The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-10-20
My Little SCHOOLGIRL.

My Little school Girl.
The first time 1 saw her was one au-
tumn morning as I rode to town in a
horse-car. 1t was early, and my only
fellow passenger was crusty old gen.
tleman, who sat in q corner reading his
paper so when the car stopped glanced
out to see who came next, hoping it
would be pleasanter person. No one
appeared for minute, aud the car stood
still, while both driver and conductor
looked in the same direction without a
sign of impotence. l looked also, but
all could see was little girl running
across the PARK, as girls of II or ID sell
dom lun nowadays If anyone can see
them.
"Are you waiting for herr" 1 asked
Of the pleasant faced conductor, who
stood with his hand on the bell and a
good-natured smile in his eyes.
yes, ma'am, we always stop for little
Missy" he answered and just then up
she came, all rosy and breathless with
her run.
"Thank you very much. I'm late to-
day, and was afraid L would miss my
car" she said, as he helped her with a
ldblltClN dlI Llhl Ndo DlCttSdub W oCCs
Taking corner seat, she smoothed the
curly locks, disturbed by the wind, put
on her gloves, and settled her books in
her lap, then modestly glanced from the
old gentleman in the opposite corner to
the lady near by. Such a bright little
face as / saw under the brown hat-rim,
happy blue eyes, dimples in the ruddy
cheeks, and the innocent expression
which makes a young girl so sweet an
object to old ewes
The crusty gentleman evidently agreed
with me, for he peeped over the top OF
the paper at his pleasant little neighbor
rs she sat studying lesson, and cheer.
ing herself with occasional shifts at a
posy of mignonette and sweet peas.
When the old gentleman caught my eye,
he dived out of sight with loud "aem I"
but he was peeping again directly, for
there was something irresistibly attrac-
tive about the unconscious lassie oppo-
site; and one could no more help looking
at her than at lovely flower or playful
kitten.
Presently she shut her book with q
decided pat and an air of relief that
amused me. She saw the half smile
could not repress, seemed to understand
my sympathy, and said with a laugh,
cit was hard lesson, but I've got it -
SO we began to talk about school and
lessons, and / soon discovered that the
girl was a clever scholar, whose only
drawback was, as she confded to me, ga
love of fun"
We we're just getting quite friendly
when several young men got in, one OF
whom stared at the pretty girl till even
she observed il, and showed that she did
by the color that came and went to her
cheeks. It annoyed me as much as il
she had been my own little daughter, for
/ like modesty, and have often been
troubled by the forward manner OF
school girls, who seem to enjoy being
looked ut. SO helped this one out oil
her little trouble by making room be-
tween the old gentleman and myself, and
motioning her to come and sit there.
She understood at once, thanked me
with look, and nestled into the safe
place so gratefully that the old gentle
man glared over his spectacles to the
rude person who had disturbed the
serenity of the child.
Then we rumbled along again, the car
getting fuller and fuller as we got down
town. Presently an Irish woman, with q
baby, got in, and before I could Offer
her my seat my little school, girl was on,
of hers, with q polite:
"Please take il, ma'am, can stand
perfectly we'll"
1t was prettily done, and 1 valued the
small courtesy all the more because il
evidently cost the bashful creature an eff.
fort to stand up in car full of strangers,
especially as she could not reach the
strap to steady herself, and found it diff
ficult to stand comfortably.
Then it was that the crusty man
showed how he appreciated my girls
good manners, for he hooked his cane
in the strap and gave it to her, saying
with smile that lightsned up his rough
face like sunshine,
"Hold on to that, my DEAR"
"Ah," thought /, chow little can WIG
judge from appearances. This grim ole
soul is a gentleman, after all. !"
Turning her face toward us, the cir
held on to the stout cane and swayet
easily to and fro as we bumped over tn,
rails. The Irish woman's baby, a sickl,
little thing, was attracted by the flowers
and put out a small hand to touch them
with wistful look at the bright fac
above.
"win baby have someG" said m
girl, and made tue little creature happ
with gay sveet-pea and some re-
leaves.