Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1855-01-11
mtsrellaneolls
THE LITTLE SISTERS.
A PRETTY STORY.

"You were not here yesterday" said the
gentle teacher Of the village school, as she
placed her hand kindly on the head OF one OF
her pupils 1t was recess time, but the little
virl addressed had not gone to frolic away the
len minutes, not even left her seat, but sat
absorbed in what seemed fruitless attemp:
10 make herself mistress of a sum in long dl-
vision.
Her face and neck crimSoned at the remark
of her teacher, but locking up, she seemed
somewhat treasured by the kind glance that
met her and answered, "No ma am, | wasn't
but sister Nelly was"
al remember there was little girl who
called herself Nelly Gray, came yesterday but
| did not know she was your sister. But why
did YOU not come You seem to love study
very much"
at was not because didn't want TO-" was
the earnest answer, and then she paused and
the deep flush again tinged that brow, but she
continued, after a moment OF painful embar-
assmeut, "mother cannot spare both oil us
conveniently, and so we are going to take
turns I'm going to school one day and sister
the next, and 10 night Pm TO teach Nelly all
ave learned 10. day, and tomorrow night she
will teach me all that she learns while here.
It's the only way we can think OF gelllng
along, and we want to study very much, SO as
TO sometime keep school ourselves, and take
care of mother, because she has to WORK very
hard to take care of u.s."
With genuine delicacy Miss M fore.
bore to question the child further, but sat
down beside her, and in moment exp alned
the rule over which she was puzzllng her
young brain, so that the difficult sum was
easily finished.
"You had better go out and take the air
moment you have studied very hard today.
said the teacher, as the little girl put aside
her slate.
~ had rather not-I might tear my dress
will stand by the window and watch the rest.'
There was such peculiar tone IN the voice
of her pupil as she said. 81 might tear my
dress" that Miss M was led instinctively
to notice it. twas nothing but nine penny
print of deep hue, but it was neatly made and
had never been washed. And while looking
at il, she remembered that during the whole
previous fortnight that Mary Gray had attended
school regularly; she had never seen her weal
but the one dress. "She is thoughtful little
eirl,n said she 10 herself, "and does not wan
to make her mother any trouble--lwSh had
more such scholars"
The next morning Mary was aDseh'' put HeI
sister occupied her seat. There was something
90 interesting inthe two little sisters, the one
eleven and the other eighteen months young
er, agreeing to attend school in turns, tina
Miss M could not forbear observing then
very closely. They were pretty faced chill
Lren, of delicate forms, and fairy-llke hand
and feet--the elder with dark lustrous eye
and chesnut curls the younger with orbs like
the sky Of June, her white neck yelled by
wealth Of golden ringets. She observed In
both, the same close attention to their studies
and as Mary had tnrried within during playin
time, so did Nelly, and upon speaking 10 he
as she had to her sister, she received, too, th
same answer, ~ might tear my dress"
The reply caused Miss NJ to motto,
The garb Of the sister. She saw at once tina
il was the same piece as Mary's and upo
scrutinizing livery closely, she became certai
that it was the same dress. 1t did not ft quit
so pretty on Nelly and was too long for he
too, and she was evidently i'll at ease whel
she noticed her teacher looking at the brgh
pink flowers that were so thickly set on tn
white ground.
The discovery was one that could no. bu
interest heart so truly benevolent as ths
which pulsated in the bosom OF that viilag
school teacher. She ascertained the residenc
Of their mother. and though sorely shorsene