Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1857-11-05
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER ., 1864.


not fit so closely ON Nelly, it was too long
for her, and she was evidently not at case
when she noticed her teacher looking at
the bright flowers that were so thickly set
on the dark grouhd.
The discovery was one that could not
but interest a heart SO truly benevolent as
that which pulsated in the bosom of that
village teacher. She ascertained the resi-
dence of their mother, and though sorely
Strengthened herself by narrow purse,
that same night, having found at the only
store in the place few yards of the same
material, purchased a dress for little Nelly,
and sent it to her in such 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 book neatly in her desk,
ere she approached Miss NJ. and whisper
ing in 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 encircling her eyes. But
how can your mother spare both convent
entity
20, yes ma am-yes ma am, she can now
Something has happened which she didn't
expect, and she is glad to have us come
regularly,
She hesitated moment, bat her young
heart was filed to the brim with JOY, and
when child is happy it is as natural for it
to tell the cause as it is for bird to war
BILE when the sun shines.
So out of the fullness of her heart she
spoke, and told the teacher this little story
! She and her little sister were the only
| children of poor widow, whose health
was so delicate that it was almost imposs-
bic to support herself and daughters She
was obliged to keep them out of school all
winter, because they had no clothes to wear,
but she told them if they could earn enough
| by doing odd chores for the neighbors to
| buy each of them new dress, they might
90 in the spring. Very earnestly had the
little girls improved their stray chances,
and very carefully laid by the copper coins
which usually repaid them. They had
each saved nearly enough to buy calico
dress, when Nelly was taken sick, and as
the mother had no money before hand, her
own treasure had to be expended for med
| icine.
90, | did feel so bad when school open
ed, and Nelly could not go because she
had no dress, said Mary. { | told her |
wouldn't go either; but she said ] had bet
! ter, for | could then teach her some, and
/ it would be better than no schooling |
stood it for a fortnight, but Nellys little
| face seemed all the time looking at me on
the way to school, and couldn't be happy
bit; so | finally thought of way by
which we could both 90, and told mother
| would come one day and the next would
lend Nelly my dress and she might come,
and that's the way we have done this week.
But last night somebody sent sister a dress
Just like mine, and now she can como too.
%, if / only knew who it was, | would
get down on my knees and thank them,
and so would Nelly. But we don't know,
and we have done all we could for them
ace'ue prayed for them and oh, Miss Nj.
we are all so glad now Amt you too?'
Indeed | am, was the emphatic answer.
And on the following Monday, when lit
tie Nelly in the new dress entered the
schoolroom, her face radiant as rose in the
sunshine, and approaching the teachers
table, exclaimed in tones as musical as
those of freed fountain--' I'm coming to
school every day now, and | am so glad ?
! Miss NJ felt as she had never before felt
that it was more blessed to give than re-
ceive. No millionaire, when he saw his
name in public prints, lauded for his thou
sand dollar charities, was ever half so hap
py as that poor school teacher, who wore
old gloves half summer longer than she
ought, and thereby saved enough to buy
that little fatherless girl calico dress