The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1865-02-23
The Calico Cloak.

asked Mary Lark. a girl Of twelve OF
fourteen years, as she ran to meet q
group Of school,natcs who were coming
towards tho school house = she cuts
the most oomical looking figure you
ever saw. Her cloak is cut Of calico,
and her shoes are brogans-sach a.
men and boys wear"
Oh, yes, I've seen her, said Lucy
Brooks, she's the new washer. rom an i
daughter. l shouldn't have thought
Mr.. Bro vn would have taken her into
the Academy; but | snppoec he likes
the money that comes through suds as
well as any. ,s'
II is cleaner Of course.
And the air rang with girls laughter
Let us 60 in and examine her, con
tinued Mary, as they aacended tht
schoolhouse steps. I'm thinking she
will make fun for US.
The girls went into the new dressing
room where they found the new scholar
She was mild intelligent child-bu,
poorly though tid,ly clad. The girl,
went around whispering and laughing
with each other, while she stood tremb
ling in one corner Of The room, withou,
even veDturing even to raise her eyes
from the floor. When she entered
school they fund the little girl far in
advance Of those Of her age in he,
studies-as she was placed in classes
with those Ct two or three years her
senior. This seemed, on the whole, TO
make those sirlI who were disposed to
treat her nnkindly, dislike her The
more; and she being Of retiring dis
position, had no friends, but was com.
PEELED to go and return from school
alone.
AMI do you really think, said Mary
Lark, rs she went up to ts,e little .iss a
few weeks after she entered The school,
that you are going to get the medal +?
It will correspond nicely With your
cloak
And she caught hold of the cape, and
held it ont from her, when TIE girls
joined III her loud laugh.
Calico cloak get the medal guess
she will! I should like to see Mr..
Brown to give it to her, said another
gi,l a. shc caught hold Of her arm ard
peeped under the child's bonner.
The little girl struggled to release
herself; and shen she was free, ran
home as fast as possible.
Oh, mother! she exclaimed as she
entered the humble kitchen, do answer
Uncle Williams letter, and tell him We
will come to New York to live.
don't like to live in Bridgevillc. The
girls call me Calico Cloak and BRO.
gans' and you dou'< know how un-
kindly they treat me.
Lizzie, my dear, said the mother, you
mast expect to meet with fhose who
will treat you unkindly on account of
your poverty, but you must not get
Encouraged. Do right, and you will
eventually come of conqueror.
Although Mrs. Lee tried TO encourage
her child, yer abe know that she had to
meet with severe trials foe one 80
young.
But, mother, they are unkini to me.
-There isn't one that loves me.
The child buried her face in her
hands, and sobbed aloud.
In Bridgeville Academy thcre were
a few unprinciNef girls and the
other. joined them in teasing the little
Gallo" Claok,' as they called her, from
.houghtlcssness or = love Of sport. Blu,
they know not how many bitter tears
she had shed in .sccEat over ti.eir un
kindness.
Mrs. Lee learning that the scholars
continued their unjust treatment to.
wards her child, resolved to accept her
brothers invitation, although he was q
poor man, and through his influence
Lizzie might perhaps lead a happier
life among new schoolmates. Ac.
eordingly at the end as,the term she
let, Bridgoville, and removed to New
Imk.
Although Lizzie had been a,mcmbcr
Of the school bnt one term, she had
gained the medal, and it was worn
from the A academy beneath the dcspiseL
garment.
Weeks months and years, glided
away to the students ofthc Rrihsevillr
Academy-and Tho little Calico Cloak
vas forgotten. Those who have been