Middletown transcript., 1874-08-29

pale and still then with piercing cry
sho burst through the ring, and rushing
into her room closed and locked the door.
Through their wild prals of laughter the
girls heard strange moan and heavy
fall.
Il believe she has tainted" said Belle
What shall We dc" said another.
For moment they stood there, sober
enough; then one Of them ran for the
matron and told her that Fannie Comstock
had tainted in her room, and the door was
locked.
She had long ladder put to the win
dow, and sent the janitor to sec If it was
true Fortunately the window was open.
and in n few moments he had unlocked
the door from the inside The girls were
huddled together in n frightened group.
while Madam lifted the poor girl and laid
her upon the bed She was ia violent
spasms The doctor was sent for, but
when the spasms ceased alarming symp,
toms set in. and he pronounced it serious
case of brain fever. 1t is impossible to
tell the shame aud remorsc of the consci-
eIce-stricken girls. They were not brave
enough to confess their guilt, but hung
around the sick room offering their servi-
ces, vainly wishing that they might atone
for it in some way. But their presence
only excited the poor sufferer. so they
were all sent away Day after day passed
and still she raved in violent delirium -
The little hair trunk was searched, to find
some clew to her friends, but there was
nothing in it but the plainest. scantiest
supply Of clothes Day after day the doc
tor came, looking grave and anxious, and
at last the crisis came For many hours
she lay as if dead, and not noise was
while they waited to see if she would live
or die. AT last she opened her eyes ;
and the suspense was relieved by an as
suring word from the doctor. that with
careful nursing she would soon be well
again But her convalescence was slow
and tedious after all.
Her former tormentors dared not speak
of what they had done, but they sent
daily little bouquets of fragrant flowers,
or fruit and other delcacies to tempt her
returning appetite. Her eyes would light
up with surprise and pleasure at the little
gifts Amidst all her wild rawlings not a
word of complaint at the ill-trcatment she
had received ever escaped her lips
One day Madam was sitting by her side,
and as she seemed to be so much strong
er, she ventured to ask after her friends,
IL have no friends, Madam only
cousin John, who has large family Of his
own, and has never cared for me-
Mother died when | was born | had a
STEP mother. but father died five years
ago, and I've taken care of myself ever
since"
And you are only fifteen now 7"
:. Yes. ma fam !"
q How did you ever get the money to
pay for years board and tuition here E"
.'I earned it all. Madam. every cent of
it. AS soon as was big enough | went
into a factory, and earned two dollars u
week at first. and finally, three and half,
and worked for my board nights and
mornings
@ Poor child +"
tOh no, ma'am | was very glad to
do it,
!" But how dia you keep along SO well
with you studies 2"
- used to fix book open on the loom,
where could catch u sentence now and
then, and the overseer, did not object, be-
cause | always did my work we'll 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 to do it,"
What are your plans for the long va
cation
g | must 60 back to the factory and
earn enough to get some warmer clothes
for the winter. You see Madam, why
cant't afford to dress better
Madam's heart was full. She bent over
the white, thin little face and kissed it
reverently
That evening, when the girls gathered
in the chapel for worship, she told Fan
MES story The moment that Madam fin
ishcd, Belle Burnette sprang up, with the
tears pouring down her checks.
/" Oh, Madam We have been awfully
cruel and wicked to that poor girl. We
have made fun of her from the frst and
she would never have been sick as she
was if we had not tormented her almost to
death was the most to blame it was
that led on the rest, and we have suffer-
ed terribly all these weeks. fearing she
might die. You may expel me, or punish
me any way you please. for | deserve it /;
and | shall go down on my knees to ask
her pardon. as soon as you will let me see
her"
My child, am shocked to hear this
| can scarcely believe that any of my pu-
pills would ill-treat companion because
she was so unfortunate as to be plain and
poor. But you have made noble confes-
sion, and | forgive you as freely as | be.
lieve she will, when she knows how truly
you have repented Of your unkindness. "
BY degrees, as she was able to hear it,
one after another went to Fannie and beg
ged her forgiveness, which was freely
granted. She said, :" | don't wonder you
made fun of me. | know was poorly
dressed. and awfully homely. l would
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