The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-04
PART I.

birds and robins and looked at TIE elm
branches against the sky as II they en-
pected to see leaves. All that winter
SO far, had been very mild one. That
morning Serena Ann Green had found
two ladies' delights blooming in IA shell
tered spot near the doorstep In the
south yard aud carried them 10 school
10 give the teacher. The scholars
crowded up TO the desk TO see them.
and the teacher said she would call
Them her valentine That set Serena
Ann TO thinking. After school began
she wrote q little note-it was against
The rules. but her curiosity was sudden
Nv too much for heron her slate and
held il under cover of her desk. so
Tabitha Green, who sat next, could read.
"Dd you ever hay valintinY' she
anquircd. in plain, round characters.
Serena AIMS penmanship was unusual
Nv good, but she was naturally poor
speller.
Tabitha nodded. Serena Ann looked
Impressed Presently Tabitha wrote
on her own slate one word: You.
She omitted the Interrogation point,
which she could not make very well.
unstead. she raised her eyebrows, which
was really more eloquent.
Serena Ann shook her head. Tabitha
Green held up one hand, with fingers
and thumb spread, and the other with
the small index finger extended and
the fingers and thumb curled under;
that meant that she had received six
valentines. Serena Ann began 10 write
on her slate again, when suddenly soft
folds of blue cashmere swept against
her face and o slim white hand reached
out for the slate. The teacher, Miss
Cornelia Little. had come softly to her
!. other side. communicating, Serena
Ann?" inquired Miss Little, gently.
/. Miss Little never raised nor quckened
her voice; still. she had the reputation
of being q very strict teacher.
Serena Ann gave little sigh. which
was almost 6 sob, of assent. The teach
er held up the slate and read: "Were
they pretty?'
The scholars craned their necks 10
see. -<gcrena AIMS writing was so large
and plain that those who sat near could
read easily. There was chuckle, which
Miss Little quieted instantly with a
look. "Were you communicating alsoY'
she said, TO Tabitha Green. Yes,
ma'am,r replied Tabitha, disconso-
lately.
Hold up your slate"
Tabitba obeyed. There was nothing
on the slate, however. Tabitha was
very quick; she had erased the "You"
with as much speed as she had lowered
her interrogative eyebrows.
"You may write what you had on the
slate over again." said Miss Little, with
quiet decision, aud Tabitha wrote.
Then the two little girls were hidden
20 GO out in front of the school, and
there they stood for a half hour, with
their states suspended from their necks
by twine strings hanging over their
pinafores like breastpins.
Tabitha did not mind the punishment
half as much as Serena Ann did. She
was rather privileged character, both
at home aud in school, and wasssus-
tnined, under correction, by an un-
shaken confidence in the love and ad-
uiration OF all around her. She was
very pretty little girl, with long smooth
yellow curls tied back with a blue rib
bon, and exceedingly pink cheeks. She
looked, as she stood there, at her mates,
and received open glances of commisera-
tion from the girls, and shamefaced
junvs from the boys. She tocd otft pref
lilly, with one dainty little foot pointing
out from the hollow OF the other,
clasped her small hands meekly, and
saw with great complacency herself re-
Elected in her rschoolmates' eyes. Tabitha
Green, child though she was. was al
most impenetrable TO punishment. But
poor Serena Ann raised her blue pima
fore, with her little piteous hands, to
her face, and sobbed, and sobbed, and
kobbed. and shook as If she were caught
tn a very whirlwind of grief. ltwas the
first time she had e. er stood in the floor
tile first time she had ever been pun
dshed In school, and she had given two
ladies delights 10 the teacher that very
morning. Somehow. that last stunl
her worst of all. IL was, 10 her. the frs
prick OF the serpent's tooth OF ingrati
dude. IL seemed 20 her that. " she wer'
the teacher. and little girl had brough
her flowers in February. when flower
were scarce. that she would no
have made her stand in the floor. for
6rst offence. Then there was anothc
reason for Serena AIMS grief; he
grandfather Judd had promised her
book. IL she were not punished in schoo
all that year.
"Thare is no use in offering her re
ward. father. she never Is punished.
Serena AIMS mother had said. proudly
ard Serena Ann had heard her. NOV
she would lose the book. and her grand
father and mother would lose all con
fdcace in her. and all through her cur
o,.ty about valentines. and she ha
never had one.
She sobted 40 hard. that she dlsturbe
the school: she was almost hys'crical
Miss Little came and took her gentl
~ the arm. She p.tied her 80. that sh
wished she had not made her stand !