St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-12-06
for tI1r CHILDREN,
THIRZA.

frlda got up sufficient courage to in
quire;
What's your name?"
"Thirza," was the low, shy answer.
"What?"
81 said Thirza,' the little girl replied
in louder tone.
"Is that really your name?' Frida
asked laughingIy, "or do they just call
you that at homei'
It's my name the new scholar said
with an indignant look; she was forget
ting to be shy now, my mother gave
it to me when was a baby, and don't
think it's bit nice Of you to laugh"
49, didn't mean to laugh at YOU"
Frida went on with an air of apology,
"only it does seem like kind of a queer
name. Don't you think so? l never
heard it before"
"Well, did," said Thirza, somewhat
softened by the girls gentle tone, my
aunt is named Thirza, and that's why
am"
"Or
These two children were in the schoo
yard waiting for the nine o'clock bell to
ring. Thrzas mother had taken her up
to the principal who, after writing down
her name, and deciding the class to which
she belonged, had sent her to the play
ground to get acquainted with some of
the scholars before school commenced.
Thirza remembered that this pleasant
faced lady had seemed surprised when
her name was given. She had been too
kind, of course, to make any remarks,
but even her look of surprise had hurt the
sensitive child, and now that her name
had really been laughed at, it was all
that she could do to keep from crying.
BY this time other children had gath
cred on the playground, and soon the
new scholars name was known and
commented upon by many of them.
, might as well be Thursday" one
thoughtless child remarked in Thirza's
hearing, and then the bell rang, and in
the excitement OF getting on the line aud
marching into the school room, the little
girl forgot her trouble. But by-and-by
came the calling of the roll, and as
e Thirza's name had been already added to
: it, that was called too. Several of the
scholars smiled then, and poor little
r Thirza head dropped, and tears came
into her blue eyes, She hastily wiped
them away, and tried not to show her
! feelings, but the morning was spoiled for
her, and her first day at the big public
: school, to which she had looked forward
\ so longingly, was likely to prove an un-
E happy one.
! Frida sat near and when she saw how
n badly Thirza felt, she slipped her hand
n lovingly into the littlc girls and by way
I of encouragement said:
y Don't you mind. Now that I'm get
ting used to it l really think it's pretty.
- But Thirza did mind, though she felt a
r little comforted by Frida's sympathy
and when the long morning had passed
e away, and she was dismissed from school
:, she hurried Just as fast as she could tc
e her home. Rushing to her mother, she
J. cried with burst of tears:
81 cant go to that school any more
: unless you change my name"
q My dear child, said Mrs. Ray in sur
d prise, what about your name?"
ITS funny, and they laugh at it,
h Thirza sobbed. Call me Mary, Ann
b Eliza, Jane-anything-only don't have
= me called Thirza any more
Mrs. Ray looked thoughtful for a mo
Il ment, and then said:
b Suppose we have dinner now, and W.
q can talk about your name atterward.'
ID owhen the little girl had grown calmer
Il she sat down with her mother to a nice
e warm meal. Mrs. Ray even went to thu
closet and brought out some tavorit'
n cakes, as special treat for Thirza, ant
bv the time the child had finished eating
+ she looked quite bright and happy again
n "Now let us see about this name o
YOURS" her mother began, kindly, az
Thirza looked up anxiously for her deci
sion; Sin the first place, don't you thinE
S your dear auntie would feel sad ii She
= knew YOU wanted to change it ~
Thirza hadn't thought about auntie''
feelings in the matter, and now she hac
TO confess that it wouldn't be nice tc
hurt them.
"Besides, it is really your name Mrs
RAY continued, land although it is a lit
tie unusual think it is pretty, and The
children will get used to it in time anc
think no more about it. Ii they dolaugl
a little at first, can't you be brave anc
bear it? Some children have more thar
a name to bother them when they start
to school. but they 90 bravely on ano
don't mind. Can't YOU do that i"
"Ill try" Thirza said seriously and by
the time she was halfway to school, she
had made up her mind that she wouc
make a great effort to bear her trouble
bravely. But that afternoon when hel
name was called no one smiled. IhirZt
wondered at it, and never knew that
Z. Frida had been speaking a kind word fol