Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1889-09-06
JENNY'S H.iPPT YEAR.

Il remember, said the doctor wlTe,
"the day that Jane Marshal first came
to school. There were but ten of MS, and
we were like other girls. Our fathers
paid our way through school, and we
thought we never could endure it when
it leaked out that Mrs. Vance was going
to take IA charity scholar, IA poor clergy
mans orphan, to prepare for teaching.
Betty Kenneth declared she would
never see her; she would pass her as
though she were the blank wall, which
we thought fine revenge IN the girl OF
being poor. We all resolved to do the
same.
But when the day came, Mrs, Vance
led in thin little cripple, with an ap-
peallng face and hump upon her back.
"'This is Jenny Marshal, she said.
There was moments pause, and then
Betty marched straight up and kissed
her, and we all followed her. Mrs.
Vance looked surprised and pleased but
she soon led the new scholar out, and
then we stared at each other.
Il can't make war on cripples, said
the toughest girl in the class.
'Betty's face was red, and she SPOKE
vehemently. Il know what we will do !!
She thinks Of her deformity all the time :;
l sea it in her face. We must make her
forget it, Do You hear, girls? IT il a
little thing for us to do-make her fot
get itP
''If a teacher had told us to do this. we
should probably have disobeyed her; bat
Betty was the widest among us. We
Were ready to follow her.
1--WE all went to work. We took lcrnv
into ali our clubs; we told her all our
secrets. Not word or look eve
touched on her deformity, or hinied that
there was any difference between us.
If she had been q whining, prig-i- h
girl, our good intentions might have
been thrown away; but she was an al
iecionate little soul, ready to laugh
all our Jokes. l fancy she was lut.c
Il ed to jokes or fun. People had l:rp;
that terrible hump in her mind always,
as though that was to be he chief thing
in life for her.
she was not clever at her books, but
Betty found out that she could EN-.
b:oider exquisitelv Then We o. ked M's.
N"1ro 20 offer p"i2e for r"edlcwOri;
With the others, md Jenny of course
took il.
"She had voice fine and tender as a
iark's and Betty always contrvcd tn I
people who could unders' and it should
hear her sing. l have seen o!G men come
TO Ter WIN Jnelf eyes wei VIVA Tears, ana
q unk her for her songs. Even when Wr
had 'abIeauX, we contrived that Jenny =
oyely, sad face should be seen among
the others.
What was the end of it? Oh, il was
not like n story or a play, wi h soa,e
great blessing coming in at the lose. il
Wa severe winter. and several OF rAo
giris had heavy colds. two OF them pneU-
morla. Jenny was ono. SIC WAS not
strong enough 70 ,isht against il. She
"a- Ihe only one who died.
Yes, her poor little stoy came to a
sudden end. We all saw her on the last
'iay. Betty even Nh!~:r.rI 20 her Il
great secret, You can tell the other girls
when you are veil she aid, noddins.
"l"Eni' laughed; BAT she booked al
va Il of US in Il queer, s,"ady Tay.
II never was so happy in my lie,
.;. ., she whispered. "a hera with you.
-,uycr / wish l could stay -
That was all; uut when We looked az
her dead face the next day, there was It
quiet smile on Il.
'B"tN = l,tilr effort had jaaGe the IN /
yeug oi tue irrd ch,ld 3 life ac.crfl and
b. ghi, and ! Thought tnal ne Ur'iy
haa carried somr of it. .3ma-- "a q.
wi,h her 80 The houc where Ler dptr,u-
i}- could not follow her. Cu.u-
pGaion.