Evening star., 1895-03-16


ing in school was wrong: I've got a real
soiu ring, whispered Comfort.
her.
Yes, have"
Who gave it to you?'
. My Aunt Comfort, for my name.'
Were you named for her?"
Yes; and she gave me real gold ring
Matilda Stebbins and Comfort Pease,
stand out in the floor" said Miss Ta5itha
Hanks, sharply. Comfort gave great
jump: The teacher had been standing at
the blackboard, with her back toward them
and how had she seen? Never after that
did Comfort feel quite safe from Miss Tab
ltha's eyes; even if they We're on the other
side OF a wall, she could not quite trust it.
step right out on the floor, Matilda and
comfort, repeated Miss Tabitha and out
the two little girls stepped. Comforts
knees shook, and she was quite pale Ma
M .alua looRed very sober, but her black .yes
gave defiant flash when she was out on
the MOOR and saw that her sister Rosy had
lowered her arm and was looking at her
Win gentle triumph. You see what you've
got because you called my ring brass"
Rosy seemed to say, and Matilda gave a
stern little nod at her, as If she replied
1T Is brass"
Poor little Comfort did not feel much
sustained by the possession of her real
gold ring. 1t was dreadful to stand out
there facing the school, which seemed to
be perfect dazzle of blue and black eyes
all fastened upon her in her little red gown
and Bingham tire, in her little stout shoes,
which turned iE for very meekness; with
her little. dangling hands, which could not
wear the gold ring, and her little shamed
race and whispering lips, and little vain
heart, which was being punished for it's
little vanity
They stood on the floor until recess
Comfort felt so weak and stiff that she
said. harshly: Now, you can 60" She
cast piteous glance at Matilda, who i'm
mediately put her arms around her waist
and pulled her along to the entry. where
their hoods and cloaks hung. Don't you
cry, she whispered shes awful strict,
but she won't hurt ycu mite She brought
me whole trmbler of currant jelly when
l had the measles"
live" half sobbed Comfort, putting on her
hood.
Il shan't, either" said Matilda. II never
had to stand out on the floor before. 1
don't know what my mother will say when
/ tell her.
The two little girls went out in the snowy
yard, and there was Rosy, with Charlotte
Hutchins and Sarah Allen, and she was
much for sensible little Matilda, weary
from her long stand on the floor. Rosy
Stebbins. you are a great ninny, acting SO
stuck up over that old brass ring" said
she. Comfort Pease has real solid gold
one, and she don't even wear it."
Rosy and Charlotte Hutchins and Sarah
Allen all stared at Comfort. Have you?"
asked Charlotte Hutchins, in an awed tone
She was a doctors daughter and had many
things that the other little girls had not
but even she had no gold ring-nothing but
a carnelian.
Yes 1 have" replied Comfort blushing
modestly.
Real gold?" asked Rosy. in subdued
voice.
Yes
Some other girls came up, some of the
older ones, with their hair done up and
even some of the boys towering lankily
on the outskirts. Not one of these schol-
ars In this county district school fifty years
ago had ever owned gold ring. All they
had ever seen were their mothers we'll
wcrn wedding circlets.
Comfort Pease has got real gold ring!'
went from one to the other.
why don't she wear it, then?" demand
ed one of the girls. She had very red
cheeks and her black hair was in two
glossy braids, crossed and pinned at the
back of her head, and surmounted by her
mothers shell comb she had let her wear
to school that day. She had come out to
recess without her hood to show it.
+. shes !, ~ waiting for her hand to grow to
had slyly whispered the whole story
Hold up your hand" ordered the big
girl. and Comfort held up her little hand
HIN, looks big enough" said the big
girl, and she adjusted her shell comb
Il call it a likely story" said another
Dig girl IN an audible whisper.
''The Peases don't have any more than
other folks said still another big girl
The little crowd dispersed with scornfuI
giggles. Comfort turned redder and red
der. Rosy and Charlotte and Sarah were
looking at her curiousy; only Matilda
stood firm. You are all just as mean as
you can be"' she cried. "She has got a
gold ring"
CHAPTER II.
Matilda Stebbins put her arm around
Comfort, who was fairly crying. Come"
said she, don't you mind anything about
'em, Comfort. Let's go in the schoolhouse
I've got splendid Baldwin apple in my
dinner pail. and 4'll give you half of it.
They're mad cause they haven't got any
gold ring"
Il have got a gold ring" sobbed Com
fort; honest and true, black and blue, lay
me down and cut me in two" That was
the awful truth-testing formula of the viii
lage children.
Course you have" said Matilda, with
indignant backward glances at the others.
LES go and get that Baldwin APPLE
Comfort went with Matilda, but it took
more than a Baldwin apple to solace her.
and her first day at school was most un-
happy one. 1t was very probable that the
other scholars, and especially the older
ores, who had many important matters of