"'Are you Madam Gazin?' she asked.
"'Yes,' replied the teacher, 'that is my name.'
"'Well, I've come to stay a year at your school.'
"_That is just the amount, I believe_.']
"And then she pulled a handkerchief out of her basket, and unrolled ittill she found an old leather wallet, and actually took out $250 andlaid it in madam's hand, as she said:--
"That is just the amount, I believe; will you please give me a receiptfor it?'
"You never saw madam look so surprised. She actually didn't know what tosay for a minute, but she gave her the receipt, asked a few morequestions, and had her taken to No. 10, and there she is now, this veryminute."
"Well, what was there so funny about all that?"
"Why, this: she has red hair, tucked into a black net, and looks justlike a fright, every way. She had on a brown delaine dress, without asign of a ruffle, or trimming of any kind, and the shabbiest hat andshawl you ever saw. You'll laugh, too, when you see her."
Belle Burnette was an only child, and her wealthy father was pleased togratify her every whim. So, besides being far too elegantly dressed fora schoolgirl, she was supplied with plenty of pocket money, and beingvery generous and full of life and fun, she was the acknowledged leaderamong madam's pupils.
When the tea bell rang, the new-comer was escorted to the dining-room,and introduced to her schoolmates as Miss Fannie Comstock. She hadexchanged her brown delaine for a plain, calico dress, with a bit ofwhite edging about the neck.
She did look rather queer, with her small, thin, freckled face, and herred hair brushed straight back from her face, and hidden as much aspossible under a large, black net, and but for the presence of madam,her first reception would have been exceedingly unpleasant. She was shyand awkward, and evidently ill at ease among so many strangers.
As soon as possible, she hastened back to the seclusion of her own room.The next day she was examined, and assigned to her place in thedifferent classes, and to the surprise of all, she was far in advance ofthose of her age.
But this did not awaken the respect of her schoolmates as it should havedone. On the contrary, Belle Burnette and her special friends werehighly indignant about it, and at once began a series of pettyannoyances, whenever it was safe to do so. This kept poor Fanniemiserable, indeed, although she seemed to take no notice of it.
A few weeks passed by. Her lessons were always perfectly recited. Shemade no complaint of the slights and sneers of her companions, but keptout of their way as much as possible. Her thin face grew paler, however,and there were dark rings about her eyes. A watchful friend would haveseen that all these things were wearing cruelly upon her young life.
One day the very spirit of wickedness seemed let loose among the girls.Madam was away, and the other teachers were busy in their rooms. Fanniehad been out for a walk and was near the door of her room, when a dozenor more of the girls surrounded her, clasping hands together so she wasa prisoner in their midst.
For a moment she begged piteously to be released, but they only laughedthe more, and began walking around and around, singing something whichBelle had composed,--cruel, miserable, insulting words.
She stood for an instant, pale and still, then, with a piercing cry, sheburst through the ring, rushed into her own room, closed and locked thedoor. Through their wild peals of laughter, the girls heard a strangemoan and a heavy fall.
"_She begged piteously to be released_."]
"I believe she has fainted," said Belle.
"What shall we do?" questioned another.
For a moment they stood there sober enough; then one of them ran for thematron, and told her that Fanny Comstock had fainted in her room, andthat the door was locked.
The matron ordered a long ladder put to the window, and sent the janitorto see if it was true. Fortunately the window was open, and in a fewmoments he had unlocked the door from the inside. The girls were huddledtogether in a frightened group, while madam lifted the poor girl andlaid her upon her bed. She was in violent spasms.
The doctor was sent for, but when the spasms ceased, alarming symptomsset in, and he pronounced it a serious case of brain fever. It isimpossible to tell the shame and remorse of the conscience-strickengirls.
They were not brave enough to confess their guilt, but hung around thesick room offering their services, vainly wishing that they might atonefor it in some way. But their presence only excited the poor sufferer,so that they were all sent away.
Day after day passed, and still the young sufferer raved in violentdelirium.
But amid all her wild ravings not a word of complaint at the illtreatment she had received ever escaped her lips.
The little hair trunk was searched to find some clue to her friends, butthere was nothing found in it but the plainest, scantiest supply ofclothes.
Day after day the doctor came, looking grave and anxious, and at lastthe crisis came. For many hours she lay as if dead, and not a sound waspermitted to disturb the silence, while anxious watchers waited to seewhether she would live or die.
At last she opened her eyes; and the suspense was relieved by anassuring word from the doctor, that with careful nursing she would soonbe well again. But her convalescence was slow and tedious.
Her former tormentors dared not even yet show the true courage toconfess what they had done, but they daily sent little bouquets offragrant flowers and many delicacies to tempt her returning appetite.Her eyes would light up with surprise and pleasure at the little gifts.
_In the Sick Room_]
One day madam was sitting by her side, and as Fanny seemed to be muchstronger, she ventured to ask after her friends.
"I have no friends, madam, only cousin John who has a large family ofhis own, and has never cared for me. Mother died when I was born. I hada step-mother, but father died five years after, and I've taken care ofmyself ever since."
"And you are only fifteen now?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"How did you get money enough to pay for a year's board and tuitionhere?"
"_I used to fix a book open on my loom_."]
"I earned it all madam, every cent of it. As soon as I was big enough Iwent into a factory, and earned two dollars a week at first, and finallythree dollars and a half; and I worked for my board nights andmornings."
"Poor child!"
"Oh no, ma'am, I was very glad to do it."
"But how did you keep along so well with your studies?"
"I used to fix a book open on my loom, where I could catch a sentencenow and then, and the overseer did not object, because I always did mywork well. You see, madam, I wanted to be a teacher sometime, and I'dhave a better chance to learn here than anywhere else, so I determinedto do it."
"What are your plans for the long vacation?"
"I must go back to the factory and earn enough to get some warmerclothes for the winter. You see, madam, why I can't afford to dressbetter."
Madam's heart was full. She bent over the white, thin, little face, andkissed it reverently.
That evening, when the girls gathered in the chapel for worship, shetold Fannie's story. There was not a dry eye in the room. The momentmadam finished, Belle Burnette sprang up with the tears coursing downher cheeks, and said:--
"Oh, madam! We have been awfully cruel and wicked to that poor girl. Wehave made fun of her from the first, and she would not have been sick asshe was if we had not tormented her almost to death. I was the most toblame.
"It was I that led on the rest, and we have suffered terribly all theseweeks, fearing she might die. You may expel me, or punish me in any wayyou please; for I deserve it; and I shall go down on my knees to ask herpardon, as soon as you will let me see her."
"My child, I am shocked to hear this. I can scarcely believe that any ofmy pupils would ill-treat a companion because she was so unfortunate asto be plain and poor. But you have made a noble confession, and Iforgive you as freely as I believe she will, when she knows how trulyyou have repented of your un
kindness."
By degrees, as she was able to bear it, one after another went to Fannieand begged her forgiveness, which was freely granted. She said:--
"I don't wonder you made fun of me. I know I was poorly dressed, andawful homely. I would have pulled every hair out of my head long agoonly I knew it would grow out as red as ever. But, oh! if I could havefelt that I had just one friend among you all I could have borne it; butsomehow it just broke my heart to have you all turn against me."
After this she gained rapidly, and one fine morning the doctor said shemight join the girls in the drawing room for an hour before tea. Therehad been a vast deal of whispering and hurrying to and fro of late,among the girls, of which Fannie had been totally unconscious.
At the appointed time, madam herself came to assist her, and leaningupon her strong arm, the young girl walked feebly through the long halland down the stairs.
"My dear, the girls have planned a little surprise for you, to make thehour as pleasant as possible."
She opened the door and seated Fannie in an easy chair, as the girlscame gliding in, with smiling faces, singing a sweet song of welcome. Atits close Belle Burnette approached and placed a beautiful wreath offlowers upon her head, saying:--
"Dear Fannie, we crown you our queen to-day, knowing well how far aboveus all you are in His sight, who looketh upon the heart instead of theoutward appearance. You have taught us a lesson we shall never forget,and we beg you to accept a token of sincere love and repentance for ourtreatment of you in the past, which you will find in your room on yourreturn."
Fannie's eyes were full of tears, and she tried to say a word in reply,but madam spoke for her, and after another song, they followed theirnewly crowned queen to the dining-room, where a most tempting feast waslaid in honor of the occasion.
Fannie was quietly, tearfully happy through it all, yet so wearied withthe unusual excitement that madam said she must not see the girl's"peace offering" that night.
The first thing she saw the next morning was a fine large trunk, andlying upon it a card: "For Miss Fannie Comstock, from her teacher andschoolmates." Opening it, she saw that it was packed full of newlyfolded garments, but she had no time to examine the contents until afterbreakfast, when they left her alone with her wonderful gifts.
There were pretty dresses and sacques, a fine new parasol, gloves andribbons, cuffs and collars in abundance--indeed, everything that a youngschoolgirl could possibly need. Every one of madam's two hundred and tenpupils had contributed from their choicest and best, to furnish acomplete outfit for their less favored mate.
_"On the floor, crying like a baby."_]
At the bottom was a well-filled writing desk, an album containing alltheir pictures, and a pretty purse containing $5, and the following notefrom madam:--
"MY DEAR CHILD: This shall be a receipt in full for all expenses, duringwhatever time you may choose to remain in the seminary. This I presentyou as a sincere token of my love and respect.
"JEANNETTE GAZIN."
They found her at dinner time on the floor, surrounded by her newtreasures, crying-like a baby; but it did her good. She was soon able tobegin her studies once more, and was ever afterward treated withkindness and consideration, even though all her hair came out and lefther head bald as her face, so that she had to wear a queer cap-like wigfor many weeks.
When the long vacation arrived, Belle carried her off to her beautifulhome on the Hudson, where for the first time in her life she wassurrounded with beauty and luxury on every side, and was treated as aloved and honored guest.
It was not long before the hateful wig was cast aside, and Fannie's headwas covered with a profusion of dark auburn curls, which were indeed acrown of glory that made her face almost beautiful.
Gentle, loving, and beloved by all, she remained in the seminary untilshe graduated with honor, after which madam offered her the position ofhead teacher, with a most liberal salary, which she gratefully accepted.
HOW BESS MANAGED TOM
* * * * *
Tom's sister Nell was a pretty girl, and being a year older than Tom,wanted to show her authority over him.
The boy was rough and awkward, and just at that age when a boy refusesall meddling with "his rights." He would put his hands in his pockets,his chair on Nell's dress, and his feet on the window-sill.
Of course, they often quarreled: "For pity sake, Tom, do take your handsout of your pockets," Nell would say in her most vexing manner.
"What are pockets for? I'd like to know, if not to put one's hands in,"and Tom would whistle and march off.
"Tom, I don't believe you've combed your hair for a week!"
"Well, what's the use? it would be all roughed up again in less than anhour."
"I do wish, Tom, you would take your great boots off the window-sill!"
"O don't bother me; I'm reading;" Tom would say: and the boots refusedto stir an inch,--which of course was very bad of Tom. And so it wouldgo on from morning till night.
But Sister Bess had a different way of managing her big brother. Sheseemed to understand that coaxing was better than driving. Sometimeswhen he sat with both hands plunged into his pockets, Bess would nestledown close beside him, with a book or a picture, and almost before heknew it, one hand would be patting her curls, while the other turned theleaves or held the pictures.
If she chanced to see his feet on the window-sill, she would say, "Justtry my ottoman, Tom dear, and see how comfortable it is;" and though Tomoccasionally growled in a good natured way about its being too low, theboots always came down to its level.
Whenever his hair looked very rough, she would steal behind him andbrush it for him herself, in a way that Tom liked so well that it was atemptation to let it go rough, just for the pleasure of having her doit.
Yet for the next three days at least, he would take special pains tokeep every hair in its place, simply to please little sister.
As they grew older, Bess, in the same quiet, loving way, helped him togrow wise and manly. If she had an interesting book, she always wantedTom to enjoy it with her. If she was going to call on any of her youngfriends, Tom was always invited to go with her.
"I can't understand," said Sister Nell, "why you should always want thatboy at your elbow; he's rough and awkward as a bear."
"Some bears are as gentle as kittens," declared Bess, slipping her armthrough his with a loving hug, while "the bear" felt a warm glow at hisheart as he walked away with Bess, and determined to be "gentle as akitten" for her sake.
* * * * *
A LITTLE GIRL'S THOUGHTS
Why does the wind lie down at night When all the sky is red, Why does the moon begin to shine When I am put to bed, And all the little stars come out And twinkle overhead?
I see the sun shine all the day, I gather daisies in my play, But oh, I truly wish that I Could see the stars bloom in the sky! I'd love to see the moon shine down And silver all the roofs in town, But always off to sleep I go Just as the sun is getting low.
ALICE VAN LEER CARRICK.
_Gracie's Disorderly Room_]
CARELESS GRACIE'S LESSON
Gracie and Norma Wilson were sisters, aged respectively, fourteen andtwelve. But I think that two sisters were never more unlike than wereGracie and Norma. Norma, who was the younger, was as orderly a littlelady as one could wish to see, while Gracie was just the reverse.
Often their mother would say, in a despairing tone, "Gracie, I do wishyou would care for your room and frocks as Norma cares for hers. Why,you go out with buttons loose, or entirely off your dress, or yourfrocks unmended, not to speak of the untidiness of your room. If onlyyou would take an interest in such things it would gratify me so much.Without an orderly mind no girl can aspire to become a useful member ofsociety."
Then Gracie would try to make excuses for her shortcomings, pleadingthis thing or that as the real cause of her negligence. But her poormother, at her wits' end to
devise some way by which Gracie might bearoused to a sense of her duty, would shake her head and say: "Dearestchild, there is no excuse for your slighting your work, either on yourclothes or in your room. You have plenty of time for both and shouldforce yourself to perform your share of the labor that falls to you todo."
And while Mrs. Wilson was thus advising and entreating her eldestdaughter to do her duty in such small household matters, Norma was busytidying up her dainty room or sewing on her summer frocks, mending lace,ribbons, or putting on buttons and hooks and eyes. She was such acheerfully busy little miss that Gracie's laziness was the morepronounced by contrast with her industry.
* * * * *
One afternoon, while Gracie was sitting idly in the hammock which swungin the broad, awning-covered porch, the phone bell rang and Normaanswered it. The message which reached her ear made her smile veryhappily, and she answered, "Oh, yes, indeed, we shall be delighted togo, and thank you for both of us ever and ever so much. What time shallwe be ready--at four o'clock this afternoon? All right. And we shallprepare some luncheon? Yes, all right, we'll be most happy to do so.Good-bye."
Then to the porch ran Norma, crying to Gracie, excitedly: "Oh, sister,Mrs. Jackson has invited us--you and me--to go with her and Flora andTommy for a long automobile ride. We are to stop on the beach--down atBlake Island--and have a picnic supper by moonlight. We'll return homeabout nine o'clock. Won't that be splendid? I know mamma will be sohappy to have us go, so I accepted for both of us. Mamma won't be homefor over an hour. And we are to start at four. It is now two o'clock.We'll have to be stirring if we are ready when Mrs. Jackson calls. Andshe must not be kept waiting."