The daily gazette., 1875-08-10
NELLIE'S TRUTH.

! SuC6s
'How, Nellies" asked her mother
kissing the quivering lip.
Because none Of the girls will wall
with me or play with me. I wear sucf
poor, patched dresses, and old, faded
honnets, and my aprons are shrunk ur
in the wash: Iknow they are the besl
we can afford, mother, but all the 9th
er girls dress beautiful. Why does
Aunt Grace send me to school where
am the only shabby onef" a
Because, dear, IL Is the one where
you will be best prepared for a teach.
er, You must think of that Nellie,
when you get despondent, that you
are at school to study for the position
that is TO give You daily bread, when
am gone. Your aunt means kindly
and you must try to profit by her kind
ness"
81 do try, mother. study as hard
as can, and L try to be faithful il
little things, as my Sunday school
teacher told me-to be obedient, truth
full and punctual. But the girls will
not associate with mo. have been
therea whole year, and / have NOT
made one friend" -
Are you striving to do good to make
friends only, Nellies"
81 hope not, mamma. ! hope to try
!, to be one of Christ's children
that he may love me; but--but It is
hard. among forty scholars and not to
win one friend In whole year"
Patience, darling!. nallthe world
turn coldly from you, you have still a
greater love to win a higher happi.
ness for which to strive"
II will try to remember that. Good
bye till afternoon. It is time for me
Wnen Nellie entered the school
room sne found the teacher, stirroun.
ded by alarge group of excited scholars
looking at q large expensive book,
upon the recitation table, over which
an ink bottle had been upset. Evidently
the ink had been soaking In for long
time; for the large unsightly stains
were thoroughly dry. Nellie's entrance
was greeted with cries of;
"Hefe she comssI Here ia Nellie
Cartery" f- =: r
Miss Haynes, the teacher spoke at
once.
*.sMiss Carter, you arranged the desk
yesterday, and locked the doorsfn
Yes, ma'am, brought you the
keys as / went home"
"Theu can you tell me how this hap
peueds'' as she pointed to the book and
overturned ink bottle. .-'
sslt was not 10 when / left" Nellie
ssid, very firmly, though her face was
very pale az she realized how much
appearances were against her. !, /.
You have never told an untruth
before" said Miss Haynes.
81 tell the truth now, was the earn
est reply. -.
"When / left the room, the table was
In perfect order--the ink bottle its
place, and the book lying where it does
now near it,
But no one has been In the room
since, until / opened the door this
morning to find this mischief done"
There was q moment of painful sill.
ence, and Miss Haynes said, 81 hope
you will see 1t better to tell the truth
Miss Carter: You have been an exem
plary scholar, but must punish this
fault, not only for the mischief done,
but for the falsehood that tries to
screen It,"
Nellie felt as If the the whole world
was reeling around her. She never
had been punished ia school, and she
felt as If she could not bear the dis
grace. But appearances were terribly
against her, and there was no pity in
the teachers face. All tho scholars
were looking at her, and she hid her
face In her hands, saying:
II did notfdo it, and ] don't know
how 1t was DONE"
Before she looked up, a girl about
her own age stepped forward saying:
Miss Haynes, we are all sure that
Nellie Carter would not tell lie."
"All sure, cried the teacher. '"That
Is a strong assertion, Miss JONES'
I'm sure, for one!" cried another
voice.
"And I!' cried others from all parts Of
the excited group.
''Silencep' cried their teacher. while
Nellie lifted her flushed face quivering
with grateful pleasure. "All who be.
lieve Miss Carter innocent, Incapable of
leoeit, and urdaservinp punishment,
please say .AyeY" gasg "a ~ .e'1
..Ayel' cried a chorus of voices.s
"All who believe she speaks falsely,
Ind has committed this piese Of careless
ness, will please say MOI
Not voice responded.
"Miss Carter" said Miss Haynes. II
nnstyield to the public opiuion, and also
believe in your innocence. / must sim
,efely congratulate you upon the conduct
hat has won for such a pl ace In the re-
'pect of your companions Take your
And flushed. happy, hut 4earful, Nell
lie took her place as the school sub sided
INTO perfect quiet. For several minutes
1ot Q sound was heard, as earnest, studi.
nus faces were bent over bcolas, till upon
hesilenee there stole q fNi Mt scratching
,oise, another, then a pitif,nl weak ,aew,
md from agcloset In she corner Eefept
orth Tiny kitten. which. with all eyes
lied upon sscame across the iduor aud
urnped upon the table. Then there
rose one long shout OF laufhter, hearing
Which, kitty looked around her and
back to her hidling place, fol-
owed BY the unrestrained. merriment Of
orty musical voices, for Kitty, having
,sena naorisinally Of snowy yfhiteness. bore
n hersoft fur the tnde;a aieb'e proof Of
Vellissag iIlnocence. Her little nose yvas