The Ottawa free trader., 1857-08-01
A Beautiful Story.

"A Dcdut1ul StOIys
"You were not here yesterday" said th
gentle teacher Of the village school, as sh
laid her hand kindly on the curly head
, one of her pupils. 1t was recess time, bu
the little girl had not gone to frolic away tn
ten minutes, not even left her seat, but sa
} absorbed in what seemed fruitless attemp
to make herself mistress of sum ir len
division.
Her face and neck crimsoned at the remarl
of her teacher, but looking up, she scenes
somewhat reassured by the kind glance tha
met her, and answered, "No, ma'am, wa
not, but my sister Nell was"
81 remember there was little girl, VIII
called herself Nelly Gray, came in yesterday
but did not know she was your sister
But why did not you come? You seem t.
love study very much"
at was not because did not want t.
come" was the earnest answer, and ther
she paused, and the deep flush again tingee
that fair brow" but" she continued, aftel
a moment of painful embarrassment, "mo
ther can not spare both of US conveniently
and so We are gong to take turns; I'm 60
ing to school one day, and sister the next
and tonight I'm to teach Nelly all | have
learned to-day, and tomorrow night she
will teach me all she learns while here. It's
the only way we can think of getting along,
AMI we want to study very much, SO as to
| sometime 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 fore
bore to question the child further, but sat
down beside her, and in a moment explain
ed the rule over which she was puzzling her
young brain, so that the difficult sum was
easily finished.
You had better 60 out and take the air
a moment-you have studied very hard to-
day." said the teacher, as the little girl put
up her slate.
81 had rather mott might tear my dress
i will stand by the window and watch
the rest"
There was such a 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
4 ninepenny print of deep bl1e, bat it was
neatly made. and had never yet been wash
ed. And while looking at it she remember
ed that, during the whole previous fortnight
Mary Gray had attended school regularly,
that she had never seen her wear but that
one dress.
"She is a thoughtful little GIRL" said she
TO herself, "and does not want to make her
mother any trouble. l wish 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 other eigh-
teen months younger, agreeing to attend
school by turns, that Miss NJ could not
forbear observing them very closely. They
were pretty faced crildren, of delicate forms,
and fairy-like hands and feet-the elder with
dark, lustrous eyes, and the younger with
orbs like the June sky, her white neck veil
ed by a wreath Of golden ringlets. She OBJ
served in both the same close attention to
their studies, and as Mary had tarried dn-
ring playtime, so did Nelly, and upon speak
ing to her as she had to her sister, she re-
ceived the same answer, " 1 might tear my
dress"
Again the reply caused Miss NJ to no.
tice the garb of the sister. She saw at once
that it was the same piece as Mary's and
upon scrutinizing it closely, she became GER
tain that it was the same dress. 1t did not
q. yuis- 40 .IseeIy Molly, IL was too long
for her, and she was evidently not at ease
when she noticed her teacher looking at the
bright flowers that were so thickly set on
the dark ground.
The discovery was one that could not but
interest a heart SO truly benevolent as that
which pulsated in the. bosom of that village
school teacher. She ascertained the resi- |
dence Of their mother, and though sorely !
straitened herself by a narrow purse, that |
same night, having found at the only store |
in the place few yaadS of the same mate !
rial, purchased dress for little Nelly, and /
sent it to her in such way tlat 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 book neatly in the desk, ere she |
approached Miss NJ and whispering in |
a voice that laughed in spite Of her efforts
TO make it low and deferential-' After this
week, Nelly is coming to school every day,
and, oh, am so glad!"
THAT is good news" replied the teacher
kindly. NELLY is fond of her books, see,
and am happy to know that she can have
an opportunity to study her books every
day."
Then she continued, little good humor-
ed mischief encrcling her eyes, But how
can your mother spare both conveniently?'
40, yes ma'am-yes ma am, she can now.
Something has happened which she didn't
expect, and she is as glad to have US come
as we are to do so.'
She hesitated moment, but her young
heart was filled to the brim with joy, and
when child is happy it is as natural fer it
10 tell the cause as it is for bird to warble
when the sun shines. So out of the full
ness of her heart she spoke, and told the
teacher this little story.
She and ber little sister were the only
children Of poor widow, whose health was
50 delicate that it was almost impossible to
support herself and daughters. She was
obliged TO keep them out of school all win
er, because they had no clothes to wear,
put she told them if she could earn enough
~ doing odd chores for the neighbors to
ouy each of them a new dress, they might
20 in the spring. Very earnestly had the
title girls improved their stray chances,
md very carefully laid by the copper coins
which usually repaid them. They had each
nearly saved enough to buy q calico dress,
when Nelly was taken sick, and as the mo-
her had no money beforehand, her own
reasure had to be expended for medicine.
so, l did feel so bad when school opened,
md Nelly could not 60 because she had no
lress," said Mary. al told her l wouldn't
20 either; but she said had better, for
could then teach her some, and it would
,e better than no schooling. stood it for
fortnight, but Nelly's little face seemed all
he time looking at me on the way to school,
nd couldn't be happy bit; SO finally
hought of a way by which we could both
%. and told mother would come one day
nd the next would lend Nelly my dress
nd she might come, and that's the way We
ave done this week. But last night some
,ody sent sister dress just like mine, and
low she can come too. o, if only knew
vho it was, would get down on my knees
nd thank them, and so would Nelly. But
We don't know, and we have done all we
ould for them-soe'ce prayed for them! and
n, Miss NJ, we are all so glad now.