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


gentleman. 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 per-
SON. No one appeared for q minute.
and the car stood still. While both
driver and conductor looked III the
same direction without q sign of
Iimpatience. | looked also. but all |
could see was q little girl running
across the park, as girls OF II or Ii
seldom run nowadays II any one can
see them.
Are 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. IN late
to-day and was afraid Iwould miss my
] car" she said, as he helped her with
q fatherly air that WAS pleasant to see.
| Taking a corner seat she sm0Othed the
curly locks, disturbed by the wind,
put on her gloves, and settled her
books in her lap, then modestly glan-
ced from the old gentleman IN the
opposite corner to the lady. near by.
such a bright little face as / saw un-
der the brown hat rim. happy blue
ewes. dimples in the ruddy cheeks, and
innocent expression which makes a
young girl so sweet an object to Old
jeveS
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 Il posy OF mlgnon.
cite and sweet peas. When the old
gentleman caught my eye, he Owed
out OF sight with q loud Hem = but
he was peeping again directly, foi
there was something lrreslstlbly at
tractive about the UNCONSCIOUS laSSle
opposite: and one could no more hell
looking at her than at Il lovely flower
or playful kitten.
: Presently she shut her book with {
decided pat. and an air OF rellet tha
amused me. She saw the half smile
could not repress, seemed TO unoer
stand my sympathy, and sad with
LAUGH. 1T was Il hard lesson. but VI
got it SO we began to talk abou
| school and lessons, and ! soon dlscov
| cred that the girl was Il clever Schola
/ whose only drawback was. as sh'
: contded to me, "a love of fun.
We were just getting quite friendl,
: when several young men got IN, on
of who stared at the pretty girl til
even she observed it. and SHOWED
+ that she did by the color that cam
: and went to her cheeks. 1t annoye'
| me as much as if she had been my ow1
/ little daughter, for | like modesty
and had been troubled by the forwar
G maner of school girls. who seem t
f 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 ana 81
d there. She understood at once
o thanked me with look, and nestle
f into the safe place SO gratefully tina
+ the old gentleman glared over h
e spectacles to the rude person who ha
5, disturbed the serenity of the child.
e Then we rumbled along again, tt
d car getting fuller and fuller as we g
v downtown. Presently an 1rlshwoma
is with baby, got in. and before | cou
IS offer her my seat my little school-gl
al was out of hers. with a polite.
1t "Please take it ma ma; | can star
IF perfectly we'll
I'd It was prettily done. and | value
st the small courtesy all the more. b
Is cause it evidently cost the youl
| creature an effort to stand up III G.
Id full of strangers, especially as 81
"A could not reach the strap to stea(
IN herself. and found it difficult to stal
I'd comfortably.
q. Then it was that the crusty m;
N showed how he appreciated my Cir
ID good manners. for he hooked his ca
lie in the strap and gave it to her. sayil
at with "A smile that lightened up /
lit rough face like sunshine:
~ Hold on to that. my dear.
he "Ah. thought l, chow little can '
S. Judge from appearances. This gri
no old soul is a 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 1rishwomal
od baby a sickIy little thing. was attr
IN ted by the flowers. and put up SIN
zee hand to touch them. with wish
les look at the bright face above
re Twill baby have sonnet said II
re girl. and made the little creature n
to ply with gay sweet-pea and some
ad leaves.
he BLESS your heart. honey. it's fe
ed he is of the like o'them. and seid
cts he gets any" said the mother. era
he fully. as she settled baby hood
ian wrapped the old shawl round his fe
he 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 clutcheo
rip the bright buttons on her sack,
her crowed with delight as he got o
ons and we all smiled at the play,
elf. were sorry when the little lady, W
E of bow and smile to US got
at the church corner.
out ''Now, shall probably not see
The child again, yet what pleasant
ach ture she leaves in memory / thou