River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-06-07

IdSHfOl 10 S0uD poor Jane anu DOW DeIOTe
Amabel Grey, and like May, here, / want
ed to be in the fashion"
AN who was Amabel Grey inter
rupted the chorus of four.
She was the only child of one of the
wealthiest families in the village, and oc-
cupied the opposite extreme from poor
Jane. Her pretty prints, embroidered
woods and dainty lawns were the admira-
/ ton and envy of her little companions.
Mrs. Grey delighted in working charming
apparel for her one baby, not through any
wish to display, but because of the time
which her few cares gave her to crafty
/ her natural love of the beautiful. She
was a gentle, Christian lady, and loved
all little children. Often she gathered
all those of the village about her in her
beautiful home. / remember we almost
wOrshiped this beautiful lady, and day
spent at her house was like a visit TO
FARMLAND.
Il dare say you are thinking that the
daughter of such kind woman must be
very good child. Such was not the
case Amabel was spoiled by fiatte-y
and adulation. She was like little
queen among the other children, and all
huInbly sued for her favor. Worse still,
she was the most cruel of James persecu-
tors, and took great delight in drawing
attention to the striking contrast between
the unkempt child and her own dainty self.
Did her dress but chance to touch James
she would instantly draw her pretty skirts
away with a scornful motion, and dis
dainful curl of her cherry lips.
-On Amabel's tenth birthday, Mrs.
Grey made large party in honor there
of. The event occurred on May day and
the little girl very appropriately repre-
sent,d the Queen of May.
All, that was a wonderful party. All
the children of the village were there.
The smooth lawn was like velvet in its
early spring verdure. The trees were
pink and white with blossoms. A throne
of flowers was arranged for the little
queen, and lovely children strewed flow
ers before her. She wore dress ofwhite
gauze, loOped with clusters of springs
own flours. Her yellow hair rippled and
shone over her snowy robes and curled
about her fair forehead and pink cheeks
like the sunlight among the flowers.
Crowned with wreath of half-blown
roses, with her fiowery septer in her hand,
she seemed very queen of fairy-land."
"0h, how nice" cried May breathless
with admiration.
WAS poor Jane therel" asked Nell.
An how was she dressed" queried
Cora.
"Yes; Jane was there, and she was
dressed in her best, which was a faded
linsey with bright patch on either
sleeve, but very clean withal.
During the excitement of the corona
ton she escaped attention, but her home
ly garb was too conspicuous among the
pretty, light dresses of the others, to long
remain unnOlced.
"Just before dinner, when all the chill
dren were on the lawn, playing around
the beautiful May-pole, Jane was standing
alone near clump of lilacs, watching their
gay gambols with her wistful eyes.
By-and-by Amabel whirled past her, and
her gauzy, floating robe CHANGED to cling
to James rough dress.
"'Whst are you doing here, Patchyr
she cried, drawing her skirts angrily
away.
20, the scorn in the child's tones, the
cruel pride in the lovely face.
"'She d better be with her pets in Mrs.
Mans kitchen, put in the little maid o
honor who was walking with Amabel.
I'VE had gathered near by this time and
greeted this last remark with great
shout.
Poor Jane covered her face with her
hands and sobbed aloud.
Boo! hoOi hoo mimicked Amabel;
and then we all joined in the mockery
with great glee.
AT that moment, an arm was thrown
around the shoulders of the sobbing child
and Mrs. Grey stepped out from behind
the clump of lilacs.
"Oh, goodr' interrupted Nell, clapping
her hands.
And what did she saylr cried Cora.
''She Just looked at her daughter for
an instant, with such surprised, SORROW
full eyes: then she turned her back upon
us all.
my poor childr she said to Jane, Il
did not know that you were exposed to
the mercy of little savages. Come with
me-
"Tenderly she took the hand of the
bewildred girl, and led her away.
- Mamma! mammal cried Amabel,
in pitiful voice, holding out her arms
toward Mrs. Grey.
THE girl wOrshipped her lovely
mamma, and when the latter passed on
without heading her supplication, she
threw herself upon the greensward, re-
gardless ofhe delicate dress, and sObbed
as though her heart was broken. We
stood about her, sorry and shame-faced
group. Mrs. Grey would never love any
of us after this we felt quite sure, and so
we grew very unhappy.
Even the great tables, with their loads
of good things made especially to delight
the hearts of little folks, and ornamented
with festOons and garlands of flowers, and
pyramids of fruits and candies, failed to
bring back their former cheer.
AS for Jane, Mrs. Grey.kept her con-
stantly by her side. She lead her through
out the beautiful rooms; showed her rare
pictures, and told her some of the wonder
full stories that she always had on hand for
little people. think she must have told
her of the meek and lowly One who,
while on earth, had not where 10 lie His
head, and who patiently bore the SCOTS
and ridicule of the world. for the chill is
sad, downcast face frightened with a look
of content and hope never seen there be-
fore.
Poor Amabel had no further enjoy
ment in her grand party, and We were all
glad TO stink home away from under Mrs.
Grey's gentle, reproachful eyes.
1.-The next morning when we had taken
our seats in school, we saw that Amabel
Grey's was unoccupied. Rut just as the
master had finished the opening prayer,
the door Enclosed, and shrinking little
figure glided into the empty seat.
1--WE all looked in wide-mouthed as
constituent. Even the teacher stopped
involuntarily in the middle of a command
and locked after the late-comer.
Gould that be Amabel Gregg Her
dress was plain linsey, scarcely better
than James. All the dainty frills end