Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-09-07

"Never-did-see" went on Pollie, still
looking intently at tho Second Reader which
she held in her hand.
whats the use Of looking them re
marked teasing Johu but Pollie's thoughts
az well az her eyes were upon her book, aud
she hardly knew that he had spoken.
az never did see a book fade as this one
has" she continued seriously, especially
Just around the edges. Why, when | shut it
up john it looks almost copper.colored.
See here !"
John took the book with comicllly seri-
GUS air at will soon be the exact color OF a
North American Indian, said he.
"And it's so queer went on Polliei "for
it's never been out in the sun, and never
lent it to boy in all my life"
"Indeed :" remarked John, examining the
book curiously. II think 1t must be the
work Of a very old boy, called Time"
Polite smiled ~ wish he'd keep his fin
gers of my things" said she.
"But he won't, sis aud that isn't the worst
Of it. He's Mt work upon your face as well
as your books by and by you'll be"
"On, l know all about the gray hair and
wrinkles, interrupted Pollio; "but just now,
John, I'm wishing 1 had nice new reader
for tomorrow. It's examination you know
aud Miss Read is so particular"
"Wtll, said John, as he passed out OF the
room, 81 don't see how you can make those
edges new, unless you whitewash them.'
lie forgot the words as soon as they were
uttered Not 80 Polite. "Whitewash them,
she said to herself That's the very thing,
| if had any whitewash but whitewash has
| to be put on with brush wet brush, and it
mightn't dry in time. | wonder if-Oh, |
| know what I'll do ~
She ran upstairs, and opened the drawer Of
| her dolls bureau. There, she found small
/ a t,;.oa If rholt aboYf the giZa Of "a wal
nut Tho very thing
Now, the truth is that Pollie was a careful
| little girl and it was Times fingers, and no
! others, which had 20 faded the edges of her
| Second Reader. Far better would it have
| b.en, had she left the book to his not unkind-
! ly dealing, as, alas she was soon destined to
| find out.
Bought wit is the best Of wit so We
have all heard and poor little Polle, all un-
conscious of the price which she was to pay
| for hers rubbed the chalk generously into
the faded edges, until they rivaled the driven
snow. Then, with a smile Of satisfaction,
she placed the book in her satchsl and went
| to refresh her memory as to the position OF
sundry black lines and dots upon the map Of
the United States upon which she might
reasonably expect to be questioned on the
| morrow.
Tho sun did not get up very early the next
| morning. A December sun is never in hur-
| ~: but Pole was awake as soon as he was,
aud smiled back at him as he peeped in at
her little window. "This is the day, she
said to herself 81 b'lieve | know every
thing and my reader looks almost better
| than new one
What could little girl desire more But
at the breakfast table came a narrowing
doubt.
Eat your biscuit, sis, " said John, seeing
that she was about to leave the table. "Brac3
up for the conflict, Pollie.'
1T isDt a conflict said Pollie. And
cant eat any more | was Just thinking
what il that dried apple question should
come to me, and l should say that seven
times nine dollars were fitty-siH dollars I
did say that once, when l knew just as well
~ could be that it was sixty three. o man.
ma, you don't suppose l shall be such a
goose before them all, do you 2 And look
of extreme anxiety came over the fresh, rosy
face.
II don't believe there is any danger and
you must try and not think OF them all,
said mamma.
yes, put in John Just pretend that
you aud Miss Read are cas-. away on a desert
island, aud that You are answering questions
for her amusement
Two hours later, Pollie stood up with her
class, before the august COMMITTEE to
read. With feeling Of pardouable pride,
she glanced at the edges of her book, which
seemed fairly to glisten in their irreproacha
BILE whitsness. She was at the head of heI
class. Miss Read stood upon the platform
looking very handsome, Pollie thought. Hei
own little face was flushed with excitement
She had not failed as yet, but there we're
more worlds still to conquer.
page one hundred thirty nine. Lessor
forty.seven." What clear little voice i
was she wasn't afraid not she.
She had just finished her paragraph, when
her good minister, DR.. Briggs entered ant
seated himself very near her. The com
mittee" offered him the book which he him
self was holding, but it was politely declined
Miss Read came quickly forward with spick
and.spau new one from the desk, but thu
good old gentleman smiled a bland refusal
Hardly knowing why she did so, Polite timid
ly stepped up, aud held out to him her white
wished Second Reader. He took it at once
with Thank you, my little girl - and
proud and happy child was Pollie at that mo
ment
She looked on with the next girl after that
She tried to ix her eyes upon the page bu
they wander occasionally to the kind oil
minister's face, then to the hand which he'll
the book, then to the book itself Would h
notice the whiteness of its edges, and won
der how she had kept it so clean
He followed the lesson closely, smil
PLAYING about his mouth The committee
had selected very funny piece, and Polli
thought they were reading it remarkabl
well. But, suddenly, she saw DR.. Brigg
look curiously down upon his coat, whlc
seemed to be sprinkled in spots with fine
white powder lie brushed it carefully wit
his handkerchief, and, still smiling, sough
the place again but, when Polhe dare
glance at him once more, there was the whit
powder, thicker than before, upon the blacl
| broadcloth
How her poor little heart thumped 9Th
, chalk" she thought 1T must be the chalk.
| What could she do ?
1t was her turn to read just then. Th
paragraph was one of the very tunnies
Usually, Polite would have been more tha
equal TO the occasion but now, she gave th
words in a trembling voice, stumbling owe
the best passages, and was so unlike b,
:, bright little self that the teacher and pupi
q looked at her in surprise.
u The next girl did herself great credit, hoN
!, ever and Pollie, in au agony of apprehe
:. sion, waited for the closing paragraph
a Three more,-now only two,-now- B
= lust then the door opened, and in wake
a Mr.. Sharpe.
He was also "a committee" one Of Il
n kindest- hearted men in the world, only
John said-he had queer way of shown
it. There was some little commoton up'
a his entrance, but Pollie's eyes did not 10
sight of her Second Reader; and it was vii
"a a feeling of absolute terror that she saw
IS pass from the kind hands of DIR. Briggs
M the more doubtful ones of Mr. Sharpe.
N He wanted to hear them all read,
m course he did With very great effort Pol
1s controlled her trembling voice, and col
"a menced. What she read she hardly kne
va She was only conscious of an anxious undt
m cureent of thought, ,-"Oh, 1 hope,-I
I" hope il has all come of on DR.. Briggs.
n. wouldn't make a fuss, and perhaps he'd
~ me brush it of. But Mr.. Sharpe WI
=: would he say? What would he do' q
m dear !"
u For that gentleman was even then looki
suspiciously down upon his coat, which v
quite thickly sprinkled with white.
Polite knew nothing about the lesson aft
that She saw Mr.. Sharpe look curiously
the book, which he held in his hand, then
suddenly shut it, with result which s
prised everybody but herself. The poor
lie girl could bear it no longer, but hid
face in her handkerchief, feeling that I
was disgraced forever.
This book is full of chalk. Whose is 1