The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-07-16
Seletteo Storm.
A Gem in the Rough.

that fair June morningl The last of
the apple blossoms and the first of the
llacs were filling the air with their
fragrance; the robins and bluebirds
seemed holding jubilee in the trees
by the roadside, and the warm bright
rays of the sun turning every dewdrop
on the grass into glittering gems.
My heart was as blithe and sang as
ioyously as the birds, and it required
an effort to keep my lips from giving
expression to my feelings by joining in
their song.
1t was the last day of my first month
of school-teaching, and Mr.. Farnham,
the treasurer of the district, had just
paid me my months salary of Sl2.
Most people would think this very
small compensation for four weeks
teaching, but, with board, it was the
usual price in back country districts.
| was only sixteen years old at the
time, and this was my first season as a
teacher. This Sl2 month seemed
small fortune to family as needy as
was ours, and particularly to girl who
never before had enjoyed the pleasure
of owning fve-dolar bill.
1t was Friday, and at the close of
school that night could return to my
home, four miles away, and as | walked
along anticipated the pleasure with
which / should put into the hands of
my dear, hard-worked mother this my
first contribution in money to the fam
lily support.
Father had died four years before,
leaving five children-four younger
than myself-to be sustained by my
mothers scant earnings; so Charley,
who was two years younger than /, had
felt, like myself, pride in trying to
help lift the heavy burden from her
shoulders.
How rich we felt when he secured a
place with one of the neighborng farm
ers for six months at So month, and |
was accepted as teacher in one of the
outlying districts of the town at S12
month, thus seeu ring an income of SIS
a month! How many comforts that
would bring to our homel
| think no millionaire ever felt richer
than l did as l turned into the we'll
trodden path that led to the school
room door and thought of the earnings
in my pocket-book.
| was greeted with the pleasant
" Good morning, Miss Grahaml" from
the children scattered about the play
ground, and little Ruth Mason, my
brightest scholar and particular favor
lite, met me at the door and gave me a
large bunch of fragrant lilacs. l bent
and kissed the pale little face which,
although it wore a bright smile now,
had usually sad expression.
AS | arranged my flowers in a broken
handled pitcher, the only substitute for
vase the school-room afforded |
hummed lightly to myself snatches of a
merry song.
1t was time to open school, and TAX
ing the heavy old-fashioned bell l
stepped to the window overlooking the
playground. paused before ringing,
and leaned out to inhale the pure, fresh
air, and to admire the beauty of the
scene. Beneath the window was
group of girls, talking earnestly, and
not aware that | was so near.
swell, if | was Ruth Mason" Anna
Ransom said, scorn fully, "I'd stay at
home if couldn't find anything better
to wear than that old, faded, patched
up calico dress, and that horrd old poke
of sun-bonnet." She glanced COM
cashmere dress, and the leghorn hat,
with its bright plaid scarf, which she
was swinging in her hands.
"By next week she will be coming
to school bare-footed, just as she did
last summer, chimed in Matte Barber,
another of my would-be fine scholars,
who always echoed Annals sentiments.
g If my father was such shiftless stick
as hers is, and couldn't give me decent
clothes to wear, I'd stay at home. l
know wouldn't show myself among
respectably-dressed people if l was
such pitch-upon-patch- pitch-patch,"
and loud, derisive laughter came from
the girls at Mattie's would-be nickname.
l was too astonished and indignant
to speak or move for moment. Could
it be that these girls, in their cruel
thoughtlessness, had been accustomed
to speak in this manner of poor little
Ruth's garments, and was that the rea-
son she was so shy and diflideut, and
her face wore such sad, unchild-like
expression?
l looked round anxiously to see if she
had heard their heartless sneers. She
was entering the schOol-room, not ten
feet from the group of girls, and must
have heard every word, as her torment
ors evidently intended she should.
The panied look on her pale face
and the tears in her eyes told plainly
how keenly she felt their unkindness.
l fastened to her, and putting my arms
around her slender form, drew her
head against my shoulder.
Don't mind it, Ruthie, dear"
said, kissing her. " You have some
thing far better than fine clothes.
This little head" passing my hand
softly over her brown hair, holds
what is of far more value"
She raised her eyes to mine with a
grateful look, and nestled closer to me-
But it does hurt me so, Miss Ora
ham," she said, almost in whisper,
while her lips trembled and the tears
came to her eyes. /" l can't help wish
ing sometimes" she continued, as soon
as she could command her voice, GO that
/ could have things like the other
girls; but mother works so hard, and