Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-02-17

she 1anclCd they all deSplSed her, but In learn
ing her lessons. Plain, uninteresting to be
sure they were--nothing but long columns of
spelling and dry rules in grammar and arith-
metie, yet still it was pleasant to keep the tri-
umphant head of the classes she was init was
something to feel that size was superior to her
companions-that she had a power beyond
| them
| All, Cressy Bird was sadly deficient ia moral
training but her capacity for improvement was
very great The second day of the school, the
master looked for Cressy but her seat was va
cant
She never comes in the morning, sir" said
a little fellow who stood beside him waiting for
his copy book. In the afternoon however, she
was in her place as quiet, and apparently as
dull as before; and still Mr. Leicester took no
notice Of her. Cressy was surprised as well as
hurt, and two or three times during school hours
he met her large, dark eyes, half covered by
their fringed lids, fixed on his face, but with
drawn the instant she found herself observed
Two or three days passed III this manner but
one afternoon as Leicester was leaning over
the railing OF bridge, he felt some one gently
touch his arm He looked around carelessly,
and saw Cressy standing beside him, her eyes
cast down. and her pale face covered with burn
ing bushes. ..-..
You won't speak to me-" she said, in a low
tone, and folding her little gloveless hands.
&c am very glad to speak to You, Cressy,"
said the master, kindly. Il thought we should
be friends after awhile"
Friends" exclaimed the girl, passionately !;
Friends! | never had one in my life but my
father. | don't know what it means to have
friend"
Il will teach you then, little one" replied
her companion, laying his hand on hers, " tell
me all about yourself now, the first thing you
do. Are you all alone in the world ?"
"AlOnel yes al alone,p psobbed CreSSy, bend
ing down her forehead till it rested on his hand
He started to feel how hot and dry it was, but
he knew that tears would relieve her, and so he
let her weep till she was weary then she wiped
her ewes and told him her short story. OF her
own feelings she spoke not-they were too sac
red to be entrusted to him yet and she wonder
ed when she was alone in her room, how she
dared to tell him even what she did Yet Cres-
sv went to sleep that night, lighter hearted than
for many weary night before, for the masters
truthful voice had spoken encouraging words
to her--it had said " / will be your friend, lit
tie one"
year. untouched by the influences that surround
ed her. She was naturally amiabe, and that
her mothers GOODNESS could not destroy-she
was naturally enthusiastic and imaginative, and
a course OF idle, aimleSs reading had vitiated
both enthusiasm and imagination 1t was Lei
cester's wish to correct these faults which he
saw plainly, and inspire her with taste for
more solid things. But Helen WAS like bird,
at first now here, now there, at one moment
just within your grasp, at another daIlying
among the flowers far away. Yet, withal, she
was 50 fascinating, so artless in her fights that
Leicester quite charmed But after awhile,
there came a change Helen was Subdued-
She was willing to sit quietly, and listen While
he read to her, if be would read poetry-and
when he proposed to her to study and recitc to
him in the long winter evenings she assentcd
joyfullv
4 small table in corner of the thoroughly
warmed parlor, was set apart for her own espc-
cial use, and there out of the proud mothers
hearing the hours sped away on angels wings
But another pupil had Fred Leicester than
Helen that winter Every evening Cressy
knocked lightly at his door, and came in with
her book in her hand to rccte the lesson, in
which she never faltered Helen made great
progress, but Cressy was far beyond her Per
haps this was because, when she was reciting
she used no playful art to bring smile to the
lips Of her teacher, or more probably was it that
she learned the sense as we'll Us the sound of
the words, and thus made them do double ser
vice
The winter was short-too short for Helen,
too short for Leicester, too short for CresSy,
and the time came for school to close. 1t was
wonderfully improved under the Skllful train
ing of the young master.
Would he come again in the autumn If he
would consent to do so, they would gladly raise
the money for seven months The committee
were really anxious to hear his answer Helen
whispered softly and with smile, "do come;"
and Cressy never spoke, when she came to him
the last night of the term and he told her they
wanted him to return She only folded her
hands, as was her wont, when laboring under
any strong emotions, and fastened her eyes up
on the floor.
" | shall come again, think cannot leave
my little frend,n he said, slowly. Then the
crimson blood came rushing to brow and cheek:
her eyes Fitted to his, flashed with pleasure
She seized his hand, and covered it with kisses,
then let it fall, and stood cold and motionlcss
and pale as before.
" Are you glad, my dear Crcssy:'
"WiIi youp!ease hear my lesson ?" she asked,
evading a reply to his question; and he took the
book in silence. Sometimes Crcssy was alto
gether beyond his comprehension.
Early On the following morning, when Lciccs-
ter returned to lis room after breakfast, he
found upon his table bunch OF blue violets the
heavy dew still clinging to their frail petals,
and filing the whole room with their fragrance
and beauty Of early spring.
Where is Cressy Z" he ventured to ask,
when an hour later he took leave of the Greys.
Mrs Grey could not tell-the child had been
sulky all the morning, and it was just as well
that she was out Of the way.
"Helen You will not forget me 2" whispered