erally did come clean. Of course the teacher still needed the basin and brush for emergency cases, but the influence of the school was shown in the fact that each day they were less needed. Fond as the children were of the teacher, it was not a coveted honour to be scrubbed by her hands. But while hands and faces were nearly always scrupulously clean, the clothes were not always what could be desired. The hardworked mothers, who had to carry their wash-water, did not take kindly to extra laundry work. In the quantity of clothing worn there also began to be some improvement. In time it might come to be the fashion for the mothers to buy flannels for the children instead of earrings, or even milk instead of beer. The homes, too, showed the effect of the kindergarten. They were not quite so squalid as at first, and there was some effort made to induce the grass and even flowers to grow in the unkempt side. yards. English was no longer an unknown tongue. A few of the older scholars, who had graduated from the kindergarten went to the new public school which was built within reach of Graham's Patch. They learned that there was something in this American world besides the coal breaker for the boys and a life of hopeless drudgery for the girls. They had become a part of the great Republic-a very small part, but they were no longer aliens. Some two years after the first interview, the Old Mogul sent for the rector and said: "I was in your kindergarten down at Number Four the other day, and saw thirty-five little youngsters there that could hardly have been told from white children. If you can get another teacher like that one you have, I wish you'd send for her. The Company wants to open a school. Since you people at the mission have gone into politics we've saved enough on taxes to afford a few luxuries. We'll charge up the running expenses to the mine, and open another kindergarten at Number Five. Can you furnish us with the teacher?" "The threads our hands in blindness spin -WHITTIER. "I XV AN ASSISTED IMMIGRANT DECLARE there's that Hungarian beggar coming again! It's only a week since he was here before, and I gave him five cents to get rid of him. Well, he'll get nothing here to-day," said Mrs. Hatton, decidedly. Going to the window she shook her head vigorously, exclaiming in a constantly rising tone, "No money, no money, no money! There, I hope I'm rid of him!" she said, turning to her visitor with some vehemence still noticeable in her voice. The man carefully closed the gate, and was turning to leave when Mrs. Warne, who was visiting her friend, caught sight of him. "You "Why, it's Andro Klechi," she said, rising. won't mind if I call after him? I want him to do, a little work for me." "O Andro," she called, "how you making out, now?" Mrs. Hatton settled back with rather an indulgent smile. She was getting used to Mrs. Warne's vagaries. "Another of Helen's friends," she thought. "I wonder if she will think it necessary to introduce. him? The idea of being chummy with that ugly Hungarian!" |