best.
At school that afternoon, Margaret studously
avoided Mary, and turned her head whenever
she saw her approaching. When school was out,
she ran home, without waiting for any of the
girls
matter so generally known in school could
not fail to reach the ears of Mrs. Carter. In fact,
she heard 1t the very next day. She was walking
home behind Sarah Lee and Lucy when she
heard the latter say, . She is an oJomipaHe
chcat, and | wish she would leave the school
Who is such cheat ?" she asked.
The girls turned, and, seeing Mrs. Carter,
looked very much confused but, on her repeat
ing the question, Lucy answered I" ! w0ntC9 to
tell you all about you yesterday, a'am but
Mary Coleman wouldn't let me, But, rs you
have asked now, shall tell you, and shc related
the whole affair.
Mrs Carter was surprised and gricvcd.
Why, she inquired, " was Mary unwilling that
should know it? She would certainly have
kept her place"
Because she said Margaret was injured in
the good opinion of the scholars, and she did not
wish her to lose your good opinion too
At the corner Of the street, Mrs, Carter badc
the scholars "pood morning. and went home,
forming plan TO punish Margaret. At school
that afternoon, she called Margaret to her, and
had q long talk with her The girl returned to her
seat, weeping violently but shook off the hand