St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-11-30

81 don't care,' answered Willie, 81
am not ashamed of it. Yes, did put
an orange into her basket, and wish |
had the chance oftener, for she's good
and kind, and l like her the best of any
girl IN school-so there, now y aud
turning on his heel he called out:
Come on, fellers, let's have a game
OF hawkey before the bell rings and in
two minutes he had forgotten all about
it.
Not so Flossie, who had heard every
word. The children had stood directly
underneath an open window, where be-
hind the blinds Flossie had been seated
eating the orange she had found in her
basket The tears were in her eyes as
Willie turned away, but they were more
happy tears than sad ones. sEMy good
ness y she exclaimed to herself, s'then
it's he that's been putting all these good
things into my baskets; and he can't
get gold watch because l always know
my lessons. Oh, wish could fail ~
She puzzled over it for long time
how she could manage to fail honestly,
for she said to herself: 81 can never say
don't know if do, when the questions
are asked me-"
At last she thought of a way. .I
know how | can do it," she said, ''day
after tomorrow comes our geography
review of the whole United States, and
| won't even look at it, and then | will
never remember everything, and I'll
surely fail. Then Willie will have my
place, and get his watch. Oh, goody,
gOody and I'll tell mamma and papa
all about it, so they will know needn't
have failed, and Pm sure they will want
him to get the watch when | tell them
how good he has been to me-"
And SO for the first time in months,
Flossie went to school the morning of
the review lesson, hugging up the ge-
ography she had not opened. The class
was called, and FlOssie stepped quickly
to her place.
''Oh DEAR" thought Willie, ''she looks
so happy Pm sure she knows every an
swer in the lesson l almost wish she
wasn't quite so smart"
| For time all went well. Flossie
couldn't miss on giving the principal
rivers, when asked she knew them by
heart. Questions on the great lakes,
capes, bays, mountains, had to be an
swered when put to her, because her
mind would remember them in spite OF
her. At last came the capitals of the
| States.
"Well, Miss Flossie," asked the teach
ell, 'will you give us the capital of New
Mexico 2"
For an instant she hesitated, then
with look of delight that nobody but
herself understood, she answered 81
can't think, truly | can't"
Flossie Lee had failed, and although
every one was astonished, no one look
ed so distressed about it as the one who
had been so anxious for so long time
to get above her, and as the teacher
Fiske, can you help Miss FlOssie out p
he answered:
"Please, Miss Harding, if you would
only let Flossie think just IA minute
Pm sure she would remember"
''It's too late, now," she replied, 90
have passed it to you. What is thu
capital of New Mexico ?"
There was no look of pride in Willie'
face, and no remembrance of any watch
as he answered in low tone, "Sant,
Fe.n
Quick as flash, and with the bright
est of smiles, Flossie stepped down ant
out of her place, and gently pushing
Willie into it, took the one he had left
The scholars and teacher were mucl
surprised to see her look so happy owe
what they thought would have mad
her so miserable, but Flossie kept wha
she had heard all to herself, and whel
after few days, Willie went to her ant
showed her beautiful little gold watcl
that his father had given him for get
ting to the head of the school, she wa
happier than ever.
Years after, Flossie told Willie wha
she overheard from the window tha
day, and how it was then she found on
who had been putting the good thing
J into her basket, and then too, for tn
first time he learned how it was tina
shes came to forget the capital of NeS
Mexico. And the funniest part of th
whole story is, that Willie has bee
giving her the good things ever since
!: and be still likes her the best of an
: girl in school or out.
"HO! you can't fool me, aunt Katy,
cried 10, as | finished. "Flossie Lee
aunt Florence, and Willie Fiske is on
/ own Uncle Will, and all have to sa
is, good for aunt Florence i"-GOtde
; Rule.