The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1854-06-01

teacher parting look which seemed to
say" We will do our best if possible,
your wishes shall be met"
"Never mind, dear Lilly" dClara,
when they were again alone eve will
have it all arranged to your advantage;
so don't fear"
"Clara, Clara, cried Lilly, bursting
into tears, you cannot know my wretch
eduess, you are too good, you have been
too good, do not help me now, do not
involve yourself in the disgrace, which
is mine to bear; let me for this once
trust myself and suffer if 1 fail"
Yes, trust YOURSELF" replied Clara,
and be determined that you will not,
and you shall not fail"
Every moment of that week which
could be spared from other duties, Lilly
spent upon the problem. At almost
any hour she could be seen at the same
little table, with slate and pencil in hand,
and ever wearing the same hopeless ex-
preston OF countenance.
The appointed day arrived. The
bright rays of morning came pouring in
at Lilly's window, yet she cared not that
the sun shone. Even at an early hour
she had seated herself at her little table,
to make last, decisive effort. The
gentle morning breezes played merrily
with her flowing hair, as if to cheer her
on, yet she could not turn from her task
to thank them for their instruction. At
length, with despairing, Well, there
is no use in trying any longer" she laid
aside her slate and sat contemplating
the scene Of the recitation hour. This
was the first deep wound that her young
heart had felt. Oh, how easy it is to
plant unawares fostering thorn in the
sensitive heart Lilly sat trembling
and alone in her grief Soon she was
started by slight rap at the door, and
she arose to admit the intruder. 1t was
Clara. The customary greetings being
exchanged, Clara said" How comes on
the problem | have mine all out at
last, and 1 understand that none of the
class have failed. Each one has the
problem neatly drawn off on paper for
this evening"
"Lilly replied, 81 have done with
mine, Clara. l have concluded that it
is useless to 60 further. | know that
l have done my best, and with that /
will be content"
In spite of the smiling, easy manner
in which she said this, Clara could not
be mistaken. She gazed long into her
face, and fancied she could read Ian
guagc there different from that to which
she had given utterance. She fancied
she saw grief pictured more and more
more distinctly upon every new express
} sion of her countenance, and her gener-
Gus soul overfowed with sympathy as
she said to herself, 81 must and will
give my assistance. l believe it is bet
ter that should for once disregard the
wishes of my teacher, than that | should
allow her to bear the suffering which !
, can so easily alleviate"
She looked forth from the window,
: and every object upon the broad land
! scapc spread below seemed to have a
, voice. The tender grass, the green
, shrubs, and the bright flowers, seemed
to say, I" Be happy and make happy
, but the tall oak, venerable by age, spoke
in deep tones, which made her heart
: fear for its true honesty, and she shud-
dered as she seemed to hear the words
Be ye steadfast in the right"
At last her love for Lilly overcamt
every thought of wrong, and she reason.
ed, "I will be happy in making Others
! happy" Then turning to Lilly, she
: said, 81 have devised plan for you to
follow. l will help you out of your diff.
fculty, and you must promise never Ia
reveal the secret as long as you live."
Lilly's confidence in Clara led her tc
make the promise, without thinking o
r the consequences of how she should
meet her teacher and the class.
. Clara thought only of relieving her
| friend, and when she had decided TO dc
! 90, she cared not to know that it wa,
: wrong.
The problem was solved, and Clsr.
q repeated "Mv bappiness denends unor