The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-01-10
THE SCHOOL GIRL.

mo, not at ALL"
"But do you think I shall get an an
swer2"
sMost certainly. Now give me the
letter, there, sealed with the white wax
and satin paper. it looks quite aristocrat-
ic. | will put stamp on it, and then
take 1t myself to the postofice."
So spoke Adele Jones, a day scholar in
the great grand French school of Nine.
Morville, addressing herself to Mary
Somers, boarder in the same establish
ment. Adele aud Mary were intimate
friends-such friends as school girls are
at the giddy age when they do not even
know the meaning of the word, and think
it means pleasant indulgence for each
ether's faults and caprices.
Adele was this very day giving her
friend Mary Somers what she called a
proof of friendship; she was conveying a
letter to a young and fayorite singer, whom
the girls had both heard at a recent con-
cert, and with whom Mary had fallen
what she called desperately in love.
Be it known to all who have daughters
at these grand boarding schools, that the
day scholars are always mediums of COM
munication with the outward world,
whether for unwholesome sweetmeats or
dangerous sweethearts. Mary Somers
had no secrets from Adele. At the con-
cert they had sat side by side, and to-
gether tthey had discussed the lovely
eyes and sweet moustache, and the melt
ing voice of the young tenor, who, used
to homage from girls as foolish as them
selves scarcely vouchsafed to cast glance
on them; but of course these girls, utter.
ly Ignorant Of the world, judged this man
by themselves, and imagined he would be
delighted to know that the lovely, young,
and romantic Mary Somers, was in love
with him.
Putting their two wild heads together
next day during the time of the recess,
the girls had come to the decision that the
only way was to write love letter, which
accordingly had been concocted, written
signed and sealed. OF course, being the
time of the recess, when no lessons are
going on, it was nobody's business to see
what the girls were about.
Now Adele Jones was girl of peculiar
cunning and Of much worldly wisdom
Her father was only book keeper in the
large wholesale dry goods store of the
rich Mr.. Somers, Mary's father; and hel
mother was poor, vain, sickly creature
whose beauty and jaunty manners had, in
an evil hour, when he was twenty,an sh'
sixteen, tempted honest, hard working
John Jones to make her his wife.
Her beauty had long since gone, he
health, too, and with both of these the
temper that makes amends for youth
health and beauty.
She seemed but to have two objects il
life-one was that of complaining con
stantly to John Of his want of means t,
indulge her taste in finery and luxury ,th
othes was to try by every means in he
power to rival in dress and appearance tn
rich Mrs. Somers and her daughter.
Of course this was impossible, and o
course it lead to all sorts of meanness am
all sorts Of deceit, and all sorts of annoy
ance to John; but the worst of all wa
that it led 70 making Adele her mother
confdante Of little deceptiors she prac
ticed on him to obtain few dollars; it lie,
to her daughters plotting .and planning
with her, and inventing schemes Of he
! own. The carelessness and neglect of tn
teachers at school, completed this educa
|tion of evil. Itwas Adele who had plan
ned her going to the same school wit
Mary Somers, it was Adele who planne'
the friendship which united the two girl
apparently, but which on one side wa
hut calculation and deceit.
Mrs. Jones sat sighing and rocking her
self hepeIessly near the window, groan
ing over every exhibition of gay dressing
that passed it, when Adele rushed int
1.-THE room, and, dropping her books with
great flop on the floor, exclaimed, "Moth
er, mother, what do you think?"
asOl 1 don't know; nothing pleasan
though, I'm sure, for nothing pleasan
lever does happen to us.
"Ohl it isn't anything of such grea
importance one way or the other, but ii
fun. Here, look here--this is loye-let
ter to Signor zralldi, / am to deliver, an
Mary Somers wrote it. ge,g
"Mary Somers!'' Mrs. Jones took tn
note, and turned it over and over, mucl
disappointed at the sight of the seal, an
thus she ruminated, speaking her thought
aloud:
"Mr. Somers would give good sun
for this; we might put real guipure aroun
our cloaks." alSi1asiojs3 '1.1
"Nonsense, mother; betray Mary?"
aBetray Mary!" exclaimed Mrs. Jones
looking up in surprise. e
"I mean for SO little. No, no; there
more 10 be made out of this than pal
try guipure trimming. Just let me man
age this affair, and | warrant you II
!. make fortune out Of it."
"Well, Adele, you know best; dea'
how much young folks do learn at schoo
! l never had such advantages as you hav,
I hope you will never marry such poo
helpless man as your father, and be lik
your poor, poor mother. Oh, dear,
wish l Icould have nice carriage ride
So saying Mrs Jones restored the note
her daughter. a
The next day Mary received, throus
the hands of her friend, glowing epistl
appointing meeting, which, owing
circumstances connected with Mary nj
being able to get free before, had to tax
place after dark, at the back gate of Mr.
Jones house, opening into an alley whel
no one passed. 1t was on Saturday