Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1879-10-09
JHtsrenann
ADELINA.

1t was the day after New icar's--a
cold, clear Tuesday morning-that dis
consolatcly wcndcd my way to school,
wishing that holidays came oftener and
stayed longer, and rcgrctting that out Of
ffty.two there was only one week of unn-
terrupted pleasure.
The old red school house stood at the
junction OF three roads, and as | raised
the little hill lust before reaching it, |
saw, coming from the opposite direction,
little black-clad figure that looked like
a moving blot on the unbroken whiteness
OF the snow-cOycred landscape.
never could tell what actuatcd me to
lingcr on her movements as did, or why
she so strongly attracted me, but from the
first think must have loved the child
even before was old enough to slightly
understand the meaning Of the word.
We reached the worn old dOOr-stOne
together, and, being boy, not at all
afraid to speak to any one, much less a
tinid little girl, very coolly asked her
if this was her first day at school.
"Ycs; and dread it so much"
1t was the sweetest voice | had ever
heard or have ever heard since. The pc
cuiar rising infection on the last word
was like the short, clear low notes of a
bird, and as purely natural.
"Do you come every day?'
Haven't missed day this winter"
"0h, am so glad"
"Why are you so gMd?"
because you are good boy, Won't
you please tell me your nameH"
Edward Durand." "
81 like the name" she said, swcctly,
and, boy as | was, wondered how any
mortal ever came by such an angel smile.
All this time she had been trying to unite
the round wOrstcd strings Of her hood,
but had only succeeded in drawing them
into harder knot.
Wont you please unite it for me,
Eddie2"
SSe held up her little cola chin, and
without moments hesitation bent
down and did as she requested. 1t was
such a tender, confding little face-who
could help loving it2 | patted encOur-
agingly the rosercd cheek turned toward
me in gentle truthfulncss, and babe her
not to be afraid, for she had as good n
right to come to school us any one.
"Hallo! where did that little blackbird
come fromP" cried kind-hcartcd Ben
Phillips, as we entered. Come along,
little girl, and get warm, for you look
half frozen"
A genera! tittering and nudging fol-
lowed Bcn's energetic seating OF the new
scholar, and one saucy little mink, not
understanding its significance, asked
pertly:
"What are you looking SO like Il crow
forP hate n black dress"
"Elush!" rcproved an older girl, who
overheard the remark. Hush, Sue; don't
you see she is in mOurningY"
The voice that so charmed me in the
entry answered thequestion in strangely
quiet way.
my father is dcad!"
A hush as of death fell upon the noisy
group gathered around the old cracked
stove. The unwonted silence was broken
by the entrance Of the teacher, who I'M
mediately raped us to order, after which
he briskly called up the new scholar,
"What is your namcH'
"Adelina."
Mr.. Pike looked wise.
"Adelina Lagrange, | suppose; ant
you are the daughter Of the lady who
has recently taken the Baldwin cottagcT
"Yes, sir"
"Well, you may take this seat, point
ing to n bench not far from where | was
sitting. and without further questioning
Adelina had passed through the trying
ordeal of a "first day." and was duly
counted one of us.
Her mother, it was rumored, was lady
of refinement and culture, but very prouC
and reserved in her demeanor for pcrsor
who was obliged to teach music for liv
ing. Mrs. Lagrange. at any rate wa,
young handsome, and recently widowed
lat least the length and newncss Of he
veil indicated to observing feminine eye
that the bereavement was recent, ant
that is all the gossips knew about her.
The Summer term brought Adelini
again to the old red school house, but 81
changed outwardly that we hardly knew
her for the somber "blackblrd" of tht
previous Winter. She Auttered IN on,
morning dressed in white, with sash ant
shoulder-knots of cherry ribbon-the low
lest creature | ever saw.
At noon she came to me and said, yer!
glavely:
After today am not coming an.
more"
"WhyP"
"l am going to the city to live; but yol
were kind to me the first day, and ! tel
you Tor that reason and because you didn'
mind untying my hood for me-" :.
| felt her going so keenly that | coulC
not study, try as | would, and in conse
quence my grammar lesson was decided
failure. | went home from school her wa,
That day, taking care that the other schol
ara should not suspect my motives.
When came in sight Of her she wa
standing motionless by the roadside, at
tentively watching yellow jacket buzz
; ing for sweets in the downy heart OF
) white Canada thistle.
t Years after, when miles and miles ava.
i from that spot, | could shut my eyes Of
hay October afternoon, with o 5-oc clocl
} sun dipping towards the tree tops, and Sc
, a little girl, lovely as the blush Of sunset
, gazing pensively at bee upon a common
{ roadside lower,
, ibid u sting you2" | asked, assuminI
a very synlpathotie air,