CHAPTER V. THE PRIZE WINNER
"Are you going to the examination to-day, mother?" asked Harry, atbreakfast.
"I should like to go," said Mrs. Walton, "but I don't see how I can.To-day's my bakin' day, and somehow my work has got behindhand duringthe week."
"I think Harry'll get the prize," said Tom, a boy of ten, not heretoforementioned. He also attended the school, but was not as promising as hisoldest brother.
"What prize?" asked Mrs. Walton, looking up with interest.
"The master offered a prize, at the beginning of the term, to thescholar that was most faithful to his studies."
"What is the prize?"
"A book."
"Do you think you will get it, Harry?" asked his mother.
"I don't know," said Harry, modestly. "I think I have some chance ofgetting it."
"When will it be given?"
"Toward the close of the afternoon."
"Maybe I can get time to come in then; I'll try."
"I wish you would come, mother," said Harry earnestly. "Only don't bedisappointed if I don't get it. I've been trying, but there are someother good scholars."
"You're the best, Harry," said Tom.
"I don't know about that. I shan't count my chickens before they arehatched. Only if I am to get the prize I should like to have motherthere."
"I know you're a good scholar, and have improved your time," said Mrs.Walton. "I wish your father was rich enough to send you to college."
"I should like that very much," said Harry, his eyes sparkling at merelythe suggestion.
"But it isn't much use hoping," continued his mother, with a sigh. "Itdoesn't seem clear whether we can get a decent living, much less sendour boy to college. The cow is a great loss to us."
Just then Mr. Walton came in from the barn.
"How do you like the new cow, father?" asked Harry.
"She isn't equal to our old one. She doesn't give as much milk withintwo quarts, if this morning's milking is a fair sample."
"You paid enough for her," said Mrs. Walton.
"I paid too much for her," answered her husband, "but it was the best Icould do. I had to buy on credit, and Squire Green knew I must pay hisprice, or go without."
"Forty-three dollars is a great deal of money to pay for a cow."
"Not for some cows. Some are worth more; but this one isn't."
"What do you think she is really worth?"
"Thirty-three dollars is the most I would give if I had the cash topay."
"I think it's mean in Squire Green to take such advantage of you," saidHarry.
"You mustn't say so, Harry, for it won't do for me to get the squire'sill will. I am owing him money. I've agreed to pay for the cow in sixmonths."
"Can you do it?"
"I don't see how; but the money's on interest, and it maybe thesquire'll let it stay. I forgot to say, though, that last evening when Iwent to get the cow he made me agree to forfeit ten dollars if I wasnot ready with the money and interest in six months. I am afraid he willinsist on that if I can't keep my agreement."
"It will be better for you to pay, and have done with it."
"Of course. I shall try to do it, if I have to borrow the money. Isuppose I shall have to do that."
Meantime Harry was busy thinking. "Wouldn't it be possible for me toearn money enough to pay for the cow in six months? I wish I could doit, and relieve father."
He began to think over all the possible ways of earning money, butthere was nothing in particular to do in the town except to work for thefarmers, and there was very little money to earn ill that way. Money isa scarce commodity with farmers everywhere. Most of their income is inthe shape of farm produce, and used in the family. Only a small surplusis converted into money, and a dollar, therefore, seems more to themthan to a mechanic, whose substantial income is perhaps less. This isthe reason, probably, why farmers are generally loath to spend money.Harry knew that if he should hire out to a farmer for the six months theutmost he could expect would be a dollar a week, and it was not certainhe could earn that. Besides, he would probably be worth as much to hisfather as anