OCR Text |
Show f WORD IN fctflSON "If I have been able to accomplish anything In my life," said a woman famous as one of the most kindly and lovable among leaders of the bast American society, "It Is dun to the word spoken to ms In the rlKht season wben I was a child by m- old 'jacher. I was the only home y, i v ssrd nnt In a clans of exceptional. f beautiful girls, and being also dull at my books, I became the derision of the school. I fell Into a morose, despslrlng stste, gsve up study, withdrew Into myself and dally grew more bitter and vln- dlctlve. One day the trench teacher F a gray-haired old woman with keen i eyes and a brlgbt smile found me crying. 'Qu as-tu, ma fllle?' she j asked. 'Oh, madam, I am so ugly!' I i sobbed out I "Khe soothed me, but did not con- tradlct me. Presently sbe took me 1 Into her room and said, T have a prea- I ent for you,' bantling me a scaly, coarse lump covered with earth. 'It I Is round slid brown as you. Ugly, did you say? Very well. Wo will call It i by your name, then. It Is you. Now, you shall plunt It and water It and glvo It sun for a week or two.' I ' planted It aud watched It rarefuly. j Ure.-L leaves came out at first and at c leugtk a golden Jupiiueso Illy tbe first I bad ever seen. Madam cams to share my delight. 'Ah!' she said significantly, 'who would believe so much beauty and fiiigrnnce were shut s up ln that ugly thing? Hut it took : c-.rt. and grew In the sunlight!' It m I He I'rat tune It ever occurred to t that Jti spite of my ugly face I, -i:U-'it bo nbl i to win friends and fnake ni;oHlf beloved." |