Ella Clinton

alf so much. You come in from school, and bonnet goes here, and book there. It's no use to talk to you, and one might run after you all day, and then couldn't keep the house to rights. I decla

ren were ever made for. I'm sure they're nothing bu

oom, and throwing herself upon the bed,

er. O mother, mother! why, O why, did you die and leave me? I can't be good without you. I do try to be good, but Aunt

r own way of showing it. She was careful to provide the little girl with all that she considered necessary for her comfort, and, as she said, took a great deal of pains to teach her habits of neatness and order; but Ella, even more than most children, needed "line upon line, and precept upon precept," and her aunt's patience was apt to be soon exhausted. Ella's mother had always taken a great deal of pains to correct her faults, but she was very patient; always talked with her about the folly and wickedness of her behaviour, and tried to make her see the reasonableness of her requirements; and when she punished her, she did it in such a way as to convince the child that it was done for her good, and not beca

la, I don't want such a wicked little girl near me. You're the most ungrateful child that ever I saw. If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have a roof to cover your head, nor a bite of victuals to put in your mouth, nor a rag to your bac

and sometimes it sent her to her mother's grave, to throw

long for her mother, and then as her angry feelings subsided, she began to think of that mother's reproofs and instructions. How often had she warned her of the great wickedness of indulging her temper, and entreated her to try to govern it! How often she had talked to her of the kindness of her aunt in taking her, a poor, friendless, penniless child into her house, and providin

y never to be so naughty again; just as I used to

re this minute, and get your supper. What in the world are you staying up there all this time in the co

udence looked so cold and stern, that when she tried to speak, the words seemed to stick in her throat. The meal passed off in almost

ions. It was late when she waked, and she dressed in great haste lest she should not be ready for breakfast, for which her aunt would certainly have punished her. She said her prayers, it is true, for she had been too well taught to think of omitting them altogether, but she

or his assistance; and Oh! wherever you are, at home, at school, in the street, at your studies, or at your play, remember that the eye of God is upon you, that he

er dinner basket,-for the school was at some distance, and she usually carri

walked along briskly enough, until she had gone rather more than half way, but then having reached a pond where the children of the village were in the habit of skating and sliding in their play-hours, she said to herself, "It was only half-past eight when I started; I'm sure I might take time to sl

nd was off with the contents of the basket before she reached the place. She chased him for a long distance, for she felt quite unwilling to lose her dinner, but at length he was quite out of sight, and she gave it up in despair. All out of breath with running, she returned to the spot where she had left her books, and picking them up, hurried on to school, for she now began to be quite frightened at

mmenced, girls

arth did you come to be so late? You'll catch it, I can tell you; for t

lay on the ice, and then a dog ran away with my dinner, and I had to run

irl, and felt sorry to see her cry, "you can just tell him that you

a perfectly truthful child. "My mother always told me it was a dreadful sin to say what was not true, and when s

cies a whipping, I'm sure she's welcome to it for

my advice, Ellie," sa

e school room, and went to her seat as softly as possible

with fear she obeyed. "Do you know what time it is, miss?" said he, looking at his

. The room was so still that the ticking

n breathless silen

d the master, "wh

lide a little o

scape a flogging because you're a girl," and taking hold of her little tender hand, he brought his heavy ruler down upon it again an

y to another, "that's what fol

ng about there, sir?"

I was just saying, the

book when you move your lips, or

l on myself just to get a licking," mutter

long the day seemed! but it was over at last; school was dismissed, and Ella walked slowly and sadly homeward, dreading the moment when aunt Prudence should learn the sad accident which had befallen her dress. She was considering, as she walked along, what would be her wisest course of action, and remembering that her mother had often told her, if she would come and inform her immediately of an accident, without an

been about, to get that great, long slit in your dress? C

aunt Prudence," sobbed the c

and just look at it now; nearly ruined. You're always climbing fences and trees. A perfect tom-boy you are, besides being the most careless, troublesome, ungrateful child I ever laid my eyes on. But I'll see if I can't put a stop to it. Y

nt was a very long one, aunt Prudence very particular, and she herself, after all the labours and tro

he more I can't. Oh, mother, mother, I can't be good without you! I wish I was dead too, and I do believe aunt Prudence wishes I was. I don't believe she lov

time, but still she was almost always in disgrace, and continually getting punished, both at home and at school, for there was sca

y duty. There's never a day passes over my head, that I don't give her a scolding or may be a whipping, but it don't seem to do a bit of good; indeed I believe she grows worse instead of better. She's enough to try the patience of Job, as I often tell her, and such an awful temper as she has got! you never s

ement, and always found something to scold her for, and so the poor child grew discouraged, and gave up trying. "It's no use to try to be good, and please aunt Prudence," she would say to herself, "for she

scholars present. A few moments had been spent in talking together, when Ella, who had been walking about, looking into the desks, sud

hat one of Ella's faults was a habit o

inkstand, copper-plate copies, ruler, &c.

u afraid to touch Mr. Burton's things? Why he'

I'll put them all back before he comes,

you'd better take care, or

s confidence, she went on playing teacher until in bringing down the ruler upon the desk, in imitati

d in an instant the black streams were

l I do? what shall I do?" she exclaimed, bursting

nd did all they could to help and comfort

been done, Louisa said, "Now come, girls, let's go off somewhere till school time, and Mr. Burton will never know w

s," said Ella, "it wouldn't be right for m

to know who did it. The door is always left unlocked in the morning, and it might have been somebody who doesn't belong to the school at al

out of hearing of the bell, and there they remained until they heard it ring for school. Then hurrying in, along with the others, they seated themselves and tried to look as though nothing had happened. Ella took out

one has been at my desk meddling with its contents; a thing which I have posit

don't know anything about it;" "I just

come forward here, sir, and you Mary Young, and Sallie Barnes, and Henry Harris. You were the only scholars here when I came, and it must be that you know

u. Which of you did it?" There was no reply. Mr. Burton was growing pale with passion. "Tell me instantly," said

ched the gate, as Sallie and I came round the fence corner, and I think the misch

onspiracy to shield the guilty one; but I'll fix you. You shall tell me instantly which of you did it, or I'll give every one of you

gnation. Jonas looked frightened and despairing, Harry indignant and defiant. Meantime a fierce struggle was going on in Ella's breast. Should she sit by and see others punished for what was her fault alone? or should she expose herself to certain and severe chas

aking up his ruler, and catching Jonas by the

deed I didn't; don't whi

teacher, at the same time striking him with

d the next instant she was beside the angry man, sayi

and shook her violently. "Yes, I might have known it was you, the most meddlesome,

again; indeed, indee

ry man, "for I'll give you such a dressi

several weeks before she entirely recovered from its effects. Aunt P

Burton isn't fit to teach!" she continued; "a man that can't govern his temper better than that, and treat children like human beings, instead of like brutes, isn't fit to have the control of them. For my part, if I could have my way, he should be sent to the State's prison; it would only be too good for him. And you, Ella, you're the most foolish c

nd besides, poor Jonas gets so many beatings at home from his drunken father, and Mary You

d her eyes, and she was kinder to the poor, motherless child that evening, than

ing with delight, "I could almost thank Mr. Burt

nk," said aunt Prudence, getting up and going to th