The Van Buren press., 1877-06-26
MISCELLANY.
My Little SCHOOLGIRL.
--~


Autumn morning as | rode to town in a
horse-ear. 1t was early, aid my only
fellow passenger was erusty old gentle.
man, who sat in corner reading his pa
per; SO when the car stopped | glanced
out to see who came next, hoping it
would he pleasanter person. No one
appeared for a minute, and the car stood
still, while both driver and conductor
looked in the same direction without q
sign of impotence, looked also, bul
all could see was a little girl rum Nc
across the park, as girls of L or ID sci
dom run, nowadays, If any one can see
them.
Are you waiting for her?n | asked
of the pleasant faced conductor, who
stood with his hand on the bell, and q
good natured smile in his eyes.
Yes, ma'am, we always stop for little
miss he answered and just then up she
came, all rosy and breathless with her
| run
Thank you very much. IL, late to.
day, and was afraid | should miss my
car she said, as he helped her with u
tathery air that was pleasant to sec Ia
king corner seat, she smoothed the cur
| ~ 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 bright hat-rim, happy
blue eyes, dimples in the ruddy cheeks,
and tue innocent expression which makes
q young girl SO sweet an object to old
eyes!
The crusty gentleman evidently agreed
with me. for he peeped over the top oil
the paper at his pleasant little neighbor
as she sat studying a lesson, and cheer.
ing herself with occasional shifts at pc
sy of mignonette 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 irresistibly attract
i've about the unconscious lassie opposite
and one could no more help looking at
her than at lovely flower or playful
kitten.
Presently she shut her book with de-
cidea pat, and an air OF relirf that anus
ed i e. she saw the half smile | could
| not repress, seemed to understand my
81 mpatby, and said with a laugh =" II
was a aNFd lesson, but I've got NJ So
| we began to talk about school and les
sons, and | soon discovered that the
gil was splendid scholar, whose only
| draw back was, as she confessed to me,
a love OF fun
! We were just getting quite friendly
when several young men got in, one OF
whom stared at the pretty child Til even
she observed it, and showed that she did
by the color that came aud went in hel
cheeks. 1t annoyed me as much as il
she had been my own little daughter, fol
like modesty, and have often been
troubled by the forward manners OF
schoolgirls, who seem to enjoy being
looked at. So helped this one out CT
her little trouble by making room be-
tween the old gentleman and myself, and
motioncd her to come and sit there, She
understood at once, thanked me with q
look, and nestled into the safe place SO
gratefully, that the old gentleman glar-
ed over his spcctacles to the rude person
who had disturbed the serenity OF the
child.
Then we rumbled along again, the car
getting fuller and fuher as we got down
town. Presently an Irishwoman, with a
baby, got in and before could offer my
seat my little school girl was out of hers,
with apolite:
Please take it, ma'am, | can stand
perfectly we'll"
1t was prettily done, and valued the
small courtesy ell the more, because il
evidently cost the bashful creature an eff
fort to stand up alone in a Chr full OF
strangers, especially as she could not
reach the slrap to steady herself, and
| found it difficult to stand comfortably.
| Then it was that the crusty nan show
ed how he appreciated my girls good
manners, for he booked his cane in the
strap and gave it to her, saying with q
smile that lighted up his rough face like
sunshine
Hold Oh to that, my dear"
| Ah," thought !, how title we can
Judge from appearances. The grim old
soul is a gentleman, after all -
uIDlHS leI laCe tO"aiu us, tHt Eil
| held on to the stout cane, and swayed
easily to and fro as we bumped over the
rails The Irish woman's baby, sickiy
| little thing, was attracted by the flowers,
and put out a small hand to touch them,
with wistful look at the bright face
above.
"Will baby have somei" said my lit
Ito pi ri and maaa tho littlp nraaturp ham
Ply with gay sweetpea and some red
leaves
Bless your heart. honey. it's fond he
is Of the like O them, and seldom he gets
any" said the mother gratefully, as she
settled baby's dirty hood, and wrapped
the old shawl round his feet
Baby stared hard at the giver Of posics,
but his honest blue eyes gage no ofensc,
and soon the two were SO friendly that
babp boldly clutched a. the bright but
tons on her sack, and crowed with de-
light when he got one, while VIC al! smil-
ed al the pretty play, and were sorry
when the little lady. with a bow and a
smile to US, got out at the church corner
Now, | shall probably never see that
child again, yet what pleasant picture
she leaves in my memory" ! thought 10
myself, as | caught a last glimpse Of the
brown hat going round the corner.
But did see her again many times
that winter, for not long after, as pass