The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-12-04
Miss Hartley's Birthday Gift.

dow. her lap full of pretty girlish
notes. Her dim eyes were full OF
tears as she looked wistfully out on
the old-fashioned garden, which had
marked so many springtimes for her.
1t might be the last spring she would
ever see it in bloom. She was grow
ing feeble, and was no longer able to
teach, as she had done for so many
years. There was nothing to live up
on IL her hands and brain were idle,
so the house had been sold the day
before.
She was quite alone in the world,
without kith or kin, but the dear,
quaint old lady was beloved by gen.
erations Of pupils whom she had
taught in the little town.
The piles of notes in her lap were
birthday greetings, a day ahead OF
time, to be sure. Her girls had in
vited themselves to luncheon, and a
day was scarcely long enough notice.
In spite of the pleasure their coming
would give her, Miss Hartley could
not help some anxious speculation as
to ways and means to provide for
twelve hearty, happy, hungry girls,
whose delight had always been "a
spread at Miss Hartley's."
She could no longer afford
spreads" but she would do the best
she could, trusting to the girls offer
ing to eke out her scanty supply.
Meantime, the girls were In quite a
nutter of excitement, and their man.
mas, who had also been girls" once,
were almost as excited.
BY half-past twelve, on Miss Hart
ley's birthday, a flock of bright-faced,
sweetly dressed little maidens pre-
sented themselves at the well known
front door to be welcomed by an
eager, smiling hostess, who looked
quainter than ever in her gray silk
gown and cap. The girls offerings
proved substantial indeed, so that
when they sat down to luncheon 1t
was at a groaning table, and laughter
and talk flowed merrily, while the
dear old lady forgot her worries and
joined in the fun.
Nov tell us all about the house,
said Alice Dent, who, being the old
est of the dozen, was naturally the
spokesman.
There's nothing much to tell, my
DEAR" said Miss Hartley, with lit,
tie culver in her voice, ''it was sold
yesterday"
"Sold!" they echoed, incredulously
"Yes, the business was concluded
yesterday, and the sum paid for 1t
will make me comfortable for the rest
of my life. l ought to be very happy,
but-but it's hard to get used to a
new place at my age. I'm sixty-five
today"
"a health to sixty-five!" cried
Alice, raising her glass Of water.
Every girl enthusiastically followed
her example, and the old lady's eyes
filled with tears.
"And now," said Alice, 'T'm going
to make speech"
"Hear-hear!" cried the others,
and they settled themselves to listen.
"Once there was dear, sweet
lady, whom everybody loved" here
Alice bowed to Miss Hartley. "She
had spent long years in teaching, and
at the close of every school year
there had been great time, for dip
10, ND 1o1 nd nj
books were awarded for excellence
in standing. All the graduates, of
course, received diplomas, and
though they drifted away, and mar
ried--and had daughters of their own
they kept their diplomas carefully,
for they loved their dear school teach
er and remembered her gentle influ-
ence, and sent their daughters to her
in after years. But one day a queer
thing happened; the tables we're
turned-for the teacher decided to
graduate. So, at the time she ap-
pointed there was grand luncheon,
and her twelve pupils who were in
vited (or, rather, who invited them
selves), decided to present her with
diploma. Elsie, bring 1t in"
Elsie, who was the youngest, and
therefore the messenger, ran out, re-
turning in few moments with a
long, interesting looking box. Alice
took off the cover-and there lay the
iploma"-rolled as all diplomas
are, and tied with huge white bow,
with twelve long ends-one for each
girl.
At a signal from Alice they all rose,
and each taking her end, carried 1t in
state to Miss Hartley and placed 1t in
her hands.
"You are to open It," said Alice.
There may be some mistakes; you
know, we never made out a diploma
before"
Miss Hartley smiled and obeyed,
drawing off the complicated bow with
old-maid precision.
But as her eyes fell upon the con-
tents of the paper she gave cry,
which was as girlish as any cry of
her pupils, and stretched out her
hands.
"Oh-my girls-my girls!" she
cried; what have / done to deserye