had scarcely placed her at
a desk, and bowed Madam Grandma out of the school-room, when the
chattering commenced. Anna Maria leaned over and whispered something to
the girl on her right hand, then something to the one on the left, then
a word to the one in front of her, then a word to the one behind her.
Miss Matilda looked at her gently, then gently reprovingly, then
reprovingly, then sternly, and all the glances were totally lost on Anna
Maria. Miss Matilda benevolently thought, Perhaps this child has never
been to school before.

"Anna Maria," she said, in a serious tone.

"What, ma'am?" said Anna Maria, looking up with perfect innocence in her
clear blue eyes.

"Did you ever attend school before?"

"Oh dear yes! Why, I went when I was only three years old. First I went
to Mrs. McToole's, and then I went to Miss Smith's, and then I went to
Mr. Brown's, and then--"

"There, that will do," exclaimed Miss Matilda. "You can tell me the rest
some other time. What I wish to know now is, were you allowed to talk as
much as you pleased in those schools?"

"Well, I don't know as I was," replied Anna Maria, looking down, and
blushing a little.

"The rule here," continued Miss Matilda, "is _silence_. I hope, my dear,
that you will never speak except when it is absolutely necessary."

"Yes, ma'am," said Anna Maria, in a subdued tone, after which she closed
her lips very tightly.

Miss Matilda called up the first class in geography, and proceeded to
hear the lesson. In about five minutes her keen ear became conscious of
a faint whispering sound. She glanced quickly in the direction of Anna
Maria: evidently it was her little tongue that was wagging. But it was
wagging very gently, and its waggery was addressed to one of the best
girls in school. Miss Matilda thought, Perhaps she is asking some
necessary questions: I will not be severe with her the first day. So she
said nothing. But in five minutes more the whisper had risen to quite a
buzz, and Miss Matilda detected distinctly the words, "White, with three
flounces, and a new pink sash."

"Anna Maria!" she exclaimed.

"What, ma'am?"

"Did I not tell you that you were not to speak unless it was absolutely
necessary?"

"Oh dear yes! I beg your pardon, teacher. I forgot all about it."

"Well, my dear, I trust you will be perfectly quiet now."

"Yes, ma'am," said Anna Maria, very meekly. She closed her lips tightly
again, and was quiet--for about five minutes.