The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1879-10-01
ADELINA.

Spl1t, tlt-hT lItbudE I1OEulnp-Li1ab uIS-
consolately wended my way to school
wishing that holi lays came oftener and
staid longer, and regretting that cut
OF fifty-two there was only one week OF
uninterrupted pleasure.
The oil red schoolhouse st ,od at the
junction of three roads, and, as raised
the little hill just before reaching it, ]
aaw, coming from the opposite direction,
f. liltle Hack clad figure that looked like
\ moving blot on the unhroken white
ness of the snow-c vered lands, APE.
l never coull tell what actuated me to
inyer ON her movements as / did, or
why she 80 strongly attracted me, but
from the first think must have loved
the child, even before / was old enough
to riahtly understand the meaning of the
word.
We reached the worn oil door-stone
together, end, being boy not ut oil
afraid ta speak to any one. much less O
timid little girl, / very coolly asked her
4 this WAS her first day to school.
Yes aud dread it so much"
It was the sweetest voice j had ever
heard, or ever heard since. The pecul-
lar rising infection on the last word was
like the short, clear, low notes of a bird,
lnd as purely natural.
Do you come every day ?"
" II went missed a day this winter"
so, I am 80 glad."
why are You glad ?"
because You are good boy. Won't
you please tell me your name ?"
4" Edward Durand."
Il like the NAME" she said, sweetly,
and, hoy as L was, wondered h Nv ANY
mortal ever came by such an angel smile.
All this time she had been trying to unite
the round worsted strings OF her hood,
hut had only succeeded in drawing them
into harder knot.
Eddie 2"
She held up her little cold chin, and
without moments hesitation I bent
down and did MS / was requested. It
was such tender, confident little face
who could help loving it'll patted en-
couragingly the rose red cheek turned
toward me IN gentle truthfulness, and
bade her not to be afraid. for she had as
good right t. come t. school rs any
one.
Hallooi where did that little black
bird come from ?" criei kind-heartel
Ben Phillips, as we entered. "Comt
along, little girl. and get warm, for yor
look half fruzen."
A general tittering and nudging fol
lowed Ben's energetic seating Of the new
scholar, and one saucy little mink. 80,
under standing its 81 nificance, asked
pertly:
"What are you looking so like crow
for? hate lack dress"
Hush !" reproved au older girl. who
overheard the remark. % Hush, Sue
don't you see she is in mourning"
The voice that had 80 charmed me il
the entry answered the question in Q
strangely-quiet way.
"My father is dead !"
| A hush of death fell upon the noisy
group gathered around the old cracke,
stove. The unwopted silence was broker
| Ivy the entrance of the teacher, who i'm
mediately raped us to order. after which
he briskly lied up the new scholar.
What is your name?"
"Adelina."
Mr.. Pike looked wise.
"Adelina Lagrange, suppose: an
you are the daughter of the the lad
who has recently taken the Baldwin col
tage?"
"Yes. SIR"
"Well, you may take this seat, poinl
ing to bench not far from where / wa
sitting. and without further questionin
Adelina had pissed through the tryin
ordeal of a "first day." and was dull
counted one of us,
Her mother, it was rumored, was
lady of refinement and culture, but yer
proud and reserved in her demeanor fc
a person who was obliged to teach mus
for living. Mrs. Lagrange, at any rat'
wns young, handsome, and recently wit
owed-at least the length and newness
her veil indicated to observing feminiu
eyes that the bereavement was recen
and that il all the gossips knew abo'
her.
The simmer term brought Adelir
again to the old red hoolhouse, but {
changed outwardly that we hardly kne
her for the sombre " black bird !" of Il
previous winter. She fluttered in ol
morning dressed in white, with Sal
and shoulder-knots of cherry ribbons
the loveliest creature / ever saw.
noon she. came to me, and said, We
E gravely:
< .Aiter to-day am not coming 81
# more"
"Why?"
IT am going to the city to live; b
you were kind to me the first day car
aud / tell you for that reason, and /
cause you didn't mind untying my ho'
for me-"
felt her going 30 keenly that cou
not study, try as would, and in cons
quence my grammar lesson was deci
IS ed failure. I went home from sche
4 her way that day, taking care that t
: other scholars should not suspect I
: motives. When I came in sight OF
she was standing muti' nless by the ro'
II side, attentively Watching q yeiiow-ja'
. ct buzzing for sweets in the downy he
of white Canada thistle.
I'll Years after, when miles and mi
= away from that spot, could shut
eyes Of = hazy October afternoon. wit
(! fve-o'clock sun dipping towards
tree-tops, and see little girl, lovely
ID the blnsh or sunset, gazing pensively
bee upon common roadside flower
Did IL sting ron ?" asked, assn
ing sympnthekic air.
- No; bern never sting ms. and /
wntched Them dance On she thietle-ho.
= III summer.
q I did not know tb~t you loved the
Most girls are afraid Of bees. "