The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-01-04

was OColAO hlhlbCll LII CACitCLhChV
"Next." Dorothy now realized that
her time had comes iii nd-e-r."
And she sat down before Miss Par
sons could say next. 1t was now
Cyntha's turn. She began "S-y-l
S y-l-i-n-d-e-r." Perry landau,
thinking that Sally had spelled it cor
rectly upon her second trial, did not
hesitate to spell it S-y-l-i-nd-e-r.
All this time Johnny could scarce
ly contain himself. He had never
done such thing before. Is it pos
sible9 Will they all miss i'll His
voice trembled. To make sure he
began anew-"C-y-l-i-nde r" "That
is correct" said Miss Parsons. But
only few heard her words, SO loud
was the clapping of hands and the
stamping of feet. Almost out of
breath, Johnny sat down. 1t was
difficult to know which of the three,
Johnny, Joe or Dorothy was the most
over-j loved with the turn of things.
The teacher made few appropriate
remarks, passed some little bags of
candy and nuts, wished all Merry
Christmas and dismissed the school.
In few minutes all was quiet in the
old school room. Some of the boys
in the distance could be heard hur-
raining for Bantam; others were
specializing on the good time they
expected to have in the morning.
Dorothy knew that she and her sister
May could not expect much. The
season had been reasonably favora
BILE but it would take all the profits
to pay the man who so kindly lent
them money to get out of the drought
stricken Kansas. But despite all
this Dorothy was happy. She felt
that brighter days were coming and
her experience during the afternoon
had made her feel that she could yet
learn and be as smart as Sally AL
berry. Such was the dream and am
bition of poor, but sympathetic and
sweet spirited girl of thirteen years.
PART II.
Christmas had been a sort of
thawy, uncertain kind of day but
Wednesday night the mercury settled
below the zero mark and Thursday
was singing cold. Miss Parsons
wore her usual smile and her pres
ence had tanning effect on the small
talk that occasionally approached
hilarity. The scholars sat around the
great stove munching their noon
lunch. Several of the little folks
were clustered together talking over
what Santa Claus had brought them.
Hank Williamson was in the back
seat showing the boys some new
tricks at cards which he had learned
the day before.
Dorothy sat near the teacher, alb
sorbed in thought, unconscious of
what was going on about her. Oc-
casionally the glistening tears would
almost fall from her large brown eyes,
and then she would settle back seem
ingly in deep and abiding peace. "a
fit study for an artist "thought Miss
Parsons, as she wondered what it all
meant. "Well, Dorothy, did you have
a good time yesterday, and where did
you spend the day." asked Miss Par
sons in her soothing way. 30, yes
teacher, had such a good timel 1t
makes me happy now when / think of
it. If you care to know will tell you
something about it," ave will be
delighted to hear all about your
merry Christmas" At this Dorothy
looked slightly confused as she no
ticed SO many listening to the CONVEX
sation. AS soon as she regained her
self she began by saying. "You
know teacher | did not always come
to school herel" Miss Par sons gently
nodded her head and the little girl
went on. "Well, we used to live
away west in Kansas, and l had
little brother some older than me but
he was always sick and after while
mamma said the angels took him to
live with them in heaven. When
brother couldn't live with us any
longer We put his poor little body in
a pine box and buried him on the
hill north of our sod house.
"Papa said if he only had the mon
ey, frankie should have a nice coffin
with beautiful handles on it; but the
crops had failed for two years and
we had to get medicine for brother,
SO we needed all we had for bread
and coal"
By this time more than half of the
entire school had crowded eagerly to
the front and many faces indicated
real sympathy.
"My dear girl, your story interests
me very much" said Miss Parsons.