The Van Buren press., 1874-11-10

after all.
Her former tormcntors dared not
speak of what they had done, but they
sent daily little bouquets of fragrant
flowers, or fruit and other delicacies TO
tempt her returning appetite. Her eyes
would light up with surprise and pleas
ure at the little gifts. Amidst oil her
wild rawlings not word of complaint At
the ill.treatment she had received ever
escaped her lips.
One day Madam was sitting by her
side, and as she seemed to be so much
stronger, she veRtured to ask after her
| friends.
Il have no friends, madam, only eous
in John, who has large family Of his
own, and has never cared for me. Moth
er died when was born. had step
mother, but father died Eve years ago,
and I've taken care Of myself ever since" "
"And you are only fifteen nowi"
"Ycs, ma'am
"Hew did you ever get the money to
pay for years board and tuition here =
Il earned it all, madam, every cent OF
it. As soon as | was big enough went
into factory and earned two dollars a
week at first, and, finally, three and a
half and worked for my board nights
and mornings.
Poor child"
"Oh no, ma'am. was very glad to
do It,
but how did you keep along so well
with your studies p
al used to fix book open on the loom,
where / could catch sentence now and
then, and the overseer did not object,
because always did my work well You
see, madam, want to be a teacher some.
time, and knew I'd have better chance
to learn here than anywhere else, so !
just determined 10 do IT,
"What are your plans for the long va
cation p
81 must go back to the factory and
earn enough to get some warmer clothes
for the winter. You see, madam, why |
cannot afford to dress better. -
Madams heart was full. She bent
over the white, thin little face and kissed
it reverenly.
That evening, when the girls gathered
in the chapel for worship, she told Fan
nie's story. There was not q dry eye in
the room The moment Madam finished,
Belle Burnett sprang up, with the tears
pouring down her checks.
"Oh, madam We have been agfuliy
cruel and wicked ts that poor girl. We
have made fun of her from the first, and
she would never have been sick as she
was il we had net tormented her almost
to death was the most to blame 1t
was l that led on the rest, and We have
suffered terribly all these weeks, fearing
she might die. You may expel me. OF
punish me any way you please. for de-
serve 1t, and / shall go down on my
knees to beg her pardon, US soon as you
will let me see her. p"
"My child, am shocked to hear this
| can scarcely believe that any OF my pu-
pills would i'll treat a companion because
she was so unfortunate rs to be plain,
and poor. But you have made q noble
confession, and forgive you as freely
as believe she will, when she knows
how truly You have repented Of your un.
kindness. BY degrees, as she was able
to bear it, one after another went to Fan
ME and begged her forgiveness. which
was freely granted. She said, II don't
wonder you made fun OF me. know
was poorly dressed, and uwfully homely
would have pulled every hair out fmy
head years ago, only ! knew it would
grow in again as red as ever. But oh
If could have felt that l had just one
friend among you could have borne 1t;
but, somehow, it just broke my heart to
have you all turn against me-.
After this she gained rapidly, and one
fine morning the doctor said she might
join the girls in the drawing room for an
hour before tea There had been vas,
deal of whispering and hurrying TO and
fro Of late, among the girls, Of which
Fannie had been totally unconscious In
the quiet scclusion of her room.
At the appointed time Madam herself
came to assist her, and, leaning upon hel
strong arm the young girl walked feebly
through the long hall, and down thu
stairs
"My dear, the girls have planned .
little surprise for you, to make the houl
as pleasant as possible.
She opened the door, seated Fannie In
an easy chair. and the girls came gliding
in. with smiling faces, singing a beauti
ful song Of welcome At it's close, Bell'
Burnett approached and placed beanti
full wreath of flowers upon her head. say
ing: "Dear Fannie, We crown you our
queen to-day. knowing we'll how fai
above us all you are in His sight who
looketh upon the heart, instead OF thu
outward appearance. You have taugh
us lesson we shall never forget, and WI
beg you to acccpta token Of sincere low
and repentance for our treatment Of yo'
in the past, which you will find in you
room on your return. "
Fannie's eyes were full OF tears, ant
she tried to say u few words In reply, bu
Madam spoke for her, and. after another
song, they followed their newly crowned
queen to the dining. room, where mos
tempting feast was laid, in honor Of thu
occasion. Fannie was quietly, tearfully
happy through it all, yet so wearied will
the unusual excitement that Madam said
she must not sec the girls " Peace Offer
ing" that night, The llrst thing she saw
the next morning was fine large trunk
and lying upon it card, For Miss
Fannie Comstock, from her teachers and
school mates - Hastily opening 1t she
saw it was packed full Of neatly folded