The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-04-28
WESTERLY, R. l., THURSDAY APRIL 49, 1853

ooh, if / had something to do y
murmured the lad one day to himself
as he half reused him from a rcverie in
which he had long been indulgiug-" oh
if had something to do ~
He had spoken aloud, and merry
laugh answered bis words but when the
little lady Clara, who, in pursuit of her
stray pet fawn, had run away from her
govcrnrss, looked in the face of the boy
an saw a tear rolling down his cheek
though he tried to brush it away, her
sweet face quickly sobered
"And have you nothing to do, Wal
ter :" she asked, but her sympathizinq
tone changed as she perceived his cheek
was deeply reddcning, and she added
careessly =" Well, l wish then you
would help me learn my lesson Look
here, Walter !" and the little girl, sitting
down on the green turf beside him,
opened the book she carried in her hand
and drew her finger down page after
page of the volume, all that is my
lesson for to-day, for 1 have learned
nothing yet this week, and if I do mot
get it, Mrs Wilkins will report me to
mamma. Now, Walter, will you please
to read over the lesson while | weave a
garland of these pretty wild flowers for
my little lady Julie shall remember
it much better than if read it myself !;
and besides you can explain it to me-"
The tears sprang into the lads eyes !;
all his pride could not restrain them
He pushed the book gently from him
" I cannot read, Lady Clara !" he said.
Z" When was child my parents tried
to teach me something, but since have
been an orphan, no one has cared how
ignorant am ~
The flowers dropped from the hard of
the little girl, and she looked up earn
e ,tly and tearfully in the face of the lad,
" Somebody will care for you, thought
she said "will you let me teach you to
read, Walter 7"
"You ?" said the boy, looking be-
wildered in her face /; "your mother
would not allow it, Lady Clara! !"
81 will do as | please" said the little
girl, especially towards you; because
-bocause-you are not just like other
people, Walter ~
Not like other people how those
words rang through the lads ears for
weeks and months and years.
The little lady drew still nearer the
boy, and re-opened the book. Now
you must learn very fast, Walter !" she
said, " for Mrs. Wilkins will be lookingI
for me soon. Tomorrow morning Il
will learn my lessons earlier instead off
playing with Julie, and then, as soon as
you have finished your work, We will
come out here and study together You
will not want any other teacher than me,
will you, Walter :"
For some moments the boy could see
nothing but the soft, sunny curls which
surrounded tn little head, and hear of
that sweet voice only the music of its
tones but Clara, though, from sympa-
thy, she could not restrain her tears,
pretended not to know that Walter was
weeping, and after few moments he
was able to give his attentions to her
teachings.
From that morning, Walter Lewis did
not sigh for something to do Little
Clara performed her promise, and the
child vas as much interested in giving
him instructions, as be was in receiving
them. A new world had opened to
both the children for the intense eager
ness which Walter manifested in the
pursuit of knowledge, and the enjoyment
its acquisition gave him, awakened in the
hitherto rather careless Clara, train Of
thoughts and feelings which were not
before known to exist in her mind.
The little lady had for sometime been
giving instructions to the boy, before 1t
vas suspected by any one; and when
her stately mamma forbade her speaking ,
% him again, she kept Walter in ignor-
lnce Of the command, and gave him les
IONS as formerly, only in more secret {
manner, excusing herself for her dis
obedience TO her mother with the con-
,ideration that Walter was not like other {
people, only mamma did not know is;''