Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-04-03
STAR.
TIE LITTLE SISTERS.

You were not here yesterday" sale
the gentle teacher of little village
school, as she placed her hand kindly OF
the curly head of one of her pupils. L
was lecess time, but the little girl ad
dressed had not gone to frolic away tht
ten minutes, not even left her seat, bu
sat absorbed in what seemed fruitless
attempt to make herself mistress of q
sum in long division.
Her face and neck crimsoned at the re.
mark of her teacher, but looking I'D sbs
seemed somewhat reassured by the kind
| glance that met her, and answered
"No, ma'am, | was not, but sister Nelly
was"
Il remember there was little girl
who called herself Nelly Gray, came in
yesterday, but l did not know she was
your sister. But why did you not come !
You seem to love study very much"
1t was not because l didn't want
to-" was the earnest answer, and then
she paused, and the deep flush again
tinged that fair brow but" she CON.
tinued after moment Of painful embar-
rassment, mother cannot spare both of
US conveniently. and so we are going to
take turns, I'm going to school one day
and sister next, and tonight I'm to teach
Nelly all l have learned to- day, and to-
morrow night she will teach me all 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 a moment
explained the rule over which she was
puzzling her, young brain, so that the
difficult sum was easily finished.
i"You had better 60 out and take the
air few moments, you have studied very
hard to-day" said the teacher, as the
little girl put aside the slate.
I'D rather not might tear mn
dress-I will stand by the window and
watch the rest"
Thsre was such peculiar tone in the
voice Of her pupil as she said, s / might
tear my dress" that Miss NJ was
led instinctive!y to notice it. 1t was
nothing but q ninepenny print of deep
hue, but it was neatly made, and had
never yet been washed. And while lock-
ing at it, she remembered that during the
whole fortnight previous Mary Gray had
attended school regularly, she had never
seen her wear but that one dress. "She
is thoughtful little GIRL" said she to
herself, 81 and does not want to make her
mother any trouble. / wish had more
such scholars"
The next morning Mary was absent,
but her sister occupied her scat. There
was something so interesting in the two
little sisters, the one eleven years, and
the other eighteen months younger, agree
ing to attend school by turns, that Miss
M-could not forbear observing
them very closely. They were pretty
faced children, Of delicate forms, and
fairy.like hands and fset-the elder with
dark, lustrouS eyes and chestnut curls,
the other with orbs like the sky of June
her white neck yelled by wreath of
golden ringiets. She observed in both
the same close attention to their studies;
and as Mary tarried within during the
the play time, SO did Nelly; and upon
speaking to her as she had to her sister,
she received the same answer. 81 mi ght
tear my dress"
The remark caused Miss NJ to nc
tice the garb of her sister. She saw at
once that it was of the same piece as
Mary's, and upon scrutinizing it very
closely, she became certain that it was
the same dress. 1t did not fit quite so
pretty on Nelly, and it was too long for
her, and she was evidently i'll 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 benevolent as that
which pulsated in the bosom of the vii
lage school teacher. She ascertained the
residence of their mother, and though
sorely shortened herself by a narrow
purse, that same night, having found at
the only store in the place few yards of
the same material, purchased dress for
little Nelly, and sent it to her in such a
way that the donor could not be detected.
Very bright and happy looked Mary
Gray on Friday morning, as she entered
the school at an early hour. She waited
only to place her books in neat order in
her desk, ere she approached Miss NJ,
and whispering in voice that laughed
in spite OF her efforts to make it low and
deferential: "After this week, sister Mel
ly is coming to school every day, and oh,
| am so glad"
THAT is very good news" replied the
teacher, kindly. "Nelly is fond of her
books, l see, and l am happy to know
that she can have an opportunity to
study them every day." Then she con-
tinued, little good-natured mischiefen-
circling her eyes and dimpling her sweet
lips; "But can your neither spare you
both conveniently ?''>
40, yes, ma'am, yes, ma'am, she can
now. Something happened she didn't
expect; she is as glad to have us come as