The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1888-04-18
The Coral Necklace.

and bought something for her at home.
She had got many beautiful presents
from her loving father, and unhappily
they fostered her proud feelings
The pre- ent Ella got. from her father
after his last voyage was lovely coral
necklace.
Il will wear it at school, said Ella,
and all the girls will wish they had one
like it, and then, thinking of one of her
schooliellows who lived with her widow
ed mother, she added, should not like
to be as poor as Anna Green she never
has anything on but the same shabby
old irock." And Ella, at ease on the
sofa with her string of red coral round
her neck and a red ribbon round her
hair, felt greatly better than little Anna.
Next morning Anna Green got to the
top of the class, while Ella, being not
fully prepared, lost good many places.
She was very much annoyed, and said to
herself, 1 don like Anna Green" She
thought how much better she was, and
then there was her beautiful necklace.
So she tried to tell Ellen Murray about
her treasure Miss Dale one of the gov
ernesses, said, mo talking, young ladies"
SO Ella had to wait till the play hour be-
fore she could show her necklace.
The pleasant playground was well
come field sloping down from the house
to the bank of a wide river. The day
was hot, and when the girls, relieved a
little from their lessons, entered the play
ground, they made for the grateful shade
of the high trees by the river side. Ella
was in the midst of them, showing her
necklace.
81 wish I had such necklace" "And
]" And 1, said dozen voices. Anna
Green had her mind occupied, and said
nothing.
Anna is afraid of looking at it, said
Ella, L" least she should be Jealous. But
she shall have sight Of it for all that.
Look, Anna look i And she threw the
necklace up into the air, but it caught on
a finger as it left her hand, and so took
sloping direction and fell some distance
into the river. There was a general cry
of CONSERVATION, in which Anna Green
joined.
The sudden fright made the evil that
was in Ella show itself, and observing
Annals interest, she said, excitedly,
" You're glad it's gone: know you are;
but Ill get it again. Ill hook it out
with stick.
Many willing hands were ready to
help. A stick was gotten. But it was
no good the necklace was beyond their
reach.
Anna Green had retired. Was she
annoyed at Elias unkindness? No
here she is again at the waters edge,
without shoes and stockings. In she
stepped. l don't mind the water, she
said know I can get it" But the
water was getting deep. Tie two OF
three scarfs together, that l may have
something to hold, and I shan mind"
This was quickly done, and Anna
holding tightly the one, and several girls
holding the other, walked into the river.
The water was not very cold, but it was
now so deep that it was over her knees
Down she plunged her hand where the
necklace was, but missed 1T. A second
time and she brought it to surface The
water dripping from her sleeve, she
handed the recovered necklace to Ella
saying, There it is, Ella, should have
been very sorry if you had lost it -
What's this ?? inquired Miss Dale, as
-he came up to the girls and seeing
Anna wet and barefooted, she said,
" Come, Anna, to the house at once
Mrs Martin will be angry when she
finds you have been in the water.
And Miss Dale walked off with Anna
"She wont lay the blame on anyone,
said Jane Murray. She'll take it all
herself"
"She's the best of US all, said another
Ella was silent; she had a good heart
at the bottom, and Annals corduct drew
out her better part Off she darted after
Miss Dale and Anna, and, when she
came up to them, said, It's all my fault
that Anna got into the water. I'll tell
Mrs Martin all about it.
And Ella did. And when she had
told the whole story, not sparing herself
she added, 6 If there's anyone to be
punished, let me be punished. a"
" am not going to punish anyone, "
said Mrs. Martin you have had les
son which l hope you will not forget.
And, Anna, | fear you may get a cold
from your wetting, and be away from
your lessons for some days.
And so it was. During three days
Ella was very unhappy, and made up
her mind to be different
Then Anna came back. and when in
the course of the morning Anna was with
her companions in the playground, Ella
walked up to her and said, Anna, am