Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1864-12-07

|
Young Rals;on 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 have taken the poor child to their own
luxurious home; but Jessie refused to leave
her mother. The child's whole current 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
stliied all repinings, and was truly grateful
for love and kindness to her.
Six years passed on and again I wish to
take my readers to the little cottage. The
widow Is at her sewing still in chair by
the hreslde 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 forehead and falls in soft curls
over her shoulders. Her face is pale but
very beautiful in its soft, 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 by a thin white shawl, and the
tiny white fingers are busy in knitting
George, tall manly youth is seated beside
her, bending over sum-
A low sigh from Jessie made her moth
er look up.
What is the matter, darlng?' said
! She
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 then
you knit great deal
Besides helping me with my studies,'
chimed in George
Yes said Jessie, thoughtfully, 'but |
have great deal of useless time. You
know it wearies me to draw or sew for ma
ny hours together, and [ was thinking how
| might employ this time, and not be a use
less burden on my dear, kind friends
Jessiep said her mother, warningly
well, [ won't say it again. Now, |
have proposition to make You know
| that in the village there are many of the
| 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. Would it not be good work to
| have them here for few hours every day,
and try if | could not instruct them?'
But JESSIE said Mrs. Harris, they are
the very scum Of the village. All the de-
cent children are at the village school,
| 4 know that
Some of them swear fearfuly,' said
George, 'and | fear that some of them
would be impertinent if anything displeas-
ed them
'Will you let me try? I do so long to
! be of some use in the world
'Why, Jessie ! said frank voice at the
door, is that you hear talking in such
plaintiye tone? What is the matter?'
'Oh, Louis are you there p
Yes, half frozen. 1t is snowing'
Jessie started, whispering, 1T is the an
niversary.'
With admirable tact, young Ralston
bent over her, saying: L left my mother
praying for the preserver of her sons
! life
Jessie thanked him with bright beam
ing smile and then told him her scheme.
At first he shook his head, Dur, seeing that
her heart was set on the idea, he consented
to act as her ambassador iu the village and
collect all the 'littie ragamufins' that were
! willing to come.
One week later, Jessie awaited, with a
fast beating heart, the coming of her first
class. 1t was very small. One little girl
only had summoned up courage enough to
{ ~ 10 10 hot
the next day three little boys and two little
girls came and, in the course of a month, l.,
the room was filled each day There was
something IN the pale, pure face and slight
frame of their teacher that awed the class
at first, then won their respectful love. No
protane word ever fell upon the ears Of the
| young girl. Errors to correct she found in
| plenty; but with low, sweet voice, and
| that indescrlbable holiness that encircled
her, she drove away all profanity, all impi-
! ett. Rough boys went home with their
minds filled with higher ambition than
they had ever felt before Girls bent to
her at their departure, with their minds
blessing the sweet gentle teacher who had
won them from ignorance, perhaps from
vice. And Sd passed her life Trials she
| had among her class, but with gentle pa
tience 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 USE
full 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 law
yer in the South, and Jessie lives alone, ex-
cepting her maid, one of her old scholars,