Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-10-09

BY ELSIE l.. WHITTLESEY.


cold, clear Tuesday morning-that |
disconsoIately wendell my way to school,
wishing that holidays came oftener and
stayed longer, and regretting that out of
ffty-two there was only one week of I'M
interrupted pleasure.
The old red school house stood at the
junction of three roads, and as l raised
the little hill just before reaching it,
l saw, coming from the opposite direc-
ton, a little black clad figure that look
ed like a moving blot on the unbroken
whiteness of the snow covered land
scape.
| never could tell what actuated me to
linger 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
slightly understand the meaning of the
word.
We reached the worn old doorstone
together, and, being boy, not at all
afraid of any one, much less a timid
little girl, | very coolly asked her if this
was her first day at school.
Yes; and | dread it 80 much"
1t was the sweetest voice / had ever
heard or have ever heard since. The
peculiar rising infection on the last
word was like the short, clear, low notes
of bird, and as purely natural.
"Do you come every day.?
Haven't missed day this winter"
ooh, | am so glad"
Why are you so glad?"
q Because you are a good boy. Won't
you please tell me your name?"
Edward Durand."
81 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, but had only succeeded in
drawing them into harder knot,
"Won't you please unite it for me,
Eddie2"
She helo up her little cold chin, and
without moments hesitation | bent
down and did as she requested. 1t was
such tender, confding little face-who
could help loving it? ! patted encour-
agingly the rose-red cheek turned toward
me in gentle truthfulness, and babe her
not to be afraid, for she had as good q
right to come to school as any one.
q Halo! where did that little black
bird come from?" cried kind-hearted
Ben Philips 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
scholor, and one saucy little mink, not
understanding its significance, asked
pertly;
"What are you looking so like crow
fort | hate black dress"
Hushl reproved an older girl, who
overheard the remark "Hush, Sue
don't you see she is in mourning?"
The voice that had so charmed me il
the entry answered the question in 8
strangely quiet way.
My father is dead!
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
medistely raped us to order, after
which he briskly called up the new
scholar.
What is your nameT'
"Adelina."
Mr. Pike looked wise.
Adelins Lagrange, | suppose; snd
you are the daughter of the lady who
has recently taken the Baldwin cottsgeT
g Yes, sir"
We'll, you may take this seat, /"
pointing to beach not far from where
was sitting, and without further ques
tioning Adelina had passed through tn,
trying ordeal of first day." and wa
duly counted one of lis"
Her mother, it was rumored, was