Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1855-01-19
nlistcllanrous.

The Little sistcrs--A pretty story.
"You were not here yesterday" said the
gentle teacher OF village school, as she
placed her hand on the curly head of one
of her pupils. 1t was recess time, but the
lille girl addressed had not gone to frolic
away the ten minutes, not even left her
seat, but sat absorbed in what seemed a
fluiless attempt to make herself mistress of
a sum in long division.
Her face and neck crmsoned at the re-
mark Of the teacher, but looking up, she
seemed somewhat re-assured by the kind
glance that met her and answered, mo,
ma'am, was not, but sister Nelly was"
a remember there was a little girl who
called herself Nelly Gray, who came in yes
terday, but did not know she was your
sister. But why did not you come? You
seem to love study very much"
at was not because | didn't want TO-"
was :he earnest answer. and then she paus
ed and the deep flush again tinged that fair
brow but she continued after IA moment of
painful embarrassment, "mother can't spare
both of US conveniently, and so We are 60
Ing to take turns, Pm going to school one
day and sister the next, and 10 night Tam
10 teach Nelly all I've learned to-day, and
to morrow night she will teach me all that
she learns while here. 1t is the only way
that we can think of getting along, and we
want to study very much, SO as TO some
time keep school ourselves, and take care
of mother, because she has to work very
hard TO take care of us"
With genuine delcacy Miss M--fore-
bore TO question the child further, but sat
down beside her, and IN a moment explain
ed the rule over which she was puzzIing
her young brain, so that the difficult sum
was easily finished
"You had better go ou! and take the air
a moment, you have studied very hard to-
day" said the teacher, as the little girl put
aside her slate
81 had rather mott might tear my dress
Il 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 in
stnctively to notice it. 1t was nothing but
a ninepenny print of deep hue, but it was
neatly made and had never been washed,
And while locking at it, she remembered
that during the whole previous fortnight
that Mary Gray had attended school regu-
larly, she had never seen her wear but the
one dress. "She is a thoughtful little girl"
thought she to herself, sand docs not want
to make her mother any trouble wish |
/ had nore such scholars"
The next morning Mary was absent but
her sister occupied her seat There was
something so interesting in the two little Sis
tiers the one eleven, and the other eighteen
months younger, agreeing TO attend school
by turns, that Miss M--could not for.
bear observing them closely. They were
pretty faced children, of delicate FORMS and
fairy like hands and feet-the elder with
dark lustrous eyes and chesnut curls, the
younger with orbs Ike the sky Of ofJune. her
white neck yelled by wreath of ringlets.
She observed in both, the same close atten-
ton to their studies, and as Mary had tar
ried within during play time, so did Nelly
and upon speaking TO her as she had to her
sister, she received, too, the same answer,
81 might tear my dress"
The reply caused Miss M--to no.
tice the garb of the sister She saw at once
that il was the same piece as Mary's and
upon scrutinizing it very closely. she be-
came certain that it was the same Dress
1t did not ct quite as pretlily on Nelly, and
it was too long for her, too, and she was
evidently ill,at ease when she noticed her
teacher looking at the bright pink flowers
that were so thickly set on the white
ground.
The discovery was one that could not but
interest heart so truly benevolent as that
which pulsated in tho bosom OF that villag
school teacher. She ascertained tie resi-
dence of their mother. and though sorely
shortened herself by a narrow purse, that
same night, having found at the only store