Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-07-24

to the blackb board and began writing
in fair large characters: "A rolling
stone gathers no moss" for the scholars
to copy in their writing books The temp
tation and the opportunity were too
much for Comfort Psase. She nudged
Matilda Stebbins and whispered in her
ear, although she knew that whisper
ing in school was wrong: i've got q
real gold ring" whispered Comfort.
Matilda turned astonished eyes upon
her. You amt"
"Yes, 1 have"
'Who gave it to you?"
my Aunt Comfort, for my name"
Were you named for her?"
"Yess and she gave me real gold
ring for it"
Matilda Stebbins and Comfort
,Pease, stand out in the floor" said Miss
Tabitha Hanks, sharply. Comfort gave
o 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 Tabitha's
eyes; even if they We're on the other
side of o 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. Matilda looked very sober,
but her black eyes gave defiant flash
when she was out ON the floor and saw
hnr iSfa 10
arm and was looking at her with gen.
tie 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 re-
piled: 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 lit
tie stout shoes, which turned in for
very meellness; with her little, dangling
hands, which could not wear the gold
ring, and her little shamed face and
whispering lips, and little vain heart,
which was being punished for its little
vanity.
They stood on the floor until recess.
Comfort felt so weak and stiff that she
could scarcely move, when Miss Hanks
said, harshly: "Now, you can go"
She cast piteous glance at Matilda,
who Immediately 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
you mite. She brought me q whole
tumbler of currant jelly when 1 had
the measles"
II shant whisper again as long as
live" half sobbed Comfort, putting on
| her hood.
Il shant, either" said Matilda. 81
never had to stand out on the floor be-
fore. l don't know what my mother
will say when l 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 showing them her ring. 1t
was again too 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. "Com-
fort Pease has a real solid gold one, an6 /.
she don't even wear it."
| Rosy and Charlotte Hutchins and
Sarah Allen all stared ut Comfort.
"IIavc 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 q
carnelian.
Eyes, have" replied Comfort, blush.
ing modestly.
Real gold?' asked Rosy, in sub
dued 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 scholars in this county district
school fifty years ago had ever owned a
gold ring. All they had ever seen were
their mothers well-worn wedding cir
clets.
Comfort Pease has got n real gold
ringr went from one to the other.
"Why don't she wear it then?" de-
manded 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 surmount-
ed by her mothers shell comb she had
let her wear to school that day. She
had como out to recess without her
hood to show it.
"She's waiting for her hand to grow
to it," explained Matilda, to whom Com
fort had slyly whispered the whole
story.
Hold up your hand" ordered the big
girl, and Comfort held up her littls
hand pink with cold.
Him, looks big enough, said the big
girl, and she adjusted her shell comb.
II call it likely story" said another
big girl in an audible whisper.
1.-The Pease's don't have any more
than other folks" said still another big
girl. The little crowd dispersed with
scornful giggles. Comfort turned red