The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-04-01
CLEVELAND, TENN, APRIL 1, 1881.

Her father interrupted her, placing the
bank-bills in her hand
"Think of il over night, dear. You
have had good teachers, and are fond Of
them, | know, and are attached to your
mates Have had many happy homs in
the old school-room, will wish to look
back on the last days spent there with
pleasant memories Spend the money
it is yours now-in a way that will give
you the most delightful recollection"
Now please, let us drop the subject"
said the mother, laying the samples on
her work-stand, and taking up Tommys
jacket. cam to have yom help on the
button-holes, dear" she added, quietly.
Jennie gave her bright smile, gath
cred up the bits of silk, went directly to
the stove and threw them in the fire.
"Button-holes, buttons-anything you
say" was her answer, as she seated her
self on the stool at her mothers side,
that both might sew at the same time
"How about your battles? Dates all
right, daughter?" asked the father. Let
me hear them"
She recited them slowly, any correct
ly, ending with a gay laugh, and-Iwas
determined to have them all right,
"And you have succeeded. Add
another-victory for General Good-Sense,
at Mayberry Point. What's the datef"
"Never mind. Graduation Day, we'll
call it, perhaps" and having clasped her
purse with vigorous snap, there was a
twinkle of its steel rings as she slipped
it into her pocket, and then her sllillful
fingers ran rapidly through the mazes of
button-hole stitch, So Tommy's jacket
was completed, and he was glad enough
to have it ready to wear the next day.
Graduation Day was remarkably fair
for March. The school-room was crowd
ed with the parents and friends of the
pupils Everybody admired the decora-
tions of evergreen and towering plants,
viii Mr.. Maybery not only provided,
but assisted in arranging,
Not one of the pupils passed more
creditably through the exercises than
Jennie Mayberry, and certainly not one
looked prettier than she in her modest
gray dress, with a pink bow at her throat
More than one among the gentlemen
visitors inquired who that handsome girl
in gray was-"And such easy, charming
manners" added some "And such a
fine scholar" said others.
The music-"only Jennie MayberTy's
piano, and singing by the pupils" was
liked so well that persistent encore Of
the last song brought its repetition; du-
ring which Mr. Mayberry, bearing a
large package, passed slowly up one of
the crowded aisles to the teachers plat
form. When the singing ceased, all eyes
turned in expectation toward him as he
carefully unfolded large picture from
its wrappings.
1t was fine engraving, portrait of
Abraham Lincoln, in beautiful frame.
"My daughters gift to the school, in
memory of happy hours here passed" ."
said Mr. Maybe1y to the principal
A complete surprise was this, and
everybody seemed astonished at the gen
erous gift. In a few words Mr.. May
berry told the story of its purchase.
Then it was hung on the wall back of
the teachers desk.
And that is the way that the change
in graduation exercises of the High
School at Mayberry Point was brought
about; and why the pupils wear their
every day dresses, and furnish their own
music, and make the decorations them
selves for that occasion. The reason,
too, that there is less love of dress and
finery among the young people of the
place; and such good books in its school
library; and so many nice pictures on its
school-room wall g. and those two Rogers
groups in corners,--N i. Farmer.