The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-08-25
"A BEAUTIFUL STORY.

You we're not here yesterday said
the gentle teacher Of the village school, as
she laid her hand kindly on the curly
head OF one Of her pupils. It was re-
cess time, but the little girl had not gone
to frol,c away the ten minutes. not even
left her seat but sat absorbed in what
seemed fruitless attempt to make herself
mistress of sum in long division. ~.
Her face and mock crimsoned ut the re.
mark Of her teacher. but looking up, she
seemed somewhat reassured by the kind
glance that met hers. No ma'am, I was
not, but my sister Nelly was' .
i remember there was little girl, who
called herself Nelly Gray, came in yester-
day, but Didn't know she was your sister.
But why did you not come? You seem
TO love TO study very much ...
1T was not because did not want to
come, was the earnest answer, and then
she paused and the deep flush again ting
ed that fair brow-'But,' she continued
after o moment of painful embarrassment,
mother cannot spare US both conveniently
and 80 we are going to take turns; I'm GO
iug to school one day and sister the next
and tonight Pm to teach Nelly ell I've
learned to-day; aud tomorrow night she
will teach the all she learns while here
It is the only way we can think of get
ting along, and we want to study very
much, so as to sometime keep school
ourselves and take care of mother, be-
cause she has to work very hard to take
care of u.s. 80 ..- as-I aistEF
'You had better 60 out and take the
air a moment; yoa have studied very hard
to day. said the teacher as the little girl
put mp her slate. -, -,
4 had rather not; might tear my
dress, ! will stand by the window and
watch the rest of the scholar .~
There was such peculiar tone in the
voice of the pupil as she said j might
tear my dress, that Miss NJ. was led in.
stinctively to notice it. 1t was nothing
hut nine-penuy print of deep blue, but
was neatly made, and had never been
washed. And while looking at it. she re-
membered that, during the previous fort
night Mary Gray attended school regular
~, that she had never seen her wear but
that one dress. ~ ...r ........
She is thoughtful little girl said she
to herself and does not want to make
( her mother any trouble. I wish had
more such scholars
Tho next morning Mary was absent,
but her sister occupied her seat. There
was something so interesting il, the two
little sisters; the one eleven years old, the
other eighteen months younger, agreeing
to tend school by turns, that Miss M.
could not forbear observing them very
closely. They were pretty faced children,
of delicate form and fairy like hands and
feet; the elder with dark lustrous eyes,
and the other with orbs like the June sky
her white neck veiled by Wreath Of
golden ringlets She observed in both
the same close attention to their studies
and a. Mary had tarried duriug play
time. 90 did Nelly, and upon speaking t.
her sister, she received the same answer
might tear my dress - +.
Again the reply caused Miss M. TO no.
tice the garb Of the sister. She Saw al
once it was the same piece as Mary's aud
upon scrutinizing it closely, she became
certain it wss the same dress. 1t did
not O. so closely on Nelly. It was toe
long for her. and she was evidently not
st ease when she noticed her teacher
locking at the bright flowers that were
SO thickly set ON the dark ground.
- The discovery was one that could not
bot interest heart SO truly benevolent as
that which pulsated 10 the bosom of that
villnge teacher She ascertained the resi-.
dence Of the mother, and though sorely
Strengthened by o narrow purse, that same
night having found at the only store in
the place few yards of the same mate.
rial r,urchascd a dress for little Nelly and