Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-07-01


tances improved somewhat, for two OF
the boys were then working, and Julia
and her mother were plentifully 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 neces
sary for Mrs. Hagermann's mother to
live with them, and she was such a
nervous old lady that the children con.
stantly annoyed her by their boisterous
ways; therefore the doctor advised Mrs.
Hagermann to take her to an old la.
dies home. The one he recommended
was an excellent institution, but a cer-
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 another's good.
1.-THE following year Mrs. Hagermann
married 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 APP
pointment as teacher in school near
home. Now, she thought, she would
surely realize her fondest hopes but as
fast as she saved money it was needed
for something in the family Finally
diphtheria entered the home and took
away the three boys, leaving of the
children only Julia and little girl four
years old. The expense and sorrow
this occasioned you can imagine; shall
not attempt to describe 1t. Then came
the saddest affection of all. The trouble
through which she passed had caused
such strain on Mrs. Hagermann's
mind that she went hopelessly insane.
Of course she had to be removed to an
asylum; and Julia became a mother to
little Elsie. Then 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 at least partly to repay Julia for
her devotion; but she cannot give her
back the buoyancy of youth or the
healthy body and nerves that accom-.
panied it. How do you think class
ought to treat teacher who has ex.
perienced so much troubleP"
"With kindness, of course" said one
of the girls, quickly
Even though she is cross some
times and cannot smile because she is
unable to forget how her poor mother
died?" added Miss Clare.
"Why, yes, they ought to make al.
lowance for her." said Annie Jennings.
Gwen though she dresses shabbily
and wears her hair in an unbecoming
style?" still further questioned Miss
Clare.
"Ohl you can't - You surely can't
mean Miss Miggs?" cried Josie Thayer.
"Of course not" said Eta Wright,
decidedly; this lady was named Hager.
mann"
But, my dear" returned Miss Clare,
you remember her mother married
again. The second husband was
named Miggs That was another OF
Julia's sacrifices. She took the name
'Miggs' to please her mother, though
she disliked it very much"
"Then it was our Miss Miggs, after
all" exclaimed Edith Lyle. 80 girls
how shamefully we have treated her!"
And we have been so annoying to-
day." said Eta peniteptly.
at is useless to spend time in vain re-
greet over the past, my dears. We can
only make up for mistakes by doing
better in the future. When you are
again tempted to judge person, re-
member that there may be circumstan
ces which excuse the faults tn at yor
are so quick to notice"
Meanwhile Miss Miggs sat alone il
her room grieving over her failures il
school work. 1t had been an exceed
ingly trying day, and she had lost hel
temper a number of times. How coulC
she control those large scholars anC
win respect from the little ones,
Furthermore, how could she bear tc
have gentle Elsie come and witness hel
impaticnce 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 hat
never behaved so well, and the boy.
appeared to profit by their example
In fact, teaching had never before beer
so pleasant and easy; she did not LOSE
her temper once through the day, anC
at three o'clock, when her scholars bic
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 mos
troublesome seemed to be making de
cided effort to behave well; there was
a marked improvement in. the couduc
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, tn,
girls Immediately fell in love with hel
charming face and manners, "She il
just as pretty and lovely as she can be,
was the verdict; doesn't look one bill
like her sister"
But after awhile they noticed tina
Miss Miggs seemed to be growing
younger and better looking. Elsie wa:
the fairy that brought the transforma
ton; she dressed her sisters hair be
comingly and saw that she hal cloth
ing suitable for a school-teacher "Yol
can afford it, dear, you know" she sail
to Julia one day. "You must not spent
another cent on me now"
But the most beautiful light cam,
into Miss Miggs' eyes the day the trus
tees sent piano to the school, TIL,
o.. larger scholars had secretly demanded