Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-09-20
4 Ronrdinn-SchoL Rctura.

A1aAtAA anu A2lSiAoAl - heA9 -
grand day for her, not because honor
and praises would be layished upon her,
but because principle, devotion TO duty,
and self-denial were rewarded, and be-
cause Jessie really deserved the prize,
She had studied early and late, through
MANY difficulties too, which less stu
dious and less earnest pupil would
have failed under There were many
reasons WHY Miss Watson, the Princi-
pal of Changers Point Institute, wished
Jessie 10 graduate with the highest
honors. Among the large number of
scholars at this school, with hardly an
exception all members of wealthy
families in the State, one Of them, Helen
Bowen, was perfect rival of JeSSie's.
She was brilliant, ambitious, and proud.
The girls looked up TO her as star of
wonderful magnitude and beauty. She
preceded Jessie a fe% months in the
school, and WAS quite settled in her posi-
tion when Jessie arrived. Jessie Lee
had not been in the company of Helen
Bowen two days when she knew she
was hated by Helen. There was some
thing unusually attractive about Jessie.
It was not her person. though she was
very pretty-a fair blonde. Her voice
WN~S --lAt7AS1A anu lnlA vi llOACAg AlCI eye
was bright, and looked into other ewes
with uncompromising honesty. II was
not any one of these attractions which
gave Jessie her power. Her teachers
knew what it was, though the scholars
did not. The latter loved her at once
and always, all, except Helen; the for
mer knew her to be possessed of not
only rare mental ability, but having a
cor Tnr.nnf lry NaI
was due to her sainted mother. While
the scholars looked at and admired
Helen at a distance, they came very
close to Jessie, who always had smile
and welcome for them. Her Cncon-
scious Influence was love-and she did
love everybody-indeed, could have
loved Helen, and she did love her as far
as was possible. And so, day after day,
while Jessie was growing more and more
into favor with all-for lovlngness is
most fruitful soil-Helen, in all her
magnifCence, was let alone. The differ
ence in the two was simple one after
all. Jessie was very UNCONSCIOUS of her.
self and very thoughtful of others.
Helen was rust the reverse. She saw no
one with clearer vision than herself.
She needed no glass-magnifyIng, nor
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she was always there! 4 few days
before the commencement an unusual
stir was apparent in the Institute. Here
and there excited groups talking, as
schoolgirls can. "Whaf will shs, dor
asks one girl. aI don't know, Pm sure;
she declares she will not take her part
in the programme" SWELL" speaks a
third, Il don't blame her; she has moth
ing in her wardrobe which will do to
graduate in. If were in her place, I
world shut myself up in my room and
stay there till I had the cry Of my life
time"
From out these tangled threads of
conversation learned that Helen
Bowen's dress, boxed and expressed
among other valuable goods, in the
was burned to the ground. 1t was real
dress to be made, miles rolled between !
Helen's home and the school. In vain
her teachers tried to persuade her 10
appear in the best she had, and this
show her womanly sense; but no, she
would not appear on the platform. The
second prize was hers. The last day had
III q lew AOILO dlICI
ment, silence would reign throughout
the institute walls. Already baggage and
travelling appurtenances were being
wheeled to the depot. Helen in her
room, was about receiving her check
from the express-man for her trunk,
she herself to take the evening express
train for home, when a servant appears
with a huge bundle, unmistakaDie in
size, for "Miss Helen" "For me- Z" she
said, "There is some mistake, think"
"Not any. Your name is here"-and
again she read, "Miss Helen Bowen,
Room 93" And as the wrappings of
soft tissue paper were unfolded, lovely
white silk dress, complete in its trim
mings, appeared-a beautiful graduating
dress. 1 need not attempt to describe
Helen's surprise, and the excitement
among the pupils. The teachers mani
Tested joy was as great as their scholars.
Questions were asked, but no clew could
be found to unTavel the mystery. Oh,
the power of love in one human heart!
The unselfish and sublime outgrowth of
a principle whose very essence is found
in loving them (which hate you, and
doing good TO them which despitefully
use you." There came no struggle into
the heart of Jessie Lee, when the
angel of peace whispered the thought,
which resulted in sending her own dress
to Helen, to the fellow-student who had
caused so many hot tears 10 fall ON her
pillow at night when all was still; but
when tine comfort came, despite the
weeping, at the thought of Him, the
loving sympathizer whose "eyes neither
suniOer nor sleep7-he that keepeth
Isarel kept Jessie's heart in peace. The
hour Of commencement came. The
teachers wishing to make the most of
the lesson of love Jessie had taken
them into her confdence), arranged to
have the graduates enter singly and
alone, beginning with the least, so leav-
ing Jessie to enter last. How shall l
describe the wonder, the agitation, the
look Of amazement on all faces, as Jessie
stepped 10 the platform with the steel
blue silk dress on which had been seen
so often in the academy! But there she
stood a queen, next to Helen in her
white dress, looking more radiant than
ever. She stood there in her great
heartedness and power of love, the
admired of all, and the blessed one Of
Him whose she was and whom she
served