Connecticut western news., 1884-10-15
A Honnely Boy.

y s'Mamma," said little Emily Harding to her mother, 'I don't want to go to school today"
 ssWhy not, my dear ?" inquired her mother.
 "Oh, I do not know. It is so cold I" said the little girl.
 "But, Emily" said Mrs. Harding, cit was not too cold yesterday, and the weather is milder to-day; you must have some other reason for not wishing to go to school; what is it ?"
 Emily was silent for a few moments, and then, instead of replying, asked her mother if she had seen Frank Leigh go bya
 ssYes," answered her mother; ''he passed ten minutes ago, running as fast as he could"
 "Oh, let me stay at home to-day, dear mother 1 doI' said little Emily, earnestly.
 "You shall stay at home if you so much desire to do so, said her mother; ssbut you must give me your reason for not wanting to go to school to-day; it is quite new fancy, tor you are generally in such great hurry to get off,"
 stAhl that is when I am early p cried Emily.
 '.But it is not late now," said her mother. .
 ''Well, but Frank is gone," answered Emily, hanging down her head and pouting her pretty red lips; ''and he will be waiting for me at the corner"
 ssThat would be kind in him, Emily" replied Mrs. Harding; ''so why should you not like to go with him?''
 sT do not love Frank Leigh p said she little girl, pettishly; "he is such homely boy, and he always walks with me, and wants to hold my hand when we are crossing the ice; and his hand is so hard and rough, and he has such great eyes, and such straight hair, and his jacket is so ugly He is not bit like Cousin Edmund"
 ''Very true," said her mother; "but Edmund has 8 rich father, who buys him handsome clothes, and his mother has time to dress him every morning and brush bis curly hair; but, though he looks prettier. do not think he is a better boy than Frank. Franks father is poor, and his mother has many little children to dress every day, and cannot spend so much time on him; besides Frank works hard in his fathers gar den, and that makes his hands rough; but Frank is 8 favorite of mine; think him very good, industrious little boy; and I am sorry my Emily does not love him because he is not pretty; it is bet ter to be good than pretty, Emily"
 "Yes, mamma" replied the little girl ''but all the children make game of me because always go to school with him they say he is so homely, and cali him 'goggle eyesp I wish he would noi walk with mel I don't love him p ana here Emily began to cry.
 Her mother tried to comfort her; Lut Emily was but small child and could not understand all her mother said about good looks being of less value than good deeds. She was an affectionate little girl, but she had been rather petted and spoiled, which made her vain. She thought herself very pretty, and her pride was offended when the school children said she was Frank Leigh's lit- tle wife, and called her "Mrs. Goggle' eyes" So she made up her mind not to walk with Frank or to play with him any more. Poor Frank he loved little Emily very much; he had gone to school with her every morning for whole year. He was eight years old-two years older than Enily-and ne always took care oi her. If he had an apple or cake he would save 1t to share with her; be car ried her books, and, while less hardy boys stood looking on, he would clint among the branches to gather her 8 handful of blackberries, or venture up a tall tree to get her a birds nest.
 It was quite true, as Emily said, Frank was not a good-looking boy, and his dress was coarse; but he was kind an6 good-tempered, and Q bright boy at hi; book. I do not think Emily would have found out that he was not pretty if hel school-fellows hadnot made game of him and they only did it because Frank wa always at the head of his class, and they were jealous of him But the boy wht Baid the most ill-natured things abou Frank was Emily's cousin; he was yea older than Frank, with curly hair anC red cheeks; he wore fine clothes anC went to the dancing. school; he was dull boy at his book, and could hardl. read as well as little Emily, yet he coult Aspiteful things, and he soon set al
 her children to call Frank names
 frank did not care about wha
 x.nkfl ha ennuH l{kkla Eva{l