The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-06-11
A CHARITY SCHOLAR.

that Will pay for my schooling Won't
it be niceP"
At this, Theodore turned up her little
nose.
! Upon my word, said she, washer
women's children are looking up in the
worldr'
Bessie did not understand this, so she
only smiled the more gleefully, and re-
peated, a second time, Wont it be
nice9 The public school is SO far away,
and Cora says that the children there
are so rough, so that mother didn't like
the idea of me going there, and"
''Is'my Swiss muslin dress ironed?'
rudely interrupted Theodore.
Yes" said Bessie, Its all ready, in
a basket, and I'm going to take it home
this evening
But | want it now,' said Theodore,
Il am going to wear it to tea at Mrs.
Adams"
Very well, said Bessie. Then |
will carry it over at once"
And she ran cheerfully for the basket.
Bessie Gales mother was hard work
ing little woman who had seen better
days, and who was anxious to educate
her children so that life should not be
such drutlgcry to them as it had always
been to her
And Mrs. Barclay, Theodore mother,
who was a delicate woman and could
only go out occasionally in carriage.
used to sit by her window and watch
the washerwoman's little children
swarming across the road, and Mrs.
Gale herself, with quick steps, cherry
checks, and skirt, pinned well up around
her, hanging clothes on the line, and
would say 10 herself, with Il sigh, Mrs
Gale is Q lucky womanr'
| Miss BlilfOn's little flock of scholars
was assembled in the school-room the
next morning at nine O'Clock.
There had been a heavy thunder.
shower in the night, and the grass and
bushes were too wet for the little girl:
to play, as usual. around the door, while
every time the wind blew miniature
shower descended from the boughs OF
the old elm, where the wooden seats
were placed
Bessie Gale had arrived bright and
early, with her curls tied back with
1
of soap and water, and stifliy-starch
ed calico dress rustling at every move
mSnt that she made.
She had come smiling into the school
room, prepared for cordial reception
from the other scholars, most of whom
she knew previously; but, to her dismay
and surprise, they all turned cOldb
from her, answered her remarks with
brief, blunt replies, and assembled II
little knots by themselves in various
parts of the room, leaving her all alone.
Girls" said Bessie, after few-mln-
utes of trouble and bewildered silence,
''what is the matterP"
The girls laughed andwhispered lit
tie among themselves, hut made no an
sWer.
is there anything wrong with my
dress?" persisted Bessie, looking dowr
at the poor little stiff calico dress o
which She had been so proud. Il know
it isn't quite new; but it is very clean
and neatly mended
Just then Miss Milton came in, so tina
: further discussion was checked. Blu
little Alice Hodges stole up to Bessie a:
they were tax ing their seats, and whis
pered, as she laid her check against Bes
sizes shoulder:
Il know why the girls won't play
with you It's because Theo Barclay
told 'em you were a charity scholar
What is charity scholar, Bessie? Isl
wrong to be charity? And what make
you do it?"
.'Alice, 90 to your seat!f Miss Mil
TOMS clear distinct voice here interposed
and Bessie sat there, quite still, with tn
big tears gathering in her eyes and al
uncomfortable feeling all over her. AM
SO downcast and detected was she tina
i Miss Milton herself observed it, and cali
ed her to the desk at recess time.
bessie, " said she, what is the mat
ter?7
Nothing, ma am, the child answer
ed
why are you not playing with tn
other little girlsp questioned the teacher
They don't want me, ma am,
.hink, said Bessie, still in the sam
suppressed voice Theodore Barcla
has told them that was IA charit
scholar!''
That is all absurd!' said Miss Milto
sharply Your tuition is paid for a
much as that of any OF the other chill
dren. If Theo Barclay has said so, sht
is talking nonsense"
And Miss Milton resolved that if tn
children did not alter their line of con
duct she would have serious talk wit
them.
Theo Barclay went home to her mothe
: that evening full of the story of Bessi
Gale.
"A charity child, mamma, said she
leaning on the arm of her mothers chair
Her mother pays for her schooling wit
washing! How can she expect the res
of us girls to play with her, wonder?'
Mrs. Barclay looked sadly down a
the child's excited face.
= = IF that is what you call being
}. charity child. !" said she, land mind
c don't say that your logic is correct
: know of another one in Miss Milton
school"
WHO is it, mammal! cried The
eagerly. ''And why didn't you tell m
of Il before? Is it Augusta Moor? III
. almost sure that it is Augusta. Or els
it is Pheb Gregory
.It's a little girl quietly went 0
Mrs. Barclay. "whose father has bee
unfortunate in business. and was goin
to take her out of school because he fe
that he could not afford the expense
her tuition. But Miss Milton was yer
: kind, as she always is, and so she be
, offered to keep her on for nothing unit
the child's father gets into bushes
again, and they are able to pay. So 70
see that this little girl is even more OF