M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1858-09-09
SntGrstlng StOrp,
THE CALICO DRESS.

luc curly uCdu vi OlIO vi hSl Dupllo'-
1t was recess time, but the little girl
had not gone to frolic away the ten
minutes, not even left her seat, but
sat absorbed in what seemed a fruit
less attempt 20 make herself mistress
of sum in long division.
Her face and neck crimsoned at the
remark of her teacher but looking up,
she seemed somewhat reassured by
the kind glance that met hers. mo,
ma'am, was not, but my sister Mel.
|ly was"
remember there was a little girl,
who called herself Nelly Gray, came
in Yesterday, but l didn't know she
was your sister. But why did you
not come! You seem to love to study
very much"
ut was not because | did not want
| to come," was the earnest answer, and
then she paused and the deep flush
again tinged that fair brow-'But," T"
she continued after a moment Of pain.
| thl embarrassment, "mother cannot
spare us both conveniently, and so we
are going to take turns; I'm going to
school one day and sister the next,
and tonight I'm to teach Nelly all
I've learned today ; and tomorrow
| night she will teach me all she learns
while here. 1t is 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 us"
"You had better 90 out and take
the air q moment; you have studied
very hard to-day" said the teacaer as
the little girl put up her slate,
/ "lhad rather not; | might tear my
dress. will stand by the window
and watch the res! OF the scholars"
! There was such peculiar tone in
the voice of the. pupil as she said, 81
might tear my dress" that Miss NJ.
was led instinctively to notice it. 1t
was nothing but u nine-penny print OF
deep blue, but was neatly made, and
had never been washed. And while
looking at it, she remembered that,
during the previous 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 nextmorning Mary was absent,
but her sister occupied her seat. There
was something so interesting in the
two little sistlrs-the one eleven years
old, the Other eighteen months young
er-agreeing to tend school by turns,
that Miss NJ. could not iorbear obser-
wing them very closely. They were
pretty faced children, Of delicate form
and tairy.like hands and feet; the ell
der with dark, lusuous eyes, and the
other with orbs like the June sky, her
white neck yelled by a wreath Of gold.
en- ringlets. She observed in both
the same close attention to their stud.
les, and as Mary had tarried during
play time, SO did Nelly, and upon
speaking to her sister, she received
the same answer-"I might tear my
dress"
Again the reply caused Miss NJ. to
notice the garb Of the sister. She saw
at once that it was the same piece as
Mary's, and upon Scrutinizing it close
ly, 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 evidently not at ease when she
noticed her teacher looking at the
bright flowers that were so thickly SCI
on the dark ground.
The discovery was one that coulC
not but interest heart so truly be
nevolent as that which pulsated in tn
bosom Of that village teacher. Sh
ascertained the residence Of the mo
ther, and though sorely straighteneC
by a narrow purse, that same night
( having found at the only store in tn
, place a few yards of the same materi
{ al, purchased a dress for little Nelly
: and sent it to her in such q way tha
/ the donor could not be detected.
t Very bright and happy looked Mar
# Gray on Friday morning, as she ell
r tered the school at an early hour. Sh
d waited only to place her book neatl
}. Oh her desk when she approache
a Miss NJ. and whispered in a voice i
It spite of her efforts to make it low an
d defferential-
}: "After this week, Nelly is going
e school every day, and oh, am S
e glad"
Il "This is good news" replied til
n teacher kindly. "Nelly is fond of he
o books, see, and | am happy to kno,
o she can have an opportunity to stud