few schoolgirls have to do nowadays,
and that is to sweep the schoolroom--a large room that had to be swept
every day after the closing hour.

Do you think that you would like such a task? Well, some of the big
girls at Dorothy's school didn't like it either; but little Dorothy and
most of her little mates thought it was a great honor, and they liked
to have their turn come to sweep.

Dorothy had not been to school for quite one year, and the teacher had
never appointed her to be one of the sweepers. Dorothy wondered why. She
swept the porches at home, and mother said she did it well, too. She did
so want to sweep the schoolroom when Amy Brown did, for there were
always two of the small girls, each sweeping half of the room.

Day after day the teacher called the names of those who were to perform
the task. Day after day Dorothy listened with a fast-beating heart and
was disappointed.

One day Lena swept almost the entire floor alone. She was younger than
Dorothy, too, but she did her work so poorly that the teacher had to do
it over after Lena had gone. Dorothy knew, for she watched, hoping the
teacher would tell her to do it.

At last one rainy day there were but a few at school, and those who were
there had recently swept the floor. As the teacher glanced around before
making the usual appointment, she looked at Dorothy, and Dorothy turned
red in the face with excitement. Perhaps the teacher thought the shy
little girl was afraid to be called on; anyway, she passed her by and
called on Lena Webb--Lena Webb and Amy Brown.

Oh, oh! Dorothy could hardly keep from crying with disappointment, and
Lena came near crying because she was asked again so soon.

Dorothy stayed, waiting for Amy to walk home with her, and of course she
watched the work.

She looked with disapproval at the streaks of dust that Lena was
leaving, and finally she pointed them out to Lena. She was astonished
when Lena threw down her broom, and cried out, "You just sweep it
yourself, Dorothy Wenning!"

Before the teacher could interfere Dorothy snatched the broom,
exclaiming--"All right--I just _love_ to sweep!"

The teacher said nothing, but she noticed how evenly and clean Dorothy
was doing her work, and when the task was done she said to Dorothy, "My
dear, you have done so very well to-day that I am going to appoint you
and Amy to sweep again to-morrow."

How happily and eagerly Dorothy skipped home to tell her mother that at
last she ha