True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-07-07
STEUBENVILLE, OHIO, WEDNESDAY, JULY I 1855


sat down beside her, and in moment
explained the rule, over which she wa:
puzzing 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 Iii.
Tie girl put up her slate.
81 had rather not; l might tear my
dress; | will stand blythe window and
watch the rest of the scholars"
There was such peculiar tone in The
voice of her pupil as she said 81 might
tear my Dress" that Miss M. was led
instincIively to notice it. 1t was nothing
but ninepenny print Of deep blue, but
was neatly made, and had never been
washed. And while looking at it, she
remembered that, during the whole pre-.
vious fortnight Mary Gray 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. 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 years old and
the other eighteen months younger, agree.
ing 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 a wreath Of gol
den rlnglets. She observed in both the
same close attention 10 their studies, and
as Mary had tarried during play time, so
did Nelly, and upon speaking to her as
she did to her sister, she received the
same answer, II might tear my dress"
Again the reply caused Miss NJ. to no.
tlce the garb of the sister. She saw at
once it was the same piece as Mary's and
upon scrutinizing it closely, she became
certain it was The same dress. 1t did not
fit so closely on Nelly, it was too long
for her, and she was evidentlynot 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 moi
but interest heart SO truly benevolent as
that which pulsated in the bosom of that
village teacher. She ascertained The re-
sldence of their mother, and though sore.
Iy Strengthened by narrow purse, that
same night, having found at The only
store in the place few yards of the same
material, purchased dress for little Mel.
ly, 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 on her desk
ere she approached Miss M. and
whispered in voice in spite of her efforts
to make it low and deferentia!-" after
this week, Nelly is going to school every
day, and oh, am SO glad"
This is good news" replied the
teacher kindly. Nelly is fond of her
books, | see, and I 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
can your mother spare both convenient
ly"
40 yes ma'am, she can now. Some.
thing has happened which she didn't ex-
pect, and she is as glad to have us come
as we are to do so.''
She hesitated moment, but her heart
was filled to the brim with joy, and when
child is happy it is as natural for il to
tell the cause as it is for bird TO warble
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 a poor widow, whose health
was so feeble and delicate that it was al.
most impossible to support herself and
daughters. She was obliged to keep
them ont 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 go 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 beforehand,
her own treasure had 10 be expended for
medicine.
go, | did feel SO bad when school
opened, and Nelly could not go because
she had no Dress" said Mary. ~ told
her would not go either; but she said |
had better, for l could then teach her
some, and it would be better than no
schooling. I stood it for fortnight, but
Nelly's little face seemed all the time
looking at me on the way to school, and
! couldn't be happy bit. so | finally
thought of a way by which we could
both 60, and | told mother would come
one day and the next day | would lend