Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1855-02-16
The Little Sisters.

"You we're not here yesterday" said
the gentle teacher of the little village
school, as she placed her hand kindly on
the curly head of one of her pupils. 1t
was recess time, but the little girl address.
ed had not gone to frolic away the ten
minutes, nor even left her seat, but sat
absorbed in what seemed . fruitless at
tempt to make herself master of sum In
long division.
Her face and neck crimsoned at the re.
mark of her teacher, but looking up she
seemed somewhat reassured by the kind
glance that met her and answered, "No
ma'am, l was not, but sister Nelly was"
81 remember there was little girl, who
called herself Nelly Gray, came in yester-
day, but did not know she was your sis
ter. But why did you not come? You
seem to love study very much"
"It was not because didn't want to"
was the earnest answer, and then paused
and the deep flush again tiuged that fair
brow "but," she continued, after mo.
ment of painful embarrassment, "mother
can not spare both of US conveniently, and
SO we are going to take turns. I'm going
to school one day and sister the next, and
tonight I'm to teach Nelly all l have learn.
ed to day, and tomorrow night, she will
teach me all that she learns while here.
It's the only way 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 u.s."
With genuine delicacy, Miss NJ. forbore
to question the child further, but sat down
beside her, ,and in moment explained 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 a 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-I 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 NJ. was led in.
stinctively to notice it. 1t was nothing but
q ninepenpy print Of deep hue, but 1t
was neatly made and had never yet been
washed. And utile looking at it she re-
membered that during the whole previous
fortnight that Mary Gray had attended
school regularly, she had never seen her
wear but that one dress. "She is thought
full little GIRL" said she to herself, "and
does not want to make her mother any
trouble-I wish I'd more such scholsrs.'
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 other
eighteen months younger, agreeing to At
tend school by turns, that Miss NJ. could
not forbear observing them very closely.
They were pretty faced children, Of deli
cate forms and fairy-like hands and feet
the elder with lustrous eyes and chest
nut curls, the younger with orbs like the
sky Of June, her white neck veiled BY
wealth Of golden rinelets. She observed
in both the same close attention to their
studies, and as Mary had tarried within
during play time, 50 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 NJ to notice the