The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-06-28

the boys were then working, and Julia
and her mother were plcntifully sup
Piled with sewing, for which they were
well paid Thus they managed to save
money to buy piano, but when once
more ready to make the purchase were
again prevented. 1t had become ncces
sary for Mrs. Hagermann's mother to
live with them, and she was such q.
nervous old lady that the children con-
stantiy annoyed her by their boistcrous
ways; therefore the doctor advised Mrs.
uagermann to take her to an old la
dies home. The one he. recommended
was an excellent institution, but u GER
tain sum OF money must be paid before
She could enter The grandmother
went gladly, but she never knew that
Julia's piano money was again sacri-
feed for anothcr's good.
The following year Mrs. Hagermann
married n man who proved to be intern
perate and brutal. No one but the fam
lily will ever know the suffering he
caused them until they were relieved of
his presence by death. About this time
Julia graduated and received an ap-
pointmcnt as teacher in school near
home. Now, she thought. she would
surely realize her fondcst hopes; but as
fast as she saved money it was needed
for something in the family. Finally
diphtheria entered the homo and took
away the three boys. leaving of the
children only Julia and a little girl four
years old. The expense and sorrow
this occasioned you can imagine; I shall
not attempt to describe it. Then came
the saddest affliction of all The trouble
tC1, c1,
such a strain on Mrs. uagcrmann's
mind that she went hopclcssly insane.
OF course she had to be removed to an
asylum and Julia became mother to
little Elsie. Then l gave up all hope
OF becoming musician she said to
me with tears that would not be kept
back All / can do is to live for Elsie
and my poor MOTHER
The mother is dead, and the little
sister is grown up now and hopes to be
able ut least partly to repay Julia for
her dcvotion but she cannot give her
back the buoyancy of youth or the
healthy body and nerves that accom-
panied it. How do you think n class
ought to treat IL teacher who has cx-
pericnced so much troublc?"
with kindness, of course" said one
OF the girls, quickly.
Even though she is cross some
times, and cannot smile because She ia
unable to forget how her poor mother
died?" added Miss Clare.
"Why. yes, they ought to make al
lowancc for her." said Annie JENNINGS
Even though she dresses shabbily
and wears her hair in an unbecominp
style?" still further questioned Miss
Glare.
"Oh! you can't you surely cart
mean Miss Miggs?" cried Josie Thayer.
of course not" said Eta Wright.
decidedly; this lady was named Hager-
mann"
but, my dear" returned Miss Glare.
you remember her mother married
again. Tho second husband was
named Miggs That was another of
Julia's sacrifices She took the name
'MigSa' to please her mother though
she disliked it very much"
Then it was our Miss Miggs, after
all, exclaimed Edith Lyle. 30 girlsI
how shamefully we have treated hcrI"
And we have been so annoying to-
day." said Eta, penitently.
1t is useless to spend time in vain re.
greet over the past, my dears. We can
only make up for mistakes by doing
better $n the future. When you are
again tempted to judge q person, re-
member that there may be circumstan-
ces which excuse the faults til at Won
are so quick to notice"
Meanwhile Miss Miggs sat alone in
her room grieying over her failures in
school work. 1t had been an exceed
ingly trying day, and she had lost her
temper number of times. How could
she control those large scholars and
win respect from the little ones2
Furthermore, how could she bear to
have gentle Elsie come and witness her
impatience and lack of success? These
questions still remained unsettled
when she started YEARLY to school the
following day.
But during the first session it seemed
to her that she had somehow solved
the problems after all. The girls had
never behaved SO well, and the bows
appeared to profit by their example
In fact, teaching had never before been
so pleasant and easy; she did not lose
her temper once through the day, and
at three o'clock, when her scholars bid
her good afternoon pleasantly, the poor
teacher wondered if she could possibly
be dreaming. But no, there was the
same state of affairs day after day; the
girls and boys who had been most
troublesome seemed to be making de-
cided effort to behave well; there was
a marked Improvement in the conduct
of the whole school, and when Elsie ap-
peared to take charge of the little ones.
Miss Miggs was proud to introduce the
scholars to her. AS for Miss Elsie, the
girls Immediately fell in lore with her