Story Of Little Agnes

In a pretty little cottage situated abont one and one-half miles from a large town lived Mrs. Carson and her little daughter Agnes. Mrs. Carson was a poor widow, aud had to labor hard to próvido for her little girl and herself. Not far from tbeir cottage lived a very rich lady and her little daughter Mande. This lady's name was Mrs. Johnson. It happened, I am sony to relate, that Mrs. Johnson wonld not allow Mande to play or have anythiug to do with little Agnes Carson, becausd she said chat Agnes' mother was very poor aud did not dress her daughtet oice enougb to be seen with her little daugbter Maude. One day when Agnes came home from sohool she told her mother that there was a sohool picnic to be held in a small wood not far from their cottage, and she kept teasing her mother to allow her to go, wbo would not listen to her going. "You have no clothes to wear auywhere, so you must not ask me to let you go," she said. But Agnes said that she would wear her plaiu white dress and she didn't care if the otber children did make fun of her. At last her mother gave her leave to go. Oh ! how delighted Agnes was then, she could hardly wait for the happy day to come. Finally the day came and what a beautiful one it was. The sun shone brigbtly and the wind blew just enougb to make that summer day a very cool and pleasaut one. Agnes woke up that moruing btight aud early. Sbe had so very few enjoyments, tbat the thought of goiug to a picnio made her so happy that she could hardly wait for the inorning to pass away. At last it was time to go. The rest of the ohildren there were dressed very prettily in their muslins and lawns. Maude Jobuson looked very pretty iu her muslin aud laces; but Agnes lookod far nioer in her little cotton dreBS, which her mother had taken so much pains iu washing and ironing. The childreu had a merry time playing games. Near where they were playiag was a small lake. Maude was standing near the dge of the water wbeu soraebody an up against her aud knocked her uto the water. The ohildreu were frightened, and stood around the place with upraised hands, all but Agnes, who being not in the least bit daunted ran forward and plunging ioto the water soon bore Maude uuconscious bat alive to the dry laud. Mauy of those standing near saw Agnes perform the brave act, but they said notbing to her. When she reacbed home sb3 told he mother the whole story. That night her mother thanked God for giving her daughter strength to perform this noble act. The next day Maude and her naother went over to see Mrs. Oarson and little Agnes, and yon rnay be sure that lady was very grateful to Agnes for hei noble aot. She brougbt them ovei some very nice clothing aud rnouey aod Mrs. Carson and Agnes were not too proud to take the gifts. Maurlo and Agnes now visit eaoh other uearlj every day. Mrs. Carson and Agues are goiug to live with Mrs. Johnson and her daughter and yon may imagine ho-.v happy our little heroiue will be then.