The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1879-02-27
A Bonrdinn-SchooL Picture.

Jessie Lee had won the first prize for
Latin and English literature. II was
grand day for her, not because honor
and praises would be lavished upon her,
but because principle, devotion 10 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 q less stu
dIOUs and a less earnest pupil would
have failed under. There were many
reasons why Miss Watson, the Princi-
pal of Granger's Point Institute, wished
Jessie 10 graduate with the highest
honols. 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 a perfect rival Of Jessie's.
She was brilliant, ambitious, and proud.
The girls looked up TO her as a star of
Wonderful magnitude and beauty. She
preceded Jessie a few 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 size 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
was musical and full Of power, her eye
was bright, and looked into other eyes
with uncOmprOmising honesty. Il 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
soul greatly cultivated, and this culture
was due TO her sainted mother. While
he scholars looked at and admired
Helen at a distance, they came very
close to Jessie, who always had smile
and a welcome for them. Her UncOn-
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 lovIngness is
most fruitful soil-Helen, in all her
magnifcence, was let alone. The differ
ence in the two was a simple one after
all. Jessie was very unconscious Of her
self and very thoughtful Of others. |
Helen was iust the reverse. She saw no
one with clearer vision than herself
She needed no glass-magnifylng, nor
otherwise, to bring herself to her eyes; |
she was always there A few days
before the commencement an unusual
stir was apparent in the Institute. Here !
and there excited groups talking, as
schoolgirls can. "What will sh5 dOP
asks one girl. 81 don't know, Pm sure J.;
she declares she will not take her part
in the programme" SWELL" speaks a |
third, q don't blame her; she has moth !
ing in her wardrobe which will do to |
graduate IN. If I were in her place, l |
would shut myself up in my room and |
stay there till had the cry Of my life
time"
From out these tangled threads of |
I learned that Helen |
Bowers dress, boxed and expressed |
from home in time for graduation, was, !
among other valuable goods, in the |
freight office, which the night before |
was burned to the ground. 1t was a real /
sorrow TO Helen. Too late for another /
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 thus I
show her Womanly sense; but no, she /
would not appear on the platform. The |
second prize was hers. The last day had |
come. In a few hours after commence.
ment, silence would reign throughout |
the institute walls. Already baggage and
travelling appuTtenanCes were being
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% she
said, ''There is some mistake, think"
NOt any. Your name is here"-and
again she read, "Aliss Helen Bowen,
Room 93." And as the wrappings of
soft tissue paper were unfolded, a lovely
white silk dress, complete in its trim
mings, ,appeared-a beautiful graduating
1ress. 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,
he power of love in one human heart!
The unselfsh and sublime outgrOwth of
l principle whose very essence is found
IN loving them (which hate YOU, and
Ioing good to them which despitefully
Use you" There came no struggle into
he heart of Jessie Lee, when the
nigel of peace whispered the thought,
which resulted in sending her own dress
o Helen, to the fellOw-student who had
caused so many hot tears to fall on her
pillow at night when all was still but
when the comfort came, despite the
at the thought Of Him, the
owing sympathizer whose Eeyes neither
AumDer nor sleep7-he that keepeth
-sarel kept Jessie's heart IN peace. The
IOUr of commencement came. The Il
eacheTs wishing TO make the most of
he lesson of love Jessie had taken
hem iutO her COnfdence), arranged to
lave the graduates enter singly and
done, beginning with the least, so leav-
ng Jessie to enter last How shall l
lescribe the wonder, the agitation, the
Ook of amazement on all faces, as Jessie
topped TO the platform with the steel
)lHe silk dress on which had been seen
% often in the academy! But there she
TODD a queen, next to Helen in her !
White dress, looking more radiant than /
.ver. She stood there in her great
and power of love, the
dmireCl of all, and the "blessed one' of
lin "Whose she was and whom she
erved.