Ella Clinton

ed the school-room door, and turning to go, saw the little girl standin

; "I would rather walk wit

your lessons were well recited, and your behaviour has been all that I could wish; and indeed, I might say almost a

e alone, and study hard, until I am sure that I know my lessons perfectly, and it doesn't take nearly so long as I thought it would, and I have plenty of time to play afterwards. A

diately to any duty you have to perform; you will never have cause to regret it. Duty

prayers, I say the words slowly, and try to think of the meaning, and to really want what I ask for; a

like to hear you talk of it being easy to be good, for I fear if you think it so easy, you will trust in your own strength, and forget to ask help of

has naturally no love for what is good and holy, but, on the contrary, a constant inclination to that which is evil; so much so, that we cannot of ourselves resist any temptation to sin, or even so much as think a good thought; we are prone to do evil, and averse to what is good; our goodness is as the morning clo

ood, and seem pleased to see me trying to do right, but aunt Prudence never does. She says people don't deserve to be

it is right and best to give praise because it encourages people in trying to do well. But, Ella, though it is quite right that you should desire to please your aunt, and your undoubted duty to do so, for she stands to you in the place of your parents, whom God has commanded

ore than two weeks, and I'm nearly sure I never will get i

e too confident,"

gry sometimes, but I'm certain almost that I never will get so drea

are not so easily got rid of. But good bye, child," she added, stooping a

id Ella, "I mean to have re

overtook Ella just as she was passing down the lane which bounded that part of her aunt's

"if you will wait till I can get round to them,

"Mother told me not to stop a minute, and I'm all ou

as well scold for one thing as another," said Ella, and as she spoke, she threw her satchel of books over, and then climbed the fence. In a moment she was on the other side, and h

many of her choicest vegetables and flowers, and while she and Sallie, her maid, were engaged in chasing them out, the cakes in the oven had nearly burnt to a cinder; and, to crown all, Sallie, flurried by the scolding of her mistress, ha

d, the instant she caught sight of her niec

id Ella, looking down. "Where,

fiercely, taking hold of the skirt of Ella's dress,

little hole, aunt

always tearing your clothes, and if you'd torn it all

I ain't always tearing my clothes," said she, angrily, "you know I haven't torn

rudence, catching hold of her and shaking her violently, and boxing her

speak, "I don't care if I do tear my clothes! I don't care if I tear them all to pieces, and I shan't try to please you any more, for y

o-day," said aunt Prudence; "if I served you right I'd give you a good switching, and may be I'll do it ye

up in that hot room all the afternoon. I'll st

unt proved the stronger, and after a desperate battle succeeded in forcing her up stairs and into her own room, where she shut her in, and locked the door upon her, and then, putting the key in her p

, she desisted, and sitting down on the floor, she

fectly still, and feeling frightened at the silence, and chilly from the night wind, which

d at them. Instantly springing from the bed, she hastily washed her face, combed her hair, and smoothed her rumpled dress as well as she could, and then tried the door. It was fast; she was still a prisoner, and her satche

, which command Ella very gladly obeyed, as she was very hungry; but, troubled about her lessons, she hurried through her meal

ers to leave the table until every one has finished? Just sit still and behave yourse

ever known her to do before, when she knew that she had scarcely time to learn her lessons before the hour for school. At l

d out aunt Prudence. "W

to get my books, t

alongside of me, and darn it. If you will tear your clothes, I'm determined you shall mend

