The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-05-26

wren swinging on spray OF clover.
"Who Is crying?" she asked, in a
sweet, firm voice.
"It is little Agnes Gregory" volun-
teered o dimplefaced boy who sat
near.
Miss Smell crossed the room and
bent over the child.
"Agnes, what is it? Can you not
tell me all about it"
Sobs we're Agnes's only reply. Miss
Smell kissed her gently, then went
back to her work. When it was fin
ished and tho children all provided
with work, she lifted the sobbing
child and tenderly carried her to
the teachers desk. Here, somewhat
removed from the curious little ones,
Lillian set about soothing her pupil.
Agnes was q pretty fair-faced child
of SIX. She had sunny blus eyes and
her HAIR, golden chestnut, curled
about her face and neck. Her cloth
ing was clean, but well worn, and Lii
ian noticed the gaping hole in the tiny
shoe as we'll as the thinness of the
faded dress. Noticed it with a sym.
pathetic thrill of the heart that
throbbed with something of the divine
spirit of motherhood toward the chill
dren in her care.
Agnes's story was soon told. Her
widowed mother had had no break kraat
for her little ones.
''I don't care SO much about N.Y.
self, Miss Snell," the child went on
artlessly, "'ca1se I'm mammals brave
girl, but when little brother Royce
wakes up he will be SO hungry, aud he
is only three years. He does G0t know
he mustn't cry. -
,Allttsslle more questioning and Lillian
I learned that someone owed Mrs. Greg
orY for sewing, also that she hoped to
have dinner ready when Agnes came
home.
Lillian looked out into the driving
storm of January forenoon. She
knew Mrs. Gregory, and her heart
ached for the pale young mother.
Miss Smell was quick of thought and
action. Ten minutes later Agnes was
in the warm cloak room feasting on the
dainty lunch Mrs. Smell had prepared
for her daughters midday meal. The
young teacher had written o note and
list of articles of food and was at the
door of the room across the hall.
The teacher, Florence Fox, listened
sympathetically to Lilian's story and
to the suggestion that her own twelve.
year.old brother be called from the
sixth grade to deliver the note.
"Of course Fred can co." she cried,
"And Lillian, you say you have written
to Mr.. Davis the circumstances and
asked him for good weight. I'll send
nm order to cousin Hugh for hal
cord of wood, tell him the story, anG
ask him likewise for good weight"
A faint crimson flush stained Lilian'i
cheek, but she warmly thanked hel
friend and hurried back to her work
Mark Davis was stout, genial faced
man of thirty-eight. He sat in his
office, his mornings work at his books
Just finished. Through the open dool
he could see brisk clerks stepping
about in the grocery store from whicl
the office opened. There was an odo
of spices, coffee, fruit and fish in tn
air.
eight hundred dollars more prod
this year than last, the grocer said t
himself. "Somehow it don't do maj
any good to pile up money, when h
has no one TO spend 1t on"
Here his reverie was cut short b.
the entrance of clerk, who handle
him an envelope, saying, "a boy jus
brought this.
Two papers dropped from the en-
velope as he tore it open. The frs
was a list, including loaf OF bread
potatoes, crackers, dried beef and
few other articles. He glanced owe
it aud opened the other. 1t was Lii
ian's note.