The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-10-01
ADELINA.
By ELSIE LEIGH WHITTLESEY.

cold, clear Tuesday morning-that l dis
consolately wendell my way to school
wishing that holidays came ottener and
staid longer, and rcgretting that out of
ftty-two there was on y one week Of UNI
interrupted pleasure. .s......r.
The old red schoolhouse stood at the
junction of three roads, and, as I raised
the little hill just before reaching it, 1
saw coming from the opposite direction,
little black-clad figure that looked like
amoving blot on the unbroken whiteness
OF the snow-covered landscape.
= l never could tell what actuated me
to hnger on her movements as did, Or
why she so strongly attracted nc, but
from the first think must have loved
the child, even before was old enough
to rightly understand the meaning Of the
word
We reached the worn old door-stone to-
gether, and, being a boy not at all afraid
to speak to anyone, much less a timid
little girl, I very coolly asked her if this
was her first day at school.
Eyes; and dread it so much"
1t was the sweetest voice I had ever
heard, or have ever heard since. The pc
culiar rising infection on the last word
was like the short, clear, low notes Of
tird, and as purely natural.
"Do you come every day."
Haven't missed day this winter"
80, am so glad
"Why are you so glade"
because you are good boy. Won't
you please tell me your Nance"
edward Dusand.'
II like the name,' she said, sweetly,
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 worsted strings of her
hood, out had only succeeded IN draw
ing them into harder knot.
"Won't you please unite it for me, Ed
die2"
She held up her little chin, and with
out Il moments hesitation bent down
and did as she requested. It was such
tender, contiding little face-who could
help loving it, I patted encouragingly
the rose-red cheek turned toward me in
gentle truthfulness, and babe her not to
be afraid, for she had as good right to
come to school as any one.
"Halloo! where did that little black
bird come from?" cried kiud-hearted Ben
Phillips, as we entered. "Come along,
little girl, and get warm, for you look
!. half frozen"
A general tittering and nudging fol-
lowed Ben's energetic seating Of the new
scholar, and one saucy little mink, not
understanding it's significance, ASKED,
pertly:
WHAT are you looking so like crow
for2 I hate black dress.''
'Hush! replied an older girl, who over
heard the remark. "Hush. Sue; don't you
see she is in mourning?"
The voice that had so charmed me in
the entry answered the question in a
strangely-quiet way.
MY father is deadr'
a hush as of death tell 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 name!'
''Adelina''
Mr.. Pike looked wise.
'Adelina Lagrange, / suppose; and
you are the daughter of the lady who has
recently taken the Baldwin cottagc?"
''Yes. SIR
''Well, you may take this scat" point
ing to bench not far from where I was
sitting, and without further questioning
=. Adelina had passed through the trying
y ordeal of a ''frst day. and was dull
counted one of us.
Her mother, it was rumored, was lady
OF refinement and culture, but very proud
and reserved in her demeanor for a per-
son who was obliged to teach music for
living. Mrs. Lagrange, at any rate,
was young, handsome, and recently Wild
owed-at least the len 9Th and newness of
her veil indicated to observing feminine
eyes that the bereavement was recent,
and that is all the gossips knew about
her.
The sul--mer term brought Adelina
again to the Did red schoolhouse, but 50
changed outwardly that we hardly knew
her for the somber ''blackbird' OF the
previous winter. She futtered in one
morning dressed in white, with sash and
shoulder-knots of cherry ribbons the
lovliest creature I ever saw. At noon
she came to me, and said, very gravely
''After to-day I am not coming any
more" -
"Why3'
II am going to the city to live but you
were kind to me the first day came, anG
tell you for that reason, and because
you didn't mind untying my hood fo1
me-
felt her going 50 keenly that I could
not study, try as I would, and in consc
quence my grammar lesson was decid
ed failure. went home from school hel
way that day, taking care that the othel
scholars should not suspect my motives
- When Came In sight of her she wa!
standing motionless by the roadside. at
tentively watching yellow-ia jacket buzz
ing for sweets in the downy heart of .
white Canada thistle
Years after, when miles and miles
away from that spot, could shut my cyeI
on hazy afternoon, with tive.o clock SUI
dipping towards the tree-tops, and see .
little girl, lovely as the blush OF the sun
SET gazing pensively at bee upon com
mon roadside flower.
ibid it sting you?" I asked, assuming
very sympathetic air: -.