Year: 1860

81 believe, he said, after a moment
thought, "I'll run down to the brook aud
wash myself | forgot it this morning. No
| didn't either" disdaining the lalschood.
81 was too mad to do it, but I'll wash now


"Do Willie, that's good boy. love to
see my pupils neat and tidy Here's a towel
for you to wipe on. | always bring one with
me to school, for the littlo ones most always
need washing after dinner And here are q
pair Of pocket combs--bran new ones. I'll
give them to you, If you'll promise to use
them every day.


Willie ran to the brook and made such a
dextorous use Of tho towel and the combs,
that he hardly seemed like the same boy when
be returned


"Why, you're real handsome" Miss Mer-
ton spoke involuntarialy, but she spoke the
truth. for be was a handsome little fellow,
with a high fair brow, and wealth of nut
brown hair clustering about his temples in
soft. silky curls.


81 shall not have much time to talk to you,
for ! hear the children coming, and as she
spoke little snatches Of musical laughter
came ringing through the open door; "but
one thing | must say. | need your help,
I Willie"


lie looked up and with his blue eyes dilat-
ed in wonder. His help What could he
do to help her.


She continued 81 need your help, Willie.
You are probably one Of the oldest pupils
shall have. and the little ones will all look up
to you as an example. If they see you quiet,
manncrly orderly, faithful to your studies,
and prompt in recitatons, they will strive TO
emulate you, and / shall have but little diff
Guilty in governing the school, but if, on the
contrary. you are noisy, forward, rude, req
lgen, Of your lessons, and dilatory in coming
TO your class, they will imbbe your spirit,
and | shall 60 home every night sad and
weary. Willie, you arc cut out for good
boy" and she moved her hand over his now
glossy hair "Your head is good one. If
YOU only guide it with your heart, it will
make a good and perhaps great man Of you.
Can / trust you, Willie, will YOU help me to
make this school a credit to the district


Willie had never been talked to in that way
before. lie had never had trust reposed in
him. lie hardly knew what TO make of 1t
now. but be did not hesitate to say at once
81 will help you all can Perhaps | shall
forget sometimes, and act bad, because m 40
used to cutting up, that it'll 60 hard to be
good an at once, but if J do, just look at me
and I'll give up


The other scholars came in just then, and
looked surprised enough to see Willie there
in earnest conversation with the teacher
They hung back bashfully.


"Tell me their names. Willie" said Miss
Merton kindly and as he spoke each one, she
took them gently by the hand, stroking the
heads of the little boys, and kissing the
cheeks Of the little girls.


School opened. The scholars watched in
vain for Willie to begin his antics but proud
of the confidence reposed in him, he never,
that morning violated a single rule.


"You have done noby,' said Miss Merton
to him. as at the incoming she sat down by
him. She opened her dinner pail BLESS
me but Mrs. Gray must have thought had a
VOLTS appetite. Can't yon help me devour
some Of this generous dinner The boy,
used to scraps and crusts. took eagerly the
nice, white bread, the thin slices Of pink ham,
the fresh, hard-bohed eggs, the seed cakes
and rhubarb pie.


Are there any cow-slips in the brook e.
she asked, when the meal was finished.


80. yes, ma am, plenty of them


81 wish you would bring me five or six
pretty ones. | am going to make herbari-
um. and want some of all the early flowers ~


The boy didn't know what an herbarium
was, but he brought the flowers quickly, and
looked on with curious eyes while she ana
lived one Of them, and then, after consulting
her Botany, carefully arranged the remainder
in the shape Of a crescent, and placed them
between the leaves of the large blank book
she took from her desk


The other scholars gathered about her, and
one little girl asked "what she did that for. -


Miss Merton explained, and then carefully
turning the leaves showed them page on
which lay pressed the delicate stars Of the
trailing qrbutus, and another on which lay the
she'll tinted flowers of the anemone and an
other where the pretty little spring beauties
lay clustered


81 am dosirous Of making very large and
beautiful collection, for wish to present it,
when finished, to an invalid friend of mine
a lady whose lameness prevents her getting
out into the fields and forests to see the flow
crs Do YOU know Willie whether there is
any b!oodroot grows about here. | don't
know but it is too late for its blossoms, but
hope not, for | want some of them very
much they are so beautiful such a snowy
whiteness to the flower


81 know where there's plenty ma am I've
helped dig it many time. Old Granny VIII
mouth, where used to live, always wanted
some put in spirit every spring, Ill get you
some tomorrow"


"Do Willie and any other wild flowers you
may find. | shall be so glad of them, and in
return I'll teach you botany, at moons and be-
fore school in the morning and give you
book like mine to place your specimens in.
Wouldn't you like TO have an herharum -


80 yes, mas am, | guess ! would, and the
blue eyes were very bright Early the next
morning Willie was at the school house with
six beautiful specimens Of boodroot and sew
eral other spring flowers which had peepod
out of the moss and underbrush of the forest.
And Misa Merton laid the new hcrharium,
with William Hendrickson written on the
cover, and beautiful piece Of poetry on the
first page She divided all the flowers and
gave him half, showing him how to anayze
them, and how to press them, aud writing
under each in her own fair chrography the
name' class and order, the spot where it grew,
its peculiar characteristics its medicinal quail
tiles, if it had them, and also an appropriate
quotation from some poet, and the language
which florists have given it,


T. - y The week passed on. Friday night
came and Willie, instead Of being the worst,
had been the best boy in the school. He was
a bright little fellow, and now that his mind
/ aud heart ,vora engagpd he bade fair to ont