Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-04-23
A Hard Lesson.
FOR THE OLDER GIRLS.
by ELEANOR KIRK.


Alice Herbert was tired and disappoint-
ed, and when this was the case she was very
apt TO be cross and when cross was ox.
ceedingly dsagreeablc, aud hard to be man.
aged Sometimes Alice was cross without
the least shadow Of an excuse for IL, but
on this occasion she was a good deal IA
tigued, and correspondingly ill-tempered -
Mrs Herbert saw the frown on her daugh-
ter's face, and the ugly look around her
pretty mouth, the moment she entered the
house, and proceeded diligently, as was
her custom, to dispel the shadows that en-
circied her Her tender efforts were all
thrown away. Neither word nor action
had the slightest effect Alice would sulk
and pout, and persist in declaring that she
was the most abused girl that ever was
born.
"Elaye you failed in your lessons, Alice q
Mrs Preston inquired kindly. Let US do
Alice justice, and state that she was a most
Industrious scholar, and always ambitious
Of keeping at the head Of her classes
"Yes," she answered with a snap, 81
lost a mark in algebra, and two more in
history; and who do you think got ahead
Of me in both these, aud took the compost
ton prize away from me, too 2'
Mrs. Preston hadn't the slightest idea.
THAT mean little Plessy Sinclair re-
piled Alice. "The mean, red-eyed creature
hate her, that's what do
Mrs. Preston grew very sad as she listen
ed to these miserable words. Her mothers
heart acbed to think that she could not
enable this child she loved so well to un-
derstand the mischieyous effect Of such Bit
ter thoughts and expressions. How could
it be possible, she asked herself, with eyes
full Of tears, to arouse this child to a re-
aliziug sense Of the misery she was accu-
muating for herself, and her friends, in the
future.
"Is Plessy any better than she was when
last saw her?" Mrs. Preston inquired, in
tone so low and full Of feeling that, at
any other time, Alice would have immedi-
ately inquired into the cause; but now she
took no notice.
"I don't know whether she is any better
or not" she answered sharply. "She is al
ways grunting, and her mother is forever
coddling her hate Mrs. Sinclair too"
"Aice ~ interrupted Mrs. Preston warn.
ingly;
"She isl disagreeable, fault-fnding thing
aud this afternoon when she was giving me
my music lesson, she did nothing but preach
preach, preach | don't see why she don't
set up fora minister at once. I'm quite
sure that's her business
"What did she preach about ?"
"Oh, little of everything. | told her,
10 begin with, that didn't care to know
anything about harmony or thorough bass
An wanted was to understand time and
execution so as to make a brilliant perform.
er."
oWen2"
"Then she reminded me that my father
and mother we're not only amply able to
have me instructed thoroughly in every.
thing, but had desired her TO take particu.
lar pains with the rudimeuts, and that she
should obey orders or give up teaching me
Wasn't that fne in woman who hasn't q
dollar but what she earns giving music les
sons p
"What reply did you make Alice y
% Oh, | said ndiifersntly Il should
like to have boxed her ears thought just
as you please, Mrs. Sinclair suppose
there are other teachers to be found.
" What answer did she make TO this ?"
oh, you know she never answers back
wish she would just once. She said
that | had good touch, and an excellent
idea of time, and when at my best, spiri
that would not be satisfied with shams; tha
two-thirds of the professional musicians
had no idea Of the science Of music ant
that by and by when l wanted to compose
| should net have single principle to helI
me and a mess more stuff that | can't re
member. Plessy, you know, has written I
little march for the gymnastic class, aut
they are both as proud Of it as two preach
ers. suppose Plessy's mother did half o
it, So told Mrs Sinclair that when
wanted to compose march or sonata
I'd send round and get Pessy to hell
me-"
Well ?"
! "That was about all she turned ava,
her head and commenced to snifile, AM
muttered something about Plessy's time OIL
earth being short-I don't remember wha
it was. | don't see that anything all
Plessy Sinclair; and the rest of the girl
don't. The only difference between her an
the rest of us is, that she takes notice o
every pain and ache she has and we don't
Mrs Preston was wounded to the YER
4, depths of her heart. That her daughter
her only child, whom she had taken sucl
r infinite pains with, should find it possible t
' thus insult her teacher, was very hard b
to bear. Mrs. Preston's sympathies wer
= quick and practical. She had becom
greatly interested in the Sinclairs, and
! was partly due to her strenuous efforts i
their behalf that the mother had been abl
to support her family Of four children b
giving lessons in music. What should sh
do now2 She understood Mrs Sinclair
. keen sensibilities and loving soul wel
enough to feel that Alice had deeply griey
;. ed her and she knew too that Alice woul
hardly have entered into the full partcu
,, lars Of this most distressing interview ha
she not suspected that the truth would u
timately have been brought to light.
"You can go to your room now, Alic'
and remain until tea time said Mrs. Hei
bert.
"I promised Sue Bingham d come dow
to her house and help her make some bow
for her party dress" said Alice, il-tempc
i, now giving way to disappointment.
"Remain in your room until tea time,
repeated Mrs. Herbert sadly, "and try an
think over what you have done to-day, whl
pain you have inflicted and see if you ca
- not devise some means to atone for you