Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1892-12-03
BY SYDNEY DAYRE.

NV W ~ w. -
BY SYDNEY DAYRE. go
$500 80 Isle Carroll came to the
stfNSS country school one morning
SsK in June. She had to walk
through little bit of woods. The
school house was covered with vines
| and, altogether, she thought it the
most delightful thing she had ever
known.
The other girls all liked her at
| once; not only because she had a
sweet, bright face, with blue eyes,
and hair hanging down her back,
but she wore button boots and a
white apron, although they knew
that was because it was the fret day.
Come, and we'll show you the
spring." said one of the girls.
1t was across the road under a
great oak, whose trunk was speckled
| with bits of moss, and from which
fell down acorns whose cups made
you think that a thousand fairy ban
quets might have taken place around
that spring. One of the girls made
q cup of a leaf, and brought some
water to Elsie.
Isn't that the coolest you ever
tasted in all your life ?" she asked.
"Yes, it is" said Elsie.
just then she saw coming along
the road girl good deal larger
than herself.
Is that one of you,' she asked.
Yes" said Jane Duff, but you
needn't have anything to do with
her. She amt nice girl"
mo, she's got freckles and pug
nose"
" And she's got a dreadful tenn
per-
"Yes, she always scowls at you"
And her names Jerusha."
Jerusha had come near enough to
hear the most of what was said. No
| body seemed to care If she did. No
body spoke to her, and everybody
looked at her IS if they expected to
see her scowl. So Jerusha scowled
which is not to be wondered at.
| "Ohl you needn't be afraid Pm
comm to tag round with you," she
said. You think that I care for a
dressed uplittle snip cause she's got
a white apron on, but l DON'T"
Elsie was not surprised that no.
body liked Jerusha. When the bell
rang, she got in the doorway and
would not let the others pass. In
school, she pulled the hair of the lit
| tie girls who sat near her and when
they passed upto class she put out her
foot to trip them. The teacher call
ed her to stand up near her desk, and
there she scowled at her, and made
faces at all the rest.
| AS Elsie was going to school one
morning, about a week later, she
suddenly came on Jerusha in the
| path through the woods. Ifshe had
seen her in time she would have kept
back but she thought Jerusha had
seen her, so she went on. 1t APP
peared, however, that Jerusha had
not. She was standing near bush
and, as Elsie caught sight of her
face, she could scarcely believe il
was the girl who had scowled the
| day before. Her face was bright
and her eyes shining as she gave
soft little chirps. Presently bird
which had been in the trees above
her head, came hopping down and
down, at last perching close to Jeru.
sha, and chirping in answer to her
chirps, until she gave little laugh,
and it few back into the tree.
| Then she turned and saw Elsie,
Yesterdays scowl seemed just ready
to come back, but Elsie smiled al
her, and it stopped half way.
/ "How can you make emdo that, I
asked Elsie, admiringly, pointing up
| at the bird.
Why. cause l love 'em l guess
said Jerusha. They all come to
me. Some day I'll show you how
can bring chipmunk if you want
me to. But | s'pose you WON'T all
the brightness going out of her face
and her voice lowering, cause
scowl so, and I've got freckles, and
pug nose, and dreadful temper
and my names Jerusha.D
" Yes, do" said Elsie, with EN-.
| phasis. :" / don t believe you've got
such bad temper, have YOUR
/" guess So" said Jerusha
They all say so.p
! /" | don't say 50, said Elsie. .
don't believe one word of it,
Don't you,n said Jerusha. il
great wonder. Then, p'raps-
But no. shaking her head, aif ey
! erybody else says it's 50, it must b,