The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-05-30

his face, then a helpless look, and then
he stood staring vacantly, like SOM
nambulist, at the waiting audience.
The moments of painful suspense went
by, and still he stood as if struck
dumb. saw how it was; he had been
seized with stage-fright.
Alas! little sister! She turned large,
dismayed eyes upon me. Hes for.
gotten it," she said. Then swift
change came into her face; strong,
determined look; and, on the funeral
like silence of the room, broke the
sweet, brave, child-voice
amid the permutations and COM
binations of the actors and the forces
which make up the great kaleidoscope
of history, We often find that turn of
Destiny's hand"
Everybody about us turned and
looked. The breathless silence; the
sweet, childish voice; the long, I'M
childike words, produced weird effect.
But the help had come too late; the
unhappy brother was already staggering
in humiliation from the stage. The
band struck quickly up, and the waves
OF lively music were rolled out to cover
the defeat.
/ gave the little sister a glance in
which meant to show the intense SYM
pathy felt; but she did not see me.
Her eyes, swimming with tears, were on
her brothers face. 1 put my arm
around her. She was too absorbed to
heed the caress, and, before could APP
preciate her purpose, she was on her
way to the shame-stricken young man
sitting with face like statues.
When he saw her by his side, the set
face relaxed, and quick mist came in.
to his eyes. The young men got closer
together, to make room for her. She
sat down beside him, laid her flowers
on his knee, and slipped her hand in
his.
1 could not keep my eyes from her
sweet, plying face. 1 saw her whisper
to him, he bending little to catch her
words. Later, found out that she was
asking him if he knew his "piece" now,
and that he answered yes.
When the young man next on the
list had spoken, and while the band
was playing, the child, to the brothers
great surprise, made her way up the
stage steps, and pressed through the
throng of professors and trustees and
distinguished visitors, up to the college
President.
eff you please, sir" she said with a
little courtesy, "will you and the trus-
tees let my brother try again? He
knows his piece now"
For moment the President stared
at her through his gold-bowed specta-
Giles, and then, approaching the child's
petition, he smiled on her, and went
down and spoke to the young man who
had failed.
So it happened that, when the band
had again ceased playing, it was briefly
announced that Mr.. would now
deliver his Grafton" Historical Paral-
lels."
Amid the permutations and COM
binations of the actors and the forces
which make up the great kaleidoscope
of history" This the little sister
whispered to him as he rose to answer
the summons.
A ripple of heightened and expectant
interest passed over the audience, and
then all sat stone-still, as though fear
ing to breathe lest the speaker might
again take fright. No danger! The
hero in the youth was aroused. He went
at his piece with set purpose to con-
quer, to redeem himself, and to bring
the smile back into the child's tear
stained face. watched the face dur
ing the speaking. The wide eyes, the
parted lips, the whole rapt being said
that the breathless audience was for
gotten, that her spirit was moving with
his.
And when the address was ended
with the ardent abandon of one who
catches enthusiasm in the realization
that he is fighting down wrong iudg.
ment and conquering a sympathy, the
effect was really thrilling. That digni.
fed audience broke into rapturous APP.
plause; bouquets intended for the vale
dictorian rained like a tempest. And
the child who had helped to save the
day that one beaming little face, in its
pride and gladness, is something to be
forever remembered. - Sarah Winte,
Kellogg, IN ST. Nicholas for June.