Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-06-05
The Peacemakers.

cameron entercu tue scnOOlrOOm one morning
Don't, Mary !" whispered Agnes Heath
softly, as Lucys face flushed and she turned
away from the group around the fire.
Mary Kirby stared at Agnes in astonish-
ment and said angrily, "l'm not troubling
you, Agnes can speak to any one | choose
| suppose"
Yes-but-you know Lucy has just lost
her father and mother and | don't wonder
she looks sad" Agnes whispered again.
Hunph She was smiling enough yes
terday when Miss Lacy sent her head Of the
Grammar class for parsing what correctly"
said Mary. in a grumbling tone, but still
lowering her voice little.
Smiling No, Mary, you can't say that"
broke ia Rosa Wallace, in a rather indignant
voice. "She looked pleased, but | don't
think she smiled"
Mary tossed her head and colorel angrly.
"Well, don't care" she said "shes as
proud and naughty as the Queen Of Sheba.
| can't endure her. | hope something has
happened to her to make her look so dismal.
| can't bear her airs and high aud mighty
ways"
Mary's voice rose little now, and Lucy,
who was sitting at the farther end Of the room,
raised her head and looked at her a moment.
She did not speak, butt her lip cured con-
temptuousy and she looked laughter than
ever Just then, Miss Lacy entered the room
and the school-bell rang.
Lucy Cameron was not popular in school.
She was very intelligent, studious aud sm-
bilious, and, the girls said, was favorite
with the teachers but she was reserved,
cold, and sometimes very sarcastic, aud had
not made single friend since she entered
the school at the beginning Of the fall term.
Some Of the girls pitied her and were kind
to her when she first came among them,
looking so pale and sad in her black dress,
but she met their advances very coldly, and
at last they ceased to make them.
well let her alone severely" Mary Kir-
by had said, when it was perceived that Lucy
would not make friends with her schoolmates,
and besides, that she was cleverer than most
Of them and was rapidly taking the lead iD
her classes.
So Mary Kirby and her set" exerted
their utmost ingenuity in discovering ways
to slight and ver Lucy, who, n return, treated
them with increased coldness and haughtiness.
The more lndy-like and amiable girls, led
usually by Agnes Heath, still treated Lucy
politely, though no longer attempting to win
her friendship.
This morning, however, many OF the girls
felt sorry for Lucy as they saw that her face
was sadder than usual, and that several times
she held her book before her face to hide the
tears that filled her eyes.
Rosa's desk was very near Lucys, and she
more than any one else, noticed and pitied
her evident trouble. II wonder what it is -
thought Rosa | wish 1 coull do some
thing to help her"
Then the Dictation class was called and
Rosa took her seat beside Lucy, her slate
and pencil 10 her hand Lucy held her slate,
but Rosa saw her put her hand in her pocket,
evidently in search of her pencil, AND take it
out again, with disappointed look. Lucy
was in great perplexitY. She had lett her
pencil at her desk. She could not leave the
class to get it, or speak to borrow one-even
if she had not been too proud to do so,-and
there was always a demerit given to the
young lady who was not ready when the bell
was touched for the lesson to begin. Miss
Lacy was just raising her hand to touch the
bell when-snap-went something in Rosa S
lap. aud Rosa, with smiling face and ready
hand offered Lucy piece of the long pencil
she had Just broken in two. The color came
into Lucy's pale cheek. She took the pencil,
with a surprised look, and then turned away
her head quickly. Then the bell sounded
and the lesson began Immediately after the
lesson came recess and, as Rosa was passing
Lucy's desk, she stopped TO take the pencil
Lucy held out to her.
Thank you very much" said Lucy, in
her quiet tones forgot mine. l was not
thinking about it,"
Then she opened her book and began to
study as if she expected Rosa to leave her
Bot Rosa fingered, wishing Lucy would not
be so reserved, and would let her talk to her
little. She stood there till all the girls had
left the room.
" Lucy, won't you come out and play ~
she asked, hesitating little. It's so dull
and warm here, and we have splendid times
in the playground"
Again Lucy looked very much surprised
d" No, thank you" she said don't care
about it,"
" But you'll have a headache if you study
all the time. l wish you'd come, persisted
Rosa. " Do come -
In her eagerness she laid her hand on
Lucy's and tried gently to draw her away
from her desk.
"Why do you want me, Rosa2" Lucy
asked suddenly. You know don't play
I'm not happy and gay as you all are.
shouldn't add to your pleasure at all"
e" Oh, yes, you would !" Rosa cried warm.
ly. Z" want you because | wish
you could be gay aud happy,-because hate
to see you so sad all the time"
Lucy was silent for a moment, with the
color rushing into her cheeks as it always did
when she was moved. Then, TO Rosa's great
SURPRISE she suddenly threw her arms on her
desk, dropped her head into them, and burst
into tears.
" can't be gay Oh, Rosa, | never
never will be happy any more" she sobbed
" I've no father or mother, aud now my
brother is going away so far from me that
won't see him for year. There are only US
two-brother and land he is going so far
away"
" Poor Lucy I'm so sorry !" was all
Rose said but she sat down by her and put
her arms round her. and petted and soothed
her till Lucy began to tell her all about her
great troubles and how her brother was oblig
ed to 60 SO far away to take some employment
that had been offered him. He could Hnd
nothing to do at home now"
" Oh, I'm so sorry wish knew some.
body that would give him something to dc
here !" said Rosa. Then she was obliged t
90 to her seat, for recess was over.
After school, Rosa called to Lucy to wai
for Agnes and herself, and the three girl
walked along together towards their homes
Lucy did not know just how il happened. bu
presently she found herself talking TO both O
them just as she had talked to Rosa in tn,
morning, and Agnes was as sympaihizing Al
Rosa had been. When Lucy left them
, Agnes was very thoughtful for few minutes
and then stopped suddenly and exclaimed