Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-11-02

be retained by me owing to forfeit of the
prize at the last moment. Now you may
90. but, will add, don't think 1t neces-
sary to mention the names of my faithful
children, because the consciences of you
all will satisfy you there"
Then the teachers back was turned,
and the school-room became once more
Babel.
Said Lulu to Oracle. "Well, I'm out of
the list anyway, for I've stayed at home
lots of times. couldn't help it. guess
| wasn't going to freeze coming here on
very cold days"
"Oh, pshaw!' replied one of the for
Grey. and you amt any better than us-so
| therer
Lulu turned to Oracle. Haven't you
been absent tOop"
Oracle looked happy. mo indeed; you
can ask Miss Brown if have. didn't
always feel like coming out in the rain
and cold when it was winter; and since
the hot weather l sometimes feel lazy
| But mamma always said I'd better not
l,,se a single day of study unless really
necessary, 80 | kept coming and coming.
and I'm glad enough that did So"
The rest of the scholars gathered in
groups discussing the subject, some be-
wailing the meanness of Miss Brown be-
cause she hadn't from the first offered
prizes for punctual attendance, and others
insisting that the few who were faithful
deserved the unexpected reward; and so
the talk went on until group by group the
scholars left the school-room, and final
ly silence reigned amid the desks and
benches.
As our story concerns Oracle Ward
particularly, it must be known that her
mother was only poor woman, who did
sewing and mending for the ladies of her
village and lived with Oracle her only
child. in little cottage at the end of the
village, quite a long distance from school,
Oracle did all she could, for little girl
only nine years old, to help mamma in
her work, and was so willing and thought
the pet name of Little Comfort from
her mother. which was the sweetest name
in the world to Oracle. Her school mates
were far better off than she. and had all
the time they wished for, outside of school
hours, for play. Of course mamma was
Immediately informed of Miss Browns
decision regarding the prizes, and rejoiced
to know that her Little Comfort" was
undoubtedly one of the lucky number.
So the days went by. and when there re-
maned but one week between the girls
and the prize distribution. not one of the
seven had failed in the required punctual
ity, and neither rain nor shine. nor the
heat of the warm summer days (for coun-
try district schools hold no longer and
later in the summer than our city schools.
which close for vacation in July) could
keep the little girls from school, even
though some of them, Oracle for one, had
such distances to go over the uneven
roads.
But there came a morning when Mrs.
Ward awoke from restless nights sleep,
feeling too i'll to lift her aching head from
her pillow 1t happened TO be Tuesday,
her ironing day, and the clothes basket
with its contents stood waiting her atten.
ton.
=" | must iron some of those thingsr'
she groaned. "Only let me get some oil
them out of the way, and will come back
to bed, she promised to the troubled
Oracle, who coaxed her mother to lie
down again. But don't worry about me
darling" she continued remember your
prize! You must not let it slip now, dear
childm
But Oracle gently bathed her mothers
head until at last the sick woman slept
again. Then the little daughter looked
at the clock, and knew that if she went to
school she must run all the way or be late
for the first time. But could she go to
school. and for the sake of prize leave
her mamma alone or in a neghbor' $
charger No, no! not for all the prizes in
the world! So she took off her school
dress and put on plain one, choked back
lump of disappointment in her throat,
winked the persistent tears away from her
brave blue eyes, and went to work busily
sprinkling such small things in the clothes
basket as she felt sure she could manage,
and put her irons on to heat.
Then she got her simple breakfast of
bread and milk, and prepared tempting
plate of toast and cup of tea for mamma
when she should wake. And after dust
ing and putting the small house in order
for the day. she went down to iron. She
tried to think of other things than the
prize and by and by contented, happy
feeling in her little heart made her feel
like singing softly over her work till at
last quite a pile of snowy napkins and
small things were ready for mammals
criticism and approval. And when tina,
mother awoke again refreshed and feeling
less pain. she did crticise her Little
Comforts work with such delight that
the young ironer blushed with pleasure.
But, dear Oracle. your school, your prize
you have lost it, surely!"
Yes, mamma, of course, but there's a
nice feeling in my heart that is just as
pleasant TO have as prize, and you and
know that didn't lose it from aziness
and Indifference, anywayw
That afternoon Miss Brown, on her way
home, stopped at Mrs. Wards cottage.
Oracle WAS absent on an errand and Miss
Brown explained to the mother that she
had felt worried over her favorite pupils
absence, especially as she knew only
something serious could have kept her
from her studies, to say nothing of the
desire for the prize. However, she learn
ed fast enough the reason why Oracle s
seat had all day been vacant, and there
were tears in her eyes as we'll as Mrs.
Wards when the simple and short story
was told.
prize. ma'am." continued Mrs. Ward,
" but indeed she is prize herself, which.
if you'll excuse me, ma'am, few mother s
possess, IthinkW
Miss Brown replied gently, "Lose her
prize, do you saye Oh, no! l should con-
demn myself if l we're to let such day OF
unsefshness as this has been wipe out the
perfect marks in little Gracie's favor.
However, to make everything fair and
just, will lay the case before the six
companions who. with Oracle. we're and
are steadily earning the promised gifts.
and they will, am sure, decide as l do
that the dear child is worthy the best prize
of all"
So it turned out that when Oracle Ward
returned from school the last day OF the
term she laid her handsome and unexpect.
cd gift--a beautiful book-in mammals
lap, and showed her the finely embroid-
cred book-mark on which were the lines,
I" Be not weary in well doing"
You will try not TO be, won't you,
darlng?' asked mamma, kissing the
flushed happy face before her.
" God knows, mamma, dearP was the
whispered reply. The Churchnan.