Little Fishers: and their Nets

eautifully browned and the coffee was delicious. Mr. Decker had a clean shirt which his wife had contrived to wash and mend, the day before, and all things were harmonious. Some time bef

She put on the dress which had been her best for Sunday, all summer. It was a gingham, a trifle finer and a good deal lighter than

at she never saw a nicer-looking set in her life! She even had the courage to call Mr. Decker to see how nice the two little girls looked, and he came and watched them out o

jerk now and then, to indicate to her that she was not to stir from her protector's side. The situation was becoming embarrassing. Nettie could not leave them, and Jerry would not; though some of the boys were giggling, those of his class were motioning him to leave the group and join them. The superintenden

life, suddenly dropped the hand that held hers, and gave the other to Jerry, with a firm: "I'

p firm hold, and now she had slid away. There was nothing

ich cost a great deal of money. But I mean that this was the first time she had taken in the thought of the difference, so that it gave her a sting. The Sabbath-school which she had been attending, was a mission, in the lower part of the city; the scholars, nearly all of them, coming from homes where there was not much to spare on dress; and the girls of her class had all of them dressed like herself, neatly an

arrow and cheap, and her gloves cotton, but these thi

the strong neat boots in which her plump feet were encased. The look in their eyes said, "How queerly she is dressed!" It was impossible to get away from the thought of their thoughts, and from the fact that the girl next to her drew her blue silk dress closer about

, and their pretty heads bobbed about with the rest, and the white dresses of the two looked as well at a distance as the others, though Nettie could see that there were ruffles, and tucks, and embroidery and lace. But some were plain; and none of the wee ones seemed to notice or to care. It was only Nettie who had gotten among those who made her care, by the glance of their eyes, and

A BAR

class, and the little girls were being kissed by their pretty teacher. Her classmates stood and looked at he

s is Irene Lewis, and this is Cecelia Lester," and in this way she named the seven girls, each one making in turn what seemed to poor Nettie the stiffest little bo

ave you? I haven't seen anything

went afternoons to a private school which had no grades, and that now

y in the afternoon! What a queer idea! I should th

irls who attended this afternoon school, had all of th

rena Barstow. "They are sort of

ith rich embroidery; but she had a disagreeable smile on her

ons, or try to be friendly with her. Just now, she could be glad of only one thing, and that was, that she need not go to school with these disagreeable people. She stepped quite out of sight behind the screen which shield

en one of the others was kind enough to say that she did not s

she wore her very best for the first Sunday; and her hat is of very coarse straw, just the commonest kind, and last year's s

d clean, and she spoke very prettily, an

n't. I was only talki

not of much

don't you wear gingham dresses, and cheap ribbons, and c

ther gets for me; but I truly don't think the

way, as though you were better than anybody else. I

ster took up th

very well, of course. Don't you kn

cker? I never

tie once in awhile, when they have extra company, and I have seen her there, with both the l

tty face, I think. But it seems sort of queer to have her come into our class, doe

ina spoke quietly: "So far as her gingham dress is concerned, I am sure I would just as soon. I don't choose my friends on account of the clothes they wear;

te; and mother likes to have me careful. I am sorry for the girl; but I don't know that I need make her my most intimate friend on tha

he street together yesterday, and they were talking and laughing,

be prepared to an

r Irish name, and he is Irish in face; I think he is coarse-looking; dreadful red cheeks! The girls

telligent boy in town. I used to think he was splendid; I have talked with him some, and he is

re well matched; he works for his board at Job Smith's the carman's, and she

board?" chimed in two

him, run away to California, or somewhere; Jerry will have to learn the carman's trade, and support himself, a

ask them both. I'll tell you what it is, girls, we must stand up for our rights, and not let her have everything her own way. Let's say squarely that we will not go to her party if she invites out of our set. I could endure the boy if I had to, because he is very polite, and merry; and so few of the boys

were waiting for the bell to toll before they went into church. Nettie could not go without the little girls, and she could not stir without being brought into full view. And just then she felt as though it would not be possible for her to meet the eyes of anybody. If only she could run away and hide, where she need never see any of those dreadful girls again! or, for that matter, see anybody. It was true, she was a drunkard's daughter, and would go down

t out of the room, instead of behind the screen. The bell tolled, at last, and Jerry finished his reading, and came over to her, his face bright. The girls in their beautiful plumage fluttered away like gay birds, the teacher of the littl

or the sentence had the tone of a question in it, but truthful Nettie could not say that she enjoy

e fairly outside. "Did you have a good time? Those girls looked a trifle lik

this bit of folly. As it was, she contrived to give him a very little shadow of a smile, and was

Nettie covered her eyes during prayer, she could not help hearing a soft little buzz of whispering voices, even then. Jerry looked straight before him, with bright, untroubled face, and seemed to be having a good time. Susie and Sate, who had never been in church before in their lives, behaved remarkably well. In the course of the morning Sate leaned her little brown head trustingly against Nettie and dropped asleep, and

lk home. She was not yet ready for Jerry's questions. She did not know what to say. Of o

esently a very comfortable family sat down to the table. There were no soup plates, but there were two bowls for the father and mother, and a deep saucer for Norm; and the little girls were made happy with tin cup

the worst day in the week for boys. I was thinking, what if you could get that boy next door to go a-fishing again; Norm enjoyed it last night fir

" she said, "

saying; Sunday is the day when he gets into the wor

ld; but he could not go fi

better than for Norm to go off with a set o

nother wrong thing, even though the thing he chose might be the worse of the two. There was only a simple statement which she could make. "This is God's

ed-cheeked young girl a mom

I was brought up to keep the Sabbath as strict as anybody; I would do it now if I could; but I'm free to conf

him; and he has told us just how to keep the Sabbath day. He couldn't

ttie began to wash the dishes. Suddenly, she dropped her dis

ce, that I see, the other side of the pond? There is such a pretty tree there, and it looks so pleasant on the bank. I have

over there without me," he said, at last; "it isn't such a dreadful ways off; there's a

othing short of keeping Norm out of harm's way would have tempted her to cros

ot used to going about alone. Couldn't you go with us, for just a littl

ed to take care of anybody before. He stood irresolutely for a moment, then said

Mrs. Decker as she went: "Mother, would you mind finishing the dishes? Norman is going to take

mured, as she watched them away, Sate with her hand slipped inside of