Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-05-21

She touched the bell again, and the girls
rose and went upstairs, some to the school
room and some to the library, while the
girls of the head table and few others
gathered about Leonora (our friend
"Nonie') and were introduced by name to
the new arrival.
There was certainly nothing alarming
in her appearance so far. She had soft,
pleasant voice and gentle manner as she
greeted each in turn; and to the half pity
implied in the remarks of some of the
girls that she had to come to school, she
had replied so pleasantly saying that she
was sure she should be very happy there,
that those girls who had only thought Of
school as a temporary jail began to won
der If they had been mistaken
cit was so nice to see so many girls to-
gether, and to hear you all talking and
laughing; and | was SO hungry after my
journey got here only just before tea
that | thought never tasted such dclic-
ious bread and butter before"
And then they all went up to the school
room, and other girls Joined them, and
they talked of lessons and classes. and Of
how awful strict" Sister Mary was, and
how Sister Eunice was splendid" and
lawfully jolly" and then the study bell
and Nellie. not yet being assigned to her
classes and duties, went away to the libra
ry till the study hour should be over.
Without any fault of hers that study
hour was ruined for the girls who had
been talking with her. IL had been Just
such talk as they would have had with any
new scholar; but each girl as she bent
over her books remembered that this new
girl was the Unitarian from the Boston
"hot-bed" Of dreadful something or other,
and felt conscious smitten that she had
not been on her guard And yet 1.-THE girl
from Boston was so agreeable, and said
such pleasant things. and was so frank
and friendly in her ways that they found
themselves thinking of the fair face and
gentle voice of the hereto stranger, when
they ought to have been busy with algebra
and history and geography
Evening PRAYER was said in the school
room, conducted hy the Sister III charge
and as soon as tt was over and bedtime
had come, Virginia Cunningham found
that She had a room mate The bed rooms
were arranged for two in each room and
until now one bed in Nirginia's room had
been unoccuped, II had been. indeed,
one Of the excitements shou, "the new
girl" where she would be put, Bessie
u
50 dangerous girl would be put In a room
by herself. But now that question was
settled. for the Mother Superior had sent
word that Nellie was to share Nirglna-
room There was not little surprise at
this announcements but II was nothing TO
the surprise which came TO the fair Young
Southerncr when. after hurried undre>S
ing and a brief PRAYER, made all the brief
.4r ~ he f9,.tt hp. ..al
inhdel was watching her, she got into hed
and looking out, saw Nellie quietly read
ing What? Could IL be the New Testament? !?
1t certainly looked like one ; and then
was she really dreaming, or lid Nellie
really kneel Gown hy her own bed and
pray:
1t just took my breath away" said Nir-
gina, when telling il To some of the girls
next morning; and looked a, the book
when was dressing, and IL really was the
New Testament
We'll ! never" exclaimed one of her
listeners
Il guess She thought she had to-" said
Bessie Martin, mindful Of her fathers
warning; some of the Sisters must have
told her"
Mo sail Virginia II was so surpri~-
ed, that when she got up from her knees.
| said, DO You say your prayers too, Mel
ieT And she said 50 quietlike, al
ways, hope; but especially every night
and morning Mother taught me when
Was wee girl, and we used always to
pray together till she-till she went
away; and then, girls. her voice trembed,
and just turned away my head snd cried
myself 10 sleep in the dark, jus; thinking
OF how lonely she must feel now. and how
thankless and wicked was myself"
The girls looked away from Virginia TO
one another. and it was plain that a doubt
OF some sort WAS rising In their minds
Maybe, Monte, said one "you were mis-
taken. and she isn't q Unitarian at all?"
"Oh, no replied Monte; there's no mis-
take about H. But declare I'm all mixed
up, and think It's queerer than ever"
The weeks went by and Nellie had fitted