Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-03-05
A low sigh from Jessie made her mother loo

up.
What is the matter darling7'
L was wishing, mother, that l was OF some use in
the world
why, Jessie, you are Of use. You help me in
my sewing you draw now most beautifully, so
Mr.. Ralston says and you knit o great deal.'
Besides helping me in my studies climed 10
George.
Yes said Jessie, thougbtfully but l have q
great deal of useless time. You know it wearjes
me to draw or sew for many hours together and
| was thinking how ! can employ this time, and
not be a useless burden on my dear kind friends
Jessie = said her mother, warningly.
well, | won't say it again. Now, I have n
proposition to make. You know that, 10 the vii.
lage, there are many children who are too poor to
pay for their education at the village school and
they are growing up ignorant, and some of them
vicious. Can l not help to remedy this. Would
it not be a good work to have them here for a few
hours every day and try to instruct them p
But, Jessie said Mrs. Harris, they are the
very scum Of the village. All the decent children
are at the village school,
Il know that
Some of them swear fearfully,' said George
and fear any Of them would be impertinent, il
anything displeassd them
will you let me try? do so long to be Of SOME
use in the world
why, Jessie = said q frank voice at the door,
is that you that I hear talking in such a plaintive
tone? What is the matter p
oh, Louis are you there?
Yes, half frozen. 1t is snowing.'
Jessie started, whispering 1T is the auniversa
ry.'
With admirable tact young Ralston bent over
her, saying: Il left my mother praying for the
presenter of her sons life.'
Jessie thanked him with q bright, beamiug smile
and then told her scheme. At first, he shook bis
head but seeing that her heart was set on the
idea, he consented to act as her ambassador in the
village, and collect all the little ragmufins' tina,
were willing to come.
Ohe week later, Jessie awaited with a fast. breath,
ing heart, the arrival of her first class. l. wa,
very small. One little girl only had summoned ur
courage to come. Her report was so favorable
that, the next Gay, three little girls and two bow,
came, and in the course Of a month, the room wa,
filled each day. There was something in the pale
pure face and slight frame of the teacher thai
awed the class at first, then won their respectfu'
love.
No profane word ever fell on the ears Of the
young girl. Errors to correct she found in plenty
but, with low, sweet voice, and that indescribablt
holiness that encirclcd her, she drove away all i'm
piety, all profanity. Rough boys went home with
their minds filled with higher ambition and purel
thoughts than they had ever before felt. Girls ben
to her, at their departure, with their mind, bless
ing the sweet, gentle teacher who had won then
from ignorance, perhaps from vice. And so passet
her life. Trials she had among her class bu
with gentle patience. she made rough places smooth
Some ingIatitude, too, came to trouble her bu
she never failed in her efforts. 1t is now tkirt,
years since Jessie Harris fell down the quarry
and =, in passing through Snowdonville, you ash
who is the most useful and best beloved person il
the village. they will point out a little cottage, ant
tell you its occupant, Jessie Harris, fills the place
Mrs. Harris is dead George is a lawyer at tn,
South and Jessie lives alone, excepting her meid
one of her old scholars, who almost worsbips hel
, mistress. Gentle. meek. and hopeful, she lives ar
example that none are go unfortunate that they
can be Of no use in the world.