The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-05-22
A PROUD HEART HUMBLED.
BY JESSIE NJ. VEST.

BY JESSIE NJ. VEST.
Myrtle Edwards and Nellie Graham were
cousins, both attended the same school. Myrtle
was very beautiful girl and she well knew it.
Nellie was pale little creature with large dark
eyes, that had such sweet expression they were a
true mirror of a noble heart. In fact she was the
best and sweetest girl that ever knew.
1t was during my first term of school in the town
ofB-, that Nellie Graham was summoned to the
bedside of her dying mother ! shall never forget
the morning she received the telegram saying,
come in haste your mother must die" the look of
anguish that crossed her face as she bid us hasy
farewell.
Myrtle Edwards said to her as she was leaving:
Nellie, are you coming back to school if your
mother dies?'
With look of reproachful sadness Nellie said:
ooh, Myrtle how can you----" and passed quick
ly away.
III just three weeks my little schoolmate returned
to the school. What change had come over her
in this space of time; always of very quiet dispo-
sitiOn, she more than ever. could often see
the traces of tears her face Althoughshe not
clad with habaments of mourning you could
easily discover that some great sorrow had fallen
upon her young life. She applied herself more as
siduousy than ever to her school duties. One day
there were several standing in the hall of the insti
tuition discussing the various topics of the day,
when our conversation turned upon the subject of
dress Myrtle remarked that she thought it was ri
dculous for any one who had lost a parent to wear
colors, saying that if She to lose either of her
parents she would dress in Grape from head to foot
the remainder of her days. This cruel taunt struck
home to the gentle heart of Nellie who quietly
withdrew.
When the cousins we're alone in The solitude of
their own chamber (for they were room-mates)
Nellie told Myrtle of her fathers stratened circum
stances, and that he scarcely felt able to send her
back to school, but knowing she would be apt to
have her own living to earn, he felt great desire
cQmulpfp
she could not afford a SUIT of mourning but her sor
was just as deep for her dear mother The heart
of the Maynard girl seemed visiby touched, but
she soon regained her usual air of Indifference
Often when Myrtle was quietly sleeping Nellie
was pouring over volumes that one would think
was more BETTING senior classes. Yes, far in the
night would the light be seen from Nellies window
when all was still as death; thus this young mind
was preparing and expanding to crafty the taste Of
the public critic in the years to come
Our teacher offered q prize for the best compost
ton written by our class. II was neatly bound
volume OF Longfellow's poems. saw Nellies face
brighten and know she felt an earnest desire TO
obtain it, not that she wished much to excel but
that she might feast her mind on the poems of that
gifted author. The programme was read to US the
day before the reading Myrtle was to read first
then Nellie That night visited the girls in their
room; while Myrtle and were talking nonsense, as
school girls generally do, Nellie was seated at
small table writing her composition. My eye was
attracted TO her several times she seemed TO be
writing if inspired; line after line traced
the snowy sheet. She finished it, and folding it
neatly placed ii between the leaves ofa small
memoranda and then put it in a drawer. ! bid
them goodnight, saying, "Nellie, know you viii
be the lucky one tomorrow" That night when all
was wrapped in slumber Myrtle crept cautiously
from her bed, and opening the drawer that con-
tanned Nellies composition; took it out and
placing her own in Nellie's book, she returned TO
her bed
Next morning all unconscious of the great wrong
that had been done her, Nellie and Myrtle pro-
cecded to the school ROOM where quea number of
visitors had already assembled At 10 O'Clock
Myrtle was called upon to read; she rose, and with
flushed cheeks and rather defiant air, she took her
position and began to read with faltering tones the
lines that were composed by Nellie ALI! well she
knew that noble heart would not expose her. She
took her seat Nellie was called upon next; with q
face as pale as marble She came forward and read
the lines composed by her Cousin Myrtle.
The prize was awarded to Myrtle, who, aiier re-
ceiving few congratulations left the room con
scous stricken, hardly knowing where to go to hide
her shame; she finally proceeded to her own room,
end hearing voice, she stopped hear the door.
There was Nellie on her knees sobbing and praying
that the Heavenly Father would forgive Myrtle for
the great wrong she had done her, and that He
would change her heart that Myrtle might be led to
love and esteem her and that her entire nature
might be changed. Myrtle with a remorsful CON
scous ran to Neilies side importing her to take the
book she had 50 Justly earned and begged her for
gyeness for the injustice she ad done her. Nellie
calmly rose and said, Myrtle, have long desired
your love and sympathy, and now ifyou will kneel
here with me and pray to our Heavenly Father to
change your heart, VIII accept this volume and no
one shall ever know what has been DONE" and
there they knelt side by side, Myrte's long golden
curs mngling with the dark braids Of Nellie's then
and there the proud heart was utterly BUNDLED. II
is useless to say the fondest hopes OF Nellie
Grahams life were fully realized
The authoresss works found in any book
store in cities they have crossed the broad
Atlantic and been read in the homes the cultured
in foreign Lands.
Now my young friends, it is worth our while to
try to initiate the character of this lovely girl who
bore all of these unjust infictons without muir
Inur, arr found soloce alone in Him who is able to
relieve sorroTs and our deepest distresses what
over they may be. am Is years Of age.
Walton, KY