“Would’nt it be grand,” said Nellie Jones.

“Splendid,” replied Mattie Lee.

“Why! what is the matter?” said Mary Paine, who had been absent from school during the day until then and was surprised to find her usually pleasant companions so excited.  When she had heard the whole story, she looked very sad:—­

“Poor Miss Capron!  How could you treat her so!”

“It is just what she deserves for being so cross,” said Lottie Barnes.

“Oh, you have been looking at the wrong side, girls.  I have heard a story of a lady who began to find faults in her son’s wife.  The more she looked for them, the more she found, until she began to think her daughter-in-law the most disagreeable person in the world.  She used to talk of her failings to a very dear friend.

“Finally, her friend said to her one day, ’No doubt Jane has her faults, and very disagreeable ones, but suppose for awhile you try to see what good qualities you can discover in her character.  Really, I am very curious to know.’

“The good lady was a little offended at her friend’s plain suggestion; but finally concluded to try it; and long before she had discovered half her good traits, she began to regard Jane as a perfect treasure.  Now you have been doing just as this lady did, in looking for faults.  Let us be like her the rest of the afternoon in looking for pleasant things.  Let us see how many smiles we can get from Miss Capron.”

Mary Paine was one of the oldest girls in the school.  She gave the girls subjects for their compositions and helped them out of all their troubles.  So being a favorite they consented, half reluctantly, to do as she said.

Miss Capron dreaded to ring the bell.  The fifteen minutes passed, and she felt compelled to call her scholars.  They entered in perfect order.

[Illustration:  “She felt compelled to call her scholars.”]

Each took her seat quietly and began studying in real earnest.  Frequently, however, a pleasant smile would seek an answering one from the teacher, and then one would be added to the rapidly increasing row of smile-marks.  The good order and close application to study, and the winning looks, soon caused a continual smile to lighten Miss Capron’s face, till the girls finally rubbed out the marks, saying it was of no use to try to keep account.

Marcia Lewis wrote on her slate, “It’s smile all the time.”

Before Miss Capron dismissed the school at night, she said:—­

“My head ached sadly before recess, and I fear I was impatient with you.  Your good conduct since has convinced me that I must have been in fault.  I thank you, my dear girls, for your love and kindness, and hope you will forgive my faults as freely as I do yours.  School is dismissed.”

Instantly she was surrounded by all the girls and showered with kisses.

“We have been very wicked,” said Marcia Lewis, “and it is not your fault at all.”