The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-07
Sterling's One Fault.

Sterling school had just one fault. Its
pupils were as bright and fun-loVing as
any boys and girls could be, the teachers
were the best that could be had anywhere
I'm that corner of the State, and Sterling
had won the last three debates with Cal
houn Academy, and hadn't half tried,
either. .
But in spite Of all this Sterling wasn't
a pleasant place. No one could tel just
where IL began, but for some reason every
one connected with the school seemed
bent on fault-fnding. Josie Barnard
complained of Kate Cook behind her Dack
and told how Kate copied her problems
from George Parsons slate, ana Rate
complained of Sue Brown and sue sald
unpleasant things about Dorothy Brooks.
And the boys were no better IMAM t1e
girls. They made fun of Rob hdrd ca
coat and worn fur cap, and forgot that
ne was one Of the best students in the
school. and they were slow 10 praise Carr
Garrett, even after he won the medal Tor
defamation. Indeed. they tried TO make
1t seem that the medal should nave gone
to Bertha Anderson. And there was so
much gOssiping and tale-telling that
new pupil was almost afraid TO enter the
school,
No doubt you've seen just such things
as this get into a school ana Dewitch IL
and turn II upside down. OF course all
OF the BOYS and girls as well as the
teachers OF Sterling, felt this atmosphere
of fault-finding, but t"ey didn't KNOW
they couldn't think of any plan until Miss
Ansey came.
Miss Ansey was a little gray woman CT
somewhat uncertain age. Her eyes were
pale blue, and she had sweet, although
somewhat faded face. Her voice was low
and gentle, and when she smiled at a boy
or a girl that boy or girl at once tnought
that she was much more DeautlIul Wo-
man than he had at first supposed. You'd
like Miss Ansey IL you knew ner-every-
body likes her Now, Miss Ansey never
said an unkind word about any one in her
life--at least so far as any OF me people
of Sterling knew-and when she came INTO
Sterling school IL hurt her 10 near every
one saying unpleasant things about every
one else.
Miss Ansey was the new teacher in
room 2. one evening, not long after she
came she might have been seen waking
up and down her room. after all the pu-
pills had gone. and nodding her head Wig
orously, as If she was making deter
mination to do something. Ana 1ndIly
she stopped behind her desk. smut down
the cover with Il smart little snap, ana
said aloud:
IN do it,
That was lust Miss Anseys funny way.
She was only a little body, whom yoL
wouldn't notice In a crowd, but When
she saw anything that ought 10 oe done
she went right at IL herself. and didn
wait a minute f6f Miss Smith or Miss
Jones to lead the way.
January-Aliss Ansey requested several
OF the older girls in her room 10 stay
few minutes after school was dismissed
She said she wanted 10 talk with them
about something very important. OF
course this set the whole school To won
dering and guessing. and the girls who
were chosen felt very proud OF me homer
When every one had gone the teach
err gathered her little flock around her,
with Belle Bailey. the brightest girl In
ND n cir
est tongue. right in front of her.
And then. in her own quiet, ge1te way,
she told them the one fault Of sterling
echool-shOwed Al TO them so clearly that
they looked at each other and felt asham-
cd for the honor of old Sterling.
Eyes" said Belle. gravely, her Dig. black
eyes dropping before Miss Ansey's.
straightforward glance, ITS so. We are
a regular lot of-of--'
"Gossips," put in Nell Quincy
"Magpies." said Dorothy BROOKS.
They never before had realized 10 what
depths Sterling had fallen.
"Why. nobody says anything good about
anybody else In this school," exclaimed
Josie Barnard. impulsively And we all
like one another well enough. too. | guess
we must have eot into the habit of fault
finding"
That's st." said Miss Anscy. smiling
one OF her beautiful smiles; ITS the hab-
81. Now. IL ought 10 be broken. oughtn't
it?" and she leaned forward toward the
girls and looked 50 wistful that they
felt they would do anything TO please her.
Trouble is-how can It be done?" asked
Belle who was likely to be discouraged
before great tasks.
Miss Ansey Strengthened up. and fun
ny look came into her eyes.
"Valentincs" she said.
''ya1entines'' gaspcd all the girls I'm
one voice. Valentines,
Yes: valentines" continued Miss An
Bey. What are valentines for. anyway
This was something Of a puzzler. Kate
thought they were TO help make fun Of
people but Dorothy was sure that was
Just Sterlings wrong way OF looking at
IL. She thought valentines were for the
purpose of-of-of sending love-at which
an the girls giggled.
But Miss Anscy smiled and said:
you are quite right. Dorothy; they are
for sending love. and that's what we
need TO send In this school
All the girls ceased giggllng and nod
ded their heads like so many serious
LET us make some friendship valen-
tines and have post-office box on VAL