The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1854-12-02
The Little Sisters.

The Little Sisters.
"You were not here Yesterday" said the
gentle teacher o: the little village school, as
She placed her hand on the curly head OF
one of h,r pupils. 1t was recess time, but
! the little girl had not gone to liolic away the
| ten minutes, nor even lolt her seat, but sat
/ absorbed in what seemed a iruitlcss attempt
! to make herself mistress Of sum in long
| division.
| Her face and neck crimsoned at the re-
mark of her teacher, but looking up, she
! seemed somewhat rc-assured by the kind
| glance that met, and answered, "No, ma am,
! was not, but Nelly was
81 remember there was little girl who
called herself Nelly Gray, came in ycster.
day, but did not know She was your sister
But why did you not come? You seem to
love study very much"
sit was not because ! didn't want to,
was the earnest anwer, and then paused
and the deep flush again t.ngcd that iaii
| brow; "but, she continued, after moment
VI painful embarrassment, mother cannot
| Spare US conveniently, and so We are going
to take turns I'm going 10 school one day
and sister the next and tonight I'm tC
teach Nelly all ! have learned to-day, an,
tomorrow night She will teach me all thai
she learns while here. Its the only way wC
can think Of getting along and We want tl
study very much, 50 as to sometime keel
school ourselves, and take care of mother
because She has to work very hard 10 tax,
care Of us"
With genuine delicacy. Miss M-----forc
bolc to question the child furthor but sal
down hcsidt. iteF, and in moment vXpiaiHc
the rule over which she sat pu1zlmg hci
young BRAIN so that the difficult sum wa,
easily finished
"Iou had better 20 ont and take the air
moment, you have studied very hard to day,
said the teacher, rs the little girl put asidi
her slate
II had rather not might tear my dress
! VIII stand by the window aud watch th'
rest"
TncIv uu5 -u,ti peculiar CJnc IA III,
voice Of hcrpupil as she said, II might tea
my dress" that Mis- NJ was led in
stnctiyc to notice it. II was nothing but ;
nine-pcnny print OF deep hue, but it wa
neatly made, andhad never yet been washed
And while looking at it, She rcmcmbcrc,
that during the whole prcyions fortngh
that Mary GRAY had attended school regular
", she had never seen her wear hut on,
dress she is thoughtful little girl sal
She to herself, "aud does not want to max,
her moiher much trouble. wish la,
more such scholars
The ncAt morning Mary was absent, bu
her sister occupied her seat. There wa
something so interesting in the two sisters
the one eleven and the other eighteen mouth
younger, agreeing 10 attend school 10y turns
that Miss III could not i1rbcar obsory
ing them very closely. They were prottl
faced children, of delicate forms, and fairy
like hands and feet the elder with dark lus
trolIS eyes and chestnut Curls the yOungc
with orbs like the sky Of June, her whit
; neck vcilcd by a wreath Of golden ringlcts
She observed in both the same close attention
10 their studies, and as Mary tarried With
during play time, 50 did Nelly; and upoi
speaking t. her sister, she received, too, th
same answer 81 might tear my dress
The reply caused Miss NJ to motto
the garb of The sister. She saw at once tina
it was OF the same piece as Mary's, and upo,
scrutenizingt very closely, she became ccr
tain that il was the same dress 1t did no
fit so pretty on Nelly, and was too long 70
her too and she was evidently i'll at cas
WItl' SUf IDllt'u llti NNuNli'I lp'Nlll- AZ w
bright pink flowers that were so thickly sc
on the white ground.
The discovery was one that could not bu
interest n heart so truly benevolent as tina
which pulsatcd in the bosom of that yillag
school teacher She ascortaiucd the Icsj
dcncc Of their mother, and though sorcl
shortened herself by a narrow purse, tina
, same night, having found at tic only stor
in the place few yards of the same material
purchased dress for little Nelly, and sen
it to her in such way that the donor coul
not he detected
Very bright and happy looked Mary Gra
on Friday morning, ms She entered the schoc
at an early hour. She waited only TO plac
her books in neat order in her desk, ere sh
approached Miss Nj, and whispered
in voice that laughed in spite other effort
to make it low and defcrcntial, latter thi
week sister Nelly is coming TO school ever
day, and oh, am so gladw
THAT is very good news replied tn
teacher, kindly. "Nclly is fond of books
see, and am happy TO know that she ca
have an opportunity to study her books c,
cry day Then she continued, little goo
. naturcd mischief cncircing her eyes, an
dimpling her sweet lips, "l,ut can you
mother spare you both conveniently ?"
so, yes, ma'am, she can now. Somethn
happened she didn't expect, and she is a
glad 10 have us come, as we are TO do So. -
She hesitated n moment, but her young hcal
was filled to the brim with joy, and when
child is happy it is AS natural to tell tn
cause as it is for n bird to warbe when Il,
sun shines So out of the rullncss oc hr