might choose any five I liked to be my
class. First, I chose the dearest little Irish girl. Her name is Norah,
and she's just as pretty as she can be, only her face was dreadfully
dirty, and her clothes all rags. Then her little sister Kathleen cried
to come; so I took her too. Then I chose a cunning little German tot
named Gretchen. She has yellow hair, braided in tight little tails down
her back, and is a good deal cleaner than the rest, but not very clean,
you know; and she hadn't any shoes at all. Then Mrs. Wallis brought up
the funniest little French girl, with a name I can't pronounce. I'm
going to call her Amy. And the last of all is an American, real pretty.
Her name is Rachel Gray. Her father is gone on a whaling voyage, and
won't be back for three years. Don't they sound nice, mother? I think I
shall like teaching them so much!"

"Do they know any thing about sewing?" asked Mrs. Forcythe.

"Not a thing. They made dreadful stitches. Kathleen cried because the
needle pricked her, and Rachel wanted to wear the thimble on the wrong
finger. Amy did the best. When they went away they all wanted to kiss
me, and Norah said she guessed I was the best teacher in the school.
Wasn't that cunning? Mrs. Wallis is real kind. She brought ever so much
gingerbread, and gave each of the children a piece."

"I'm glad it begins so well--"

"Yes. There's just one thing, though. The children's faces! You can't
think how dirty they are. I should like to give them a good scrub all
round."

"Well, why don't you?"

"How can I? There isn't any wash-bowl down at the school-room."

"If you liked you might have them all come here at ten o'clock, and walk
down with you. Then you could take them up to your room, wash their
faces and hands, and brush their hair smooth before you start. I really
think you would enjoy your teaching more if the scholars were clean."

"May I really do that?"

"Yes. I'll buy you a fresh cake of soap and a brush, and you can take
two clean towels from the drawer every Saturday morning. Make it a rule,
but be very gentle and pleasant about it or the children may refuse."

"O mother, what a good plan! Thank you so much," said Mary with
sparkling eyes. "Now I shall have real comfort with them."

There was great excitement in the sewing-class when they were told that
in future they were to go to "Teacher's" house every Saturday, and walk
down to school with her. They were a droll little procession enough whe