I won't know my lessons, and Miss Layton will be so angry. Mayn't I learn the

gry. I only hope she'll give you a right good whipping, for if you had behaved

quickly and well. She took a great deal of pains, and was very careful not to make a single long stitch, and at last it was done, and v

and I won't," said Ella, th

"Pick up that dress this m

ed to obey, nor

who was in the next room washing up the breakfast dish

e she appeared at the door with a switch, which

ood still, mute and obstinate. Aunt Prudence seized her by the arm, and laid th

" again inquired her au

said

tep to school till y

t want to go, when I

et, and start this minute. I'll make yo

ver again; though she had spoken truly in saying that she

hed," said aunt Prudence, turning away from the window,

ong: "I can't get to school in time, and I'll be sure to get a bad mark for attendance any

an easy one, she had learned it quite perfectly by the time she had reached the school-house door. The opening exercis

you are so late this mor

Layton; aunt Prudence made

her teacher, "I am very glad, Ella, t

Ella, "but I might have come a little sooner if I hadn't w

e had not looked at her lesson, if it had not been the day for reviewing that study, so that the lesson was one which she had learned only a short time before, and had not entirely forgotten. Grammar was the lesson she dreade

t remain unnoticed by her companions. But Ella was a favourite with most of her school-fellows, and it was not long ere she was missed, and "Where's Ella?" "Where's Ella?" "Did

ou all talking about?" asked S

and we want Ella to be the old witch, but

e bushes. Come along girls, and let's see wha

on a full run across the play-groun

you come and play?" exclaimed Kate Townley pus

rom her book, "so don't talk to me, please, for I'm in a grea

he pattern good girl, that always learns her lessons just as soon as she gets home, and neve

didn't last night, and so please

graphy, and if it had been that naughty girl Sallie Barnes, she would have been kept i

, "you know very well that Miss Layton d

es, at least according to the w

w Ellie didn't miss more than two, and Miss Layt

at in the grammar, for I happen to know that it's pretty hard, and she'll be kept after school

ver struck me in he

er; she did,

know it is," said Ell

ear Miss Layton, that Sallie Barne

ldn't dare to talk so. I don't tell lies nor tales eithe

ar and a tell-tale! Never mind, miss, I'll pa

ry Young. "First you say Miss Layton pets Ella, and then you say she

plying, for at that instant the bell

s she dismissed the grammar class to their seats. "Ella, you must le

u so!" whispered S

she would have been very ready to tell of Ella, she knew that Ella was much too honourable to tell tales of her. As so

ld hesitate. "Had you something to say to me? Don't be afraid to tell me all that is in your heart. If you are in trouble, per

r, burst into tears. Miss Layton stroked her hair, and talked soothingly to her.

never be good. It's no use to

found, my darling? you told me

ayton, if I tell you how wicked I ha

etter for acknowledging your faults. Tell me all about

orning and the previous evening, without a

really been very naughty. In the first place, you ought not to have climbed the

uldn't wait for me to go round to th

to let Lucy go without the flo

lds me! I can never please her, a

our good resolutions? Who is it that sa

nce isn't my mo

e of a parent to you, and the spirit of

've tried and tried and tried, and

and you would not give up in despair, though no one else noticed your efforts, or looked upon you with approval. I

d aunt Prudence! I w

ere is the test, Ella; by your fruits you are to be known. God commands you to honour and obey your

stian, for I'm so very, very wicked, and I can't make myself any better, for I've tr

s feeling your need of the Saviour; for as long as you think that there is any hope that you can heal yourself, you will not apply to the Great Physician. 'Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yo

or I'm afraid I don't want to be good. I feel

want to be good. Jesus said, 'Blessed are they which do hunge

ray for me,

but you must pray for yourself; I cannot do the work for you-n

ive with you!" exclaimed Ella, "

ive at your house, my dear; didn't yo

so glad, so glad!" and Ella clapped her hands

and your aunt has agreed to take me for

come, Miss Layton

ike to live with you, if you are going to be such a n

t; I should be ashamed

ul mortal-than for the great God? more ashamed an

't see him, and I for

o hell, and all they that forget God.' O Ella, when you are tempted to do wrong, remember these words: 'Thou God seest me;'

so, and ask her to forgive me, and I'll do as she bids me, and mend the dre

eness of Go

a'am, I

rning, aunt Prudence," said Ella, coming up to her aunt, on her return from

now, but it'll be just the very same thing aga

n out, and do it over

r enough with it al