One morning Ella reached the school room unusually early; it still wanted nearly an hour to school time, and there were but two other scholars present. A few moments had been spent in talking together, when Ella, who had been walking about, looking into the desks, suddenly exclaimed, "Why Mr. Burton has left his desk unlocked! O girls, let's play school! I'll be teacher and have you for my scholars."
The others assented. I have told you that one of Ella's faults was a habit of meddling with other people's things.
She now proceeded to take out Mr. Burton's inkstand, copper-plate copies, ruler, &c., and place them on the outside of the desk.
"Oh! Ella!" exclaimed Rachel Frost, "aren't you afraid to touch Mr. Burton's things? Why he'll whip you like everything if he finds it out."
"Oh, but he won't know it, Rachel, for I'll put them all back before he comes, and I know you and Louisa won't tell."
"No, of course we won't; but you'd better take care, or he may come in and catch you."
"No danger," said Ella, "he never comes more than ten minutes before school time." And secure in this confidence, she went on playing teacher until in bringing down the ruler upon the desk, in imitation of Mr. Burton when he would call out "Silence!" to the scholars, she accidentally hit the inkstand.
The glass was shivered by the blow, and in an instant the black streams were running over the desk, and the copies.
Poor Ella was terribly frightened. "Oh! what shall I do? what shall I do?" she exclaimed, bursting into tears. "Oh! I wish I hadn't been meddling."
Her schoolmates were very sorry for her, and did all they could to help and comfort her, but the mischief could not be undone.