The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-10-06
Brave Ma8Sie.
By HELENA DAVIS.

Maggie's mother looked from the
window at the snowstorm, and. turn
ing to her little daughter, said: MY
child. ! fear you will not be able to
20 to school to-day. The snow is
falling very fast and II will be so deep
on the ground before evening that
walking will be very difficult"
"Oh, mamma, do not say that"
begged Maggie. II haven't missed
single day OF school this term, and
/ am so anxious to continue in the
same good way. My attendance must
simply must-be marked ten SO
do not say | cannot go to school to-
day. And ! don't mind the snow. |
like It when it's up to my shoetops
I'll wear my leggins and overshoes,
80 what does little snow matter,
mamma?"
"You are dear, studious little
girl, smiled Maggie's mother, kissing
her only daughter on her rosy cheek.
And | cannot find the heart to have
you break your fine record at school.
SO run and get your wraps and be off.
It's almost half-past eight, and you
have a mile TO walk"
'Oh, but I'll get over that mile in
fifteen minutes" cried Maggie, II am
a true country girl, you know, man.
ma, and can do things a town girl
couldn't do"
Then Maggie got her books and
wraps and was off towards the little
frame schoolhouse that lay over a
hill mile distant from her home.
Although the road was a lonely one,
Maggie never felt afraid. Nowhere
was there house visible save her
own, a big, red-roofed farmhouse
home. Even the schoolhouse could
not be seen from the highroad and
was reached by turning the brow of
hill that screened it from the high
way and sheltered 1t from the north
winds of winter.
On one side Of the road stretched
deep pasture, in which grazed the
sheep belonging to distant farmer.
And as Maggie passed the pasture she
noticed several sheep and few
lambs trying to find some dry grass
that the snow was fast covering.
81 don't know what Mr. Jackson
means by leaving his sheep out in
this pasture when it is snowing,"
mused Maggie. Then she went on
her way, for she knew that she had
but few minutes in which to reach
the school before the o o'clock bell
should ring.
When the clock struck four and
the little country school was dis
missed, Maggie, with glowing cheeks,
turned round the brow of the hill to-
wards her home. "Oh, what a lovely
snow!' she exclaimed, plunging into
1t. wish some Of my schoolmates
lived near to my home, so that we
could go and come together. What
fun we'd have playing SNOWFALL. But
all the other pupils live in opposite
directions from me, and l must con-
tent myself by going home alone.
We'll, / never get lonely. There's so
much to be seen. Little rabbits Jump
ing here and there to look at me.
And up on the hill the prairie-dog
town is so interesting, with the little
citizens coming up to bark at me as
90 by. And the queer, wise-looking
owls that live in such close compan-
ionship with the prairie dogr are
study in themselves as they perch on
the. mounds of dirt at the cavehouses
entrances. But how deep the snow
is! Mercy, can hardly wade through
1t in some places l would love to
have sleigh ride over such a fine
snow as this!"'
Thus, communing with herself.
Maggie hurried along towards her
nome which was Just coming into
sight around the brow of the hill.
she could see the smoke curling from
the chimneys and knew that comfort
and good cheer would greet her there.
When she got along beside the sheen
pasture she stopped to look about.
hoping that the animals had gone to
warmer and safer quarters. for a
Dig open pasture in midwinter was
not a comfortable place for them to
spend night.
hb C'SiJ outSp mas EO0G-OT
been driven by the herders-to their
Sheds" said Maggie, feeling happy in
the knowledge, for she had a kind
and sympathetic heart, and it caused
her much sorrow to see animals suf-
fer through neglect.
Then, humming a tune, Maggie
braced herself. against the wind and
snow and trudged on. The evening
was deepening and. she could see a
light cleaning from the window of
ner own home. Il am so glad I went
TO school to-day" she Thought. 1T
has not been at all bad in the snow.
And have kept my record for at
tendance unbroken by an absence
mark. But-what was that sound /?
l surely heard something that was
not the wind signing through the tall
dead weeds and grass that are still
holding themselves above the deep
snow" And Maggie paused to lis
ten Yes, there came the souns.