St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-08-18
A Graduation Sketch.
BY MARY LOUISE BEEcHER.

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a crowd of people Such. a heavy flow
er-laden atmosphere Just rs l began
to grow inpatient, watching for the
appearance of girls in white, and
spruce young men trying to appreciate
the dignity of the occasion, woman
and little girl were ushered into the
seat in front of me. Nothing very re-
markable in that, to be sure, but | for
got to watch the coming of the gradu
ates Just as soon as my neighbOrs were
seated. Perhaps it was their dress
which first took my attention. 1t
was so plain, especially the mothers.
She wore thick winter dress and
bonnet, very old-fashioned and much
worn. The little girls dress, faded
calico, had evidently been starched
and ironed for the occasion, the short
sleeves of which, outgrown, she kept
pulling down over her brown arms.
But what | noticed more than these
was the chubby hand of the little girl,
which held a buoquet of wild flowers
field daisies and bright yellow but
tercups together with little bit
of blue ribbon, the knot of which the
little girl would tie and unite over and
over again, giving it little loving pats.
j
ahead of the little girl and her mother,
and a row of elegantly dressed ladies
were seated. The Judges family.
remembered then that the judges
daughter was graduate and all those
| lovely flowers were for her. Such
dainty baskets and fragrant hot-hOuse
bouquets The judge himself had an
arm chair in the aisle. He was poising
| :
peculiar to complacent dignitaries. |
couldn't help comparing his calm, self
satisfied face with the anxious one in
the shabby winter bonnet. The music
struck up then, to the relief of uneasy
ones, and in came the row of white.
Even the judge showed the least sign
of interest, while the mother and little
sister watched the stage with anxiety
almost breathless. There she came
| knew her right away-neXt the white
silk and diamonds of the judges
daughter pretty face in simple
dress. | saw her eye run along the
crowded tiers of seats with an almost
confused expression until it lit on the
old bonnet, and then there was little
nod, an answering mOther-smile of as
surance, wave of sisters little sun
burned hand, and the family were
ready for the exercises.
| began to read the whole story from
the simple pretty dress on the stage (;
the story of hard work and petty sac
rifces that the daughter might come to
this night 1t made the faded calico
and old winter clothing look different
Iy, somehow. But the bell struck,
and now one after another of the girls
and boys came forward, took part, and
retired with share ofapplause. | be-
came tired after awhile, and turned
again to my neighbOrs. Like me, the
little girl had grown weary waiting
for sister, and was cycling the elegant
dresses in front of her with all the
child-look of wonder and admiration.
And then the flowers How her little
freckled face brOadened into Il smile
as she took in their beautiful cOlOrs.
Then, with sudden thought, she
turned her own rustic bouquet, which
all this while she had held uncOn-
sciOusly in a tight clasp. The poor
little flowers were dropping with thirst.
All the smile went away. There was
a quick glance at the row of ladies and
bouquets, at the stage, and then at her
: own buttercups and daisies and bit OF
blue ribbon. Such a pitying look she
, gave them and they dropped into her
lap. Just here the graduate in simple
white was announced, but the little
e figure before me needed it not. The
chin fell lower and lower on the waist
of the faded calico. The mother all
intent on the daughter reading, didn't
notice the one ut her side. | was
+ watching the dropping head so closely
= not one word of the essay did | hear
only knew that the little chin was
beginning to quiver when there was &
clapping which told that the essay
Y was finished. The mother turned tC
4 the child, and heard her whisper 9
little excitedly, "Thow the flowers
Kitty, now, you seer But Kittie only
shook her head, and | heard little
e smOthered sob. Meanwhile, the sister
e had taken her seat There was Il little
n awkward pause. without flowers, an(
7 the exercises were about to 30 on,
u when, to my complete surprise, the
: Judge raised his dignified form, walked
e to the stage, and himself handed III
q his basket of roses with blush o
= pleasure and astonishment the young
girl received them, while the people
u cheered. As for kittie, sky full o
II sunshine after dark cloud would be ;
d fit comparison. The seat could hardl!
Y contain her; she bobbed around like
canary-bird, "Oh ! Oh ! See Mary
: posies !" she whispered audibly. Peo
d pie were looking at her, even tn
: Judges family turned their heads
4 little. But her eyes were fixed intent
ly on Mary until the judge came bacl
6 to his chair, when she turned and fair
n ly beamed on him. He liked it; il
e fact, tried to smile and came nearer
n than | supposed he could. knew
- then how it came to happen. He ha'
been watching this little tragedy a
5, well as l, only that he had turned
n into comedy. Somehow that ster
le old Judge looked differently to me ant
q has looked differently ever since
: When of summer morning meet hiT
Di strolling toward the city | forget tn
le pOmpOus manner, and remember tina
l. under the diamond studs is kindl
N spot which once responded to child
sOrrow.-[ Christian Union.