A SCHOOL GIRLS QUARREL.



I DON'T like the title to this article. How bad it sounds! But as things of that sort do sometimes occur, perhaps it may not be amiss to tell you of this one, that you may see how they look on paper, and how little they really amount to.

Clara and Nellie were the best of friends; but for all that, standing upon the steps one day, I heard Nellie say, "I'll never speak to Clara again, as long as I live! She's real hateful!" Her voice was all choked with sobs, and the words jerked themselves out with an effort.

Just then the school-bell rang, and I decided that it was not the time to interfere. Nellie's tears were soon dried; but I noticed that the two girls avoided each other all day.

The next day, at noon, Clara came to me, complaining that Nellie would not speak to her, and she did not know what she had done. Then, calling Nellie, I set to work to get at the bottom of the trouble. This was the result: 

"Clara told Fanny not to let me take the jumping-rope. She said that neither Lucy nor I was to have it at all," said Nellie.

"Well, Clara," I said, " that does look bad. What is the explanation?"

"I asked Tom if we might take that rope, and he said we might, if we wouldn't let any one else have it. I had been jumping, and got tired, when Alice wanted me to go and swing; so I left the rope with Fannie and Julia. Just then I saw Nellie and Lucy coming up the walk, and I said, 'Remember that the girls can't take the rope.' I don't know why Fannie didn't tell the reason. I suppose Nellie thought that I didn't want her to take it; but that was all the reason. I don't see as I am to blame."

"Not much, according to that story," I said, "but just a little. You ought to have made it look all right by waiting until Nellie came, and explaining the matter to her." 

"But she ought to know that I like her, and wouldn't be hateful to her on purpose," said Clara; and I think she was right about that. Two girls that love each other ought surely to trust each other.

"Well, girls," I said presently," it seems to me that this trouble does not amount to much after all. Don't you think that the better way is to let it all go, and just be friends again?"

"Yes, yes;" answered both girls; so they "made up," then and there; and locking arms, went out to join their playmates who were swinging under the trees.

As I heard their merry laugh ring out, I thought about these "school-girl quarrels," that amount to nothing, though they are not all so easily "made up" as this one. Girls, I do not think that these quarrels are good for you. 

They do not help to form a beautiful character. Let the spirit of love prevail upon the play-ground and in the school-room, and then shall you one and all grow day by day into a perfect womanhood. 




Home School.