The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-03-31
but we had always been treated with kindneaa and resnecf

Kindness and respect.
 had been taught to look upon honest poverty as no disgrace, and the scorn and contempt with which poor, little Ruth was treated aroused my deepest indignation.
 Soon after calling the school to order, l sent Ruth out upon an er- rand, and then repeated to the schol- ars the conversation had just over- heard. gave no names, but dwelt earnestly upon the injustice Of such conduct, and expressed the hope that this might be the last time I should be pained by such unkindness in any of my scholars.
 The two girls had the good grace to look ashamed at the reprimand but feared the impression would be but temporary.
 During my four-mile walk home that night my mind was filled with thoughts of Ruth. All my happy exaltation of the morning was gone even the precious twelve dollars in my pocket were almost forgotten, for the sorrow of dear little Ruth was uppermost in my mind.
 On reaching home poured all my troubles into the ears of a dear sym- pathising mother, who was to me, the embodiment of all earthly wisdom.
 Possibly they are more scornful to Ruth because they are jealous. You are not quite wise, dear, to praise her So freely and openly" was my mothers gentle comment.
 "But how can 1 help praising and loving her when she is so bright and loveable, and the others so stupid and vain?"
 T know, dear, but try and not make the contrast quite 80 sharp be- tween them."
 returned to my school on Monday morning with new resolutions.
 "I will be more discreet in future and give them no occasion to ill-treat Ruth," I said to mother at parting. "But will praise and pet her all the more when we are alone, for the dear child seems SO sad and friendless."
 Be wise as serpent and harmless as dove," mother quoted as she Alescu Hlo Soou-Uyo.
 Ruth met me at the school house door with her smile of welcome, and with the usual bunch of flowers. No matter how poor might be the inside of their house, Mrs. Mason and Ruth were such ardent lovers of flowers, that their yard looked like fairyland through all the warm season.
 Ac tho dow khok Ruth seemed either very much de- pressed or languid, and, for the first time since she had been my pupil, she missed in one of her lessons.
 It was one of those very warm days of early summer which come upon us when we are wholly unprepared for such heat, and 1 attributed the change ill Ruth to the weather.
 The next day and again on We'd nesday she was not at school. won- dered at this, and felt some anxiety, too, for she had never been absent be- fore. After the close of school, went to her house. Her mother met me at the door with grave face.
 "Ruth is very sick" she said in an- swer to my enquiries. "She has spoken of you several times, and will be glad to see you."
 l found my little pupil looking wan and wasted by even so short an illness. A quick, happy look flashed over her face as she recognized me, and both hands were stretched out in eager welcome.
 "It's so good of you to come, Miss Graham" she said softly, as bent to kiss her.
 She was so weak that even this lit- tie attempt at conversation seemed to exhaust her, so l sat beside her hold ing her feverish hand in one of mine, while passed my other hand over her forehead and beautiful brown hair, thinking of the great things I had hoped from her.
 "I fear she has studied too hard" Mrs. Mason said, while the look of anxiety deepened in the careworn face, "but she is so fond of her books, and especially since you came, she cannot bear to lose a single lesson. If it were not for"
 "Please don't, mother ]" Ruth inter- rupted gently, and the mother was silent.
 What was it? had the girls been tormenting her again, I wondered, but did not like to ask.
 The next night I called again, but Ruth was delirious and no longer re- cognized me. She lay with closed eyes and flushed face; her head and hands in constant, restless motion, talking incoherently to herself. Suddenly her eyes opened; she shrank back upon her pillow. while her hands were outstretched entreatingly.
 "I can't go, mothcr!" she cried pit eously. "Oh, I can't go; the girls