Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1858-05-05
A BEAUTIFUL STORY.

ou were not here yes terday," said
the gentle teacher of the village school.
as she laid her hand kindly on the curly
head of one of her pupils. 1t was recess
time but the little girl had not gone to
frollc away the ten minutes, nor even left
her seat, but sat absorbed in what seemed
irutless attempt to make herself mis-
trcss OF a sum in long division.
Her ia c and neck crimsoncd at the re,
mark Of her teacher, but looking up, She
seemed omewhat ro-assured by the kind
glance that met her, and answered. mo
maam | was not, but my sister Nell vas "
81 remember there was little gill who
called herself Nelly Gray, came in ye,tcr-
day, but did not know that she was your
sister. Bat why did you not come? You
seem to love study very much"
at was not because | did not want to
come" was the earnest answer, and then
fho paused, and the deep flush again ting
cd that fair brow-"bu,," She continued.
after moment ofpainiul embarrassment,
"mother can't spare both ofus convenient
", and so We are going 10 take turns :;
I'm going to school one day and sister
next; and Tonight I'm to teach n ly all
have lcared 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, and we want to study very
much, so as to sometime keep school our
selves and take care OF mother, because
she has to work very hard to take care of
us"
With genuine delicacy, Miss VI. forebore
to question the child still further, but sat
down beside her, and in moment ex~
planned the rule over which she was puz-
zling her young brain, SO that the diff cult
sum was easily finished.
"You had better go out and take the
air moment, you have studied very hard
to-day" said the teacher as the little girl
PSI up her slate.
81 had rather not, might tear my
dress; will stand by the window and
watch the rest"
There was such peculiar tone in the
voice of her pupil as she said IL might
tear my dress" that Miss NJ. was led in
stinctively to notice it. 1t was nothing
but a ninepenny print Of deep blue, but il
was neatly made, and had never yet been
washed. And while looking at it she re-
membered that, during thewhole previo,s
fortnight Mary Gray had attended school
regularly, that she had never seen her
wear but the one dress.
''She is athoughtful 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 l years and
the other is months younger, agreeing to
attend school by turns, and Miss NJ could
not forebear watching them very closely.
The pretty faced children of delicate
form and iairy-like hands and feet; the
elder with dark, lustrous eyes, and the
younger with orbs like the June sky, her
white neck veiled with wreath of golden
ringlets. She observed in both the same
close attention to their studies, and as
Mary had tarred during play time, so did
Nelly. and upon speaking TO her as she
had to her sister, she received the same
answer, 81 might tear my dress"
Again the reply caused Miss. NJ. to no.
tce 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 that it was the same dress. 1t did
not fit so closely on Nelly, it was too long
for her, and she was evident 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 teacher. She ascertaned the resi-
dence Of their mother, and though sorely