Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-20
that this should be your reward for saving my

"Mr. RalSton, Jessie began-
''No, no! call me LOUIS; we are brother ami
sister now; this has made us so. l should
have been here before; but the physicians for
babe it. was somewhat injured, but am well
again"
Jessie" said Mrs. Ralston, eff mothers
prayers and gratitude for the saver of her sons
life can comfort you, OH how truly are they
yours But for you, | should be childless.
You will think of this, my child, and let it
comfort you"
81 will! will! God forgive me for COM
planning when he has let me save a life!' And,
for the first time, great peace shone in the
child's face.
From that day, there was no desire of Jes-
sizes heart that was not granted. Young Raj
stou himself provided her with books, pictures,
and instruction; and his mother let no day
pass without visiting the cottage. They would
have been very glad to take the poor child to
their own luxurious home; but Jessie refused
to leave her mother. The chifd's whole cur
rent of thought had changed since the Ralstons
first visited the cottage. With prayer, with
hopeful, loving trust in the Almighty hand
that had seen fit to PROSTATE her, she stiled all
repinings, and was truly grateful for love and
kindness shown to her.
Six years passed on and again l wish to
take my readers to the little cottage. The
widow is at her sewing still in chair by the
fireside; opposite to her is seated Jessie, who
looks older than when we last saw her, and, in
other respects, somewhat changed. The rich
dark hair is gathered off from her broad white
forhead, and falls in soft curls over her shout
ders. Her face is pale, but very beautiful in
its sweet, loving expression; and the large,
soft eyes, shaded by long, dark lashes, are full
of intelligence and pure holy light. Her small,
slight figure is covered with soft white shawl !;
and the tiny white fingers are busted in knit
ting. George, tall, manly YOUTH is seated
beside her, bending over a sum.
A low sigh from Jessie made her mother
look up.
"What is the matter darling 2"
81 was wishing, mother, that / was of some
use in the world"
"Why, Jessie, you are of use. You help me
in my sewing; you draw now most beautiful
ly, so Mr.. Ralston says and you knit great
deal"
"Besides helping me in my Studies" chimed
in George.
eyes" said Jessie, thoughtfully "but I
have great deal of useless time. You know
it wearies me to draw or sew for many hours
together and / was thinking how can en-
ploy 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, / have
a proposition to make. You know that, in the
village, 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 not help to rem
edy this Would it not be a good work to
have them here for a few hours every day and
try to instruct them 2"
"But, Jessie" said Mrs. Harris "they are
the very scum of the village. All the decent
children are at the village school,"
81 know that"
Some of them swear fearfully," said
George; "and fear any of them would be
impertinent, if anything displeased them"
"Will you let me try? do so long to be of
some use in the world"
"Why, Jessie p said frank voice at the
door, SIS that you that l hear talking in such
plaintive tone! What is the matter!"
ooh, Louis are you there Z"
eyes, half frozen. 1t is showing"
Jessie started, whispering: at is the ami
versary."
With admirable tact, young Ralston bent
over her, saying; 81 left my mother praying
for the preserver of her sons life"
Jessie thanked him with bright, beaming
smile, and then told him her scheme. AT first,
he shook his 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
''litte ragamuffins" that were willing to come
One week later, Jessie awaited with fast
beating heart, tile arrival of her first class 1t
was very small. One little girl only had sum-
moned up courage to come. Her report was
so favorable that the next day, three little girls
and two boys came, and in the course of
month, the room was filled each day There
was something in the pale, pure face and slight
frame of the teacher that awed the class at
first then won their respectful love.
No protane word ever fell on the ears of the
young girl Errors to correct she found in
plenty; but, with low, sweet voice, and that
indescribable holiness that eucircled her, she
drove away all impiety, all profanity. Rough
boys went home with their minds filed with
higher ambition and purer thoughts than they
had ever before felt. Girls bent to her, at
their departure, with their mind, blessing the
sweet gentle teacher who had won them from
ignorance, perhaps from vice. And so passed
her life, Trials she had among her class but,
with gentle patience, she made rough places
smooth. Some ingratitude, too came to
trouble her; but she never failed in her efforts.
1t is now thirty years since Jessie Harris fell
down the quarry and if, in passing through
Snowdonville, you ask who is the most useful
and best beloved person in the village they
will point out little cottage, and tell you its
occupant, Jessie Harris, fills the place. Mrs.
Harris is dead; George is lawyer at the
South and Jessie lives alone, excepting her
maid, one of her old scholars, who almost wor-
ships her mistress. Gentle, meek, and hope
full she lives an example that none are so
unfortunate that they can be of no use in the
world