Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1855-09-12


my Dress" that Miss M---was led
instinctively to notice it. 1t was nothing
but ninerenny print of deep hue, but
it was neatly made and had never yet
be N washed. And while looking at it
she remembered that during the whole
previous fortnight that Mary Gray had
attended school regularly, she had new
er seen her wear but that one dress.
''She is a thoughtful little GIRL said
she 10 herself, ''and does not want to
make her mother any trouble-I wish l
had more such scholars"
The next morning Mary was absent,
but her sister occupied her seat. There
was something so interesting in the two
little sisters, the one eleven and the 9TH
er nearly eighteen months younger,
agreeing to attend school by turns, that
Miss n could not fol bear observ.
ing them closely. They were pretty
faced children, of delicate forms and
| fairy-like hands and feet-the elder with
lustrous eyes, red chestnut curls, the
younger with orbs like the sky of June,
her white neck veiled by a wreath Of
golden ringlets. She observed in both,
the same close attention to their studies,
and as Mary had tarried within during
play time, so did Nelly; and upon speak
ing to her sister, she received, too, the
same answer, +" might tear my dress ~
The reply caused Miss M to notice
the garb of the sister. She saw at once
it was the same piece as Mary's, and
upon scrutinizing very closely, she be
came certain it was the same dress. Il
did not fit quite SO pretty on Nelly, and
It was too long for her, too, and she was
evidently i'll at ease when she noticed hel
teacher looking at the bright pink flow.
ers that were so thickly set on the white
ground.
The discovery was one that could no
but interest heart so truly benevolent
as that which pulsated in the bosom Of
the village school teacher. She ascer.
tanned the residence of their mother, and
thoug b sorely shortened herself of mar.
row purse, that same night, having found
at the only store in the place few yard.
of the same material, purchased dress
Ior little Nelly, and sent it 10 her in such
a way that the donor could not be de-
tected.
#%
Very bright and happy looked Mary
Gray on Friday morning, as she entered
the school room at an early hour. She
waited only TO place her books in rea
order in her desk, ere she approached
Miss NJ and whispered, in a voic,
that laughed in spite of her effort tt
make it low and deferential, latter thi.
week sister Nelly is coming to schoo
every day, and oh, l am so glad %
"That is very good news" replied
the teacher, kindly. "Nelly is fond O
her books, 1 see, and 1 am happy t,
know that she can have an opportunity
to study her books every day." Ther
continued, a little good natured mischie
encircling her eyes, and dimpling he
sweet lips, but how can your mothe
spare you both conveniently 90
go, yes ma'am. yes, she can now
Something has happened she didn't ex
pect, and she's as glad to have us com,
as we are to do So" She hesitated ;
moment, but her young heart was fillec
to the brim with JOY, and when chilc
is happy it is as natural to Tell the cause
b as it is for bird to warble when the SUI
shines. So out of the fullness of he
) heart she spoke and told her teacher thi
little story.
She and her sister were the child el
of a very poor widow, whose health wa
SO delicate that it was almost impossibl
to support herself and daughters. Sh
was obliged to keep them out OF schoc
all winter, because they had no clothe
to wear, but told Them that fthey coul,
earn enough by doing odd chores for tn
. neigh ghbcrs to buy each of them neN
dress they might go in the spring. Yer,
earnestly had the little giIls improve,
their stray chances, and very carefull
boarded the copper coins which ha,
usually repaid them. They had eacI
nearly enough saved to buy Gallo
dress. when Nelly was taken sick, and a
the mother had no money beforehand
her own treasure had to be expended i
the purchase of medicine.
, 80, L did feel so bad when the schoc
opened and Nelly could not go, becaus
: she had no Dress" said Mary. "I toll
mother wouldn't 60 either, but she sal
l had better, for l could teach siste
: some, and it would be better than n
t schooling. l stood it for fortnight, bu
t Nelly's little face seemed all The tim
S looking at me on the way 70 school, an
e l couldn't be happy a bit, SO 1 fnall
thought of a way by which we coul
e both 90, and | told mother would com
? one day, and the next L would lend Mel
e ly my dress and she might come, an
that's the way we have done this weel
= But last night somebody sent sister
q dress Just like mine, and now she ca
come too. o, if l only knew who it wa