The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-08-09
MYLiTTLE SCHOOLGIRL.


gentleman, who sat in a corner reading
his paper: so when the car stopped
glanced out to see who came next.
hoping it would be a pleasanter per-
son. No one appeared for a minute.
| and the car stood still, while both
driver and conductor looked in the
same direction without sign OF
| impatience. | looked also, but all l
could see was little girl running
across the park, as girls oil II or Ii
seldom run nowadays il any one can
see them.
.sAre you waiting for herr | asked
of the pleasant-faced conductor, who
stood with.his hand on the bell and a
good natured smile in his eyes
YES. ma ma, we always stop for
little Missy.' he answered.; and just
then up she came. all rosy and breath
less with her run.
.:Thank you very much. I'm late
to-day land was afraid would miss my
car she said, as he helped her with
a fatherly air that WAS pleasant to see.
Taking a corner seat she smoothed the
curly locks, disturbed by the wind,
put on her gloves, and settled her
books in her lap, then modestly CLAN
ced from the old gentleman in the
opposite corner to the lady. near by.
Such bright little face as | saw un-
der the brown hat rim, happy blue
ewes. dimples in the ruddy cheeks, land
innocent expression which makes a
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 q
lesson, and cheering herself with
occasional shifts at posy OF mlgnon
cite and sweet peas. When the Ole
. gentleman caught my eye, he dlveo
out OF sight with loud elem !, but
he was peeping again directly, fol
there was something irresistibly at
: tractiye about the unconscious lassle
opposite: and one could no more hell
looking at her than at lovely flower
or playful kitten.
: Presently she shut her book with
decided pat. and an air OF relief tina
amused me. She saw the half smile
: could not repress, seemed to under
: stand my sympathy, and said with
: laugh. 1T was hard lesson, but Iv'
| got it, SO we began to talk abou
l school and lessons, and l soon discoV
/ cred that the girl was clever schola
a whose only drawback was, as sh
e cOnfided to me, "a love of fun.
= We were just getting quite friendl.
l. when several young men got IN, on
:. of who stared at the pretty girl til
d even she observed it, and shOWe
+ that she did by the color that cam
j. and went to her cheeks. 1t annOye
me as much as if she had been my ow
n little daughter, for l like modesty
and had been troubled by the forwar
e maner of school girls. who seem t
If enjoy being looked at. SO | helpe
e this one out of her trouble by maxim
|. room between the old gentleman an
d myself, motioning her to come and s.
ID there. She understood at once
% thanked me with a look, and nestle
If into the safe place SO gratefully thu
ir the old gentleman glared over h
re spectacles to the rude person who ha
s, disturbed the serenity of the child.
le Then we rumbled along again, tt
I'd car getting fuller and fuller as we g
~ downtown. Presently an Irishwoma
is with a baby, got in, and before l cou
es offer her my seat my little school-gl
al was out of hers, with apolite.
MT "Please take it ma ma; l can star
of perfectly well.
ed 1t was prettily done, and value
st the small courtesy all the more, b
his cause it evidently cost the your
| creature an effort to stand up In G.
nd full of strangers, especially as 81
"a could not reach the strap to steat
en- herself. and found it difficult to Stal
ed comfortably.
q. Then it was that the crusty M
yn showed how he appreciated my CIR
ed good manners. for he hooked his ca
he in the strap and gave it to her. sayil
at with smile that lightened up
lit rough face like sunshine:
ne ssHold on to that, my dear.
he s.Ah, thought l, chow little can ,
RS, Judge from appearances. This grl
ng old soul is gentleman. after all.
he Turning her face toward us, t
en- girl held on to the stout cane. a
be swayed easily to and fro as we bump
or over the rails. The lrishwomal
cd baby sickly little thing, was attr;
pm ted by the flowers, and put up SIN
ice hand to touch them, with a wish
les look at the bright face above
)re ssWill baby have somea' said n
lre girl. and made the little creature h
to py with gay sweet-pea and some
lad leaves.
the BLESS your heart. honey. it's fo
led he is of the like o'them. and seld
cts he gets any, said the mother, gra
The fully. as she settled baby's hood
IAN wrapped the old shawl round his fe
The Baby stared hard at the giver OF
phs posies, but his honest blue eyes
} of no offence, and soon the two were
out friendly that baby boldly clutched
rip the bright buttons on her sack,
her crowed with delight as he got 0
ons and we all smiled at the play,
elf, were sorry when the little lady, W
e of a bow and a smile to us got
at the church corner.
lout "Now, shall probably not see
The child again, yet what pleasant
- ~, k,,ro che leaves - vnovnnru II fhnn