Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-11-10
MY LITTLE SCHOOLGIRL.
BY LOUISA NJ. ALCOTT.

autumn morning as 1 rOdc 10 town
in horse-car. 1t was early, and my
only fellow-passenger was crusty
old gentleman who sat in corner
reading his paper; so when the car
stopped glanced out to see who
came next, hoping it would be a
pleasanter person. No one appeared
for minute and the car stood still,
while both the driver and conductor
looked in the same direction without
a sign of impatience. looked also.
But all l could see was a little girl
running across the park, as girls OF
twelve or thirteen seldom run nova
days if anyone can see them.
"Are you waiting for her?" | ask
ed of the pleasant-faced conductor,
who stood with his hand on the bell
and a good-natured smile in his eye.
eyes ma'am, we always stop for
little Missy" he answered; and just
then up she came, all rosy and breath
less from her run.
"Thank you very much. Pm late
to-day, and was afraid would miss
my car" she said, as he helped her
with fatherly air that was pleasant
to see. 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 gen
tleman in the opposite corner to the
lady near by. Such a bright little
face as saw under the brown hat
rim, happy blue eyes, dlmples in the
ruddy cheeks, and the innocent ex-
preston which makes young girl
SO sweet an object to old eyes.
The crusty gentleman evidently
agreed with me, for he peeped over
the top of the paper at his pleasant
little neighbor as she sat studying a
lesson, and cheering herself with oc-
casional shifts at posy of mignon-
cite and sweet peas. When the old
gentleman caught my eye, he dived
out of sight with loud "Hem!" but
he was peeping again directly, for
there was something irresistably at
tractive about the unconscious lassie
opposite; and one could no more
help looking at her than at Il lovely
flower or playful kitten.
Presently she shut her book with
a 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 confided to me, ga love
of fun"
We were just getting quite friend.
ly when several young men got in,
one of whom stared at the pretty
girl till even she observed 1t, and
showed that she did by the color
that came and went in her cheeks
1t annoyed me as much as if she had
been my own little daughter, for I
like modesty, and have often been
troubled by the forward manner OF
schoolgirls, who seem to enjoy be-
ing looked at. SO | helped this one
out of her little trouble by making
room between the old gentleman and
myself, and motionlng her to come
and sit there. She understood at
once, thanked me with a look, and
nestled into the safe place so CRATE
fully that the old gentleman glared
over his spectacles to the rude per-
son 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 baby, got in, and be-
fore | could offer her my seat, my lit
tie schoolgirl was out of hers with
a polite:
"Please take it, ma'am; l can stand
perfectly well"
1t was prettily done and l valued
the small courtesy all the more be-
cause it evidently cost the bashtul
creature an effort to stand up alone
in car full of strangers, especially
as she could not reach the strap to
steady herself, and found it difficult
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 Heightened
up his rough face like sunshine:
"Hold on to that, my dear"
"Ah," thought I, show little we
can judge from appearances. This
grim old soul is gentleman after
ALL"
Turning her face toward us, the
girl held on to the stout cane, and
swayed easily to and fro as we bump
ed over the rails. The Irishwoman's
baby sickly little thing, was attract
ed by the flowers, and put out a
small hand to touch them, with a
wistful look at the bright face above.
"Will baby have some?" said my
girl, and made the little creature
happy with a gay sweet pea and
some red leaves.
"Bless yer heart, honey, it's fond
he is of the like o them, and seldom
he gets any" said the mother, CRATE
fully, as she settled baby's dirty hood
and wrapped the old shawl round
his feet.
Baby stared hard at the giver of
the posies, but his honest blue eyes
had no offence, and soon the two
were SO friendly that baby boldly
clutched at the bright buttons on
her sack, and crowed with delight
when he got one, while we all smil-
ed at the pretty play, and were sorry
when the little lady, with bow and
a smile to us, got out at the church
corner.
"Now, I shall probably never see
that child again, yet what pretty
picture she leaves in my memory" 1
thought to myself, as l caught a
glimpse Of the brown hat going
round the corner.
But l did see her again many times
that winter, for not long after pass
ed down a certain street near my
uintar-nuartars T came 1non n flock