The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-07-29
The Honesty Of Ellnor.

adding the last long column of figures
for her morning lesson.
1.-TWO an tree nine an Ave makes
nine an one to carry" she whispered
to herself. Just as she put down the
last figure, Miss Browns brisk voice
announced the end of the hour and all
the grimy and much-erased number
papers" were made into neat mile
and put on the teachers desk. AS
Elinor sat with hands folded in front
of her, she was busy with very pleas
ant thoughts.
Il worked very carefully" said she
to herself, land probably I'll get 100
percent, and then I can go to the city
with father" For at dinner yesterday
father had said, IF any child gets 100
in arithmetic tomorrow, I'll take him
to town when l go on Saturday"
A trip to town with father was the
greatest treat little girl of 6 could
possibly have, and, Elinor thought
quite worth a good number paper. She
ran all the way to school next morn
ing to get her standing; and, o joy!
Miss Brown smilingly gave back a pa
per with Zig blue-pencilled 100"
at the top. A radiant little girl an
swered questions and did hard tasks
cheerfully that morning; for was not
the treasure hers? Near the end Of
school, however, something happened
to disturb her joyful anticipations.
When they were overlooking yester-
days papers in class, Johnny gave "54"
for the answer of a certain example.
~Elinor looked at her paper for a COM
parison, and found, to her horror, that
hers was 49," Johnny was right, for
teacher said SO; and, if Elnor were
wrong, what should she do about her
100 percent and the treat? Ought
to tell?" she thought anxiously.
Her decision was quickly made; and
at the close of school forlorn little
body waited in her seat while all the
long files passed slowly by, all gazing
in wonder at poor Elinor. When the
last footstep had gone downstairs and
out of doors, she went to Miss Brown
and explained.
why, yes, Elinor," said her teacher,
"to be sure. How careless / was to
mark that right when it was really
wrong! That makes your mark 90
doesn't it?" And she took out her big
blue pencil and with it made the
change that SO disappointed all Ell
nors hopes
Elinor did not run home with hap
Ply face that day. In fact, she couldn't
help crying just little. 1t was very
hard when she had worked so, and
thought she had won the prize. They
were half through dinner when she
got home; and, as she stepped into the
dining room, father sang out, without
noticing her tears
well, did you get 100, Elinor?
That brought the tears afresh, and
she sobbed out the whole story in
mothers arms. When father knew
he said:
why, come here, childie! Fathers
prouder of an honest little girl than
of any number of hundreds You were
a good child to tell Miss Brown" And
he kissed her tenderly.
I'm sure she understands" said ia
Their to mother that evening, land Ina
going to take her, anyway. 1t was a
fine thing for the little thing to do"
On the next Saturday morning in a
train bound for Boston sat happy
little girl, who kept close grasp of
'ather's first finger, and smiled brightly
at all the other passengers.
Just think" she said to herself,
IF | hadn't told, I'd have come just
the same but I'd have felt SO mean!
And now I'm going, and was honest,
TOO and father is pleased. After now"
says the wise little lady, "I'll always
De honest and truthful, for it's the very
pest thing to be."-Elizabeth Crane
Porter, in Christian Intelligencer.
I
Tho Cornoau E,rnnpror has Oiven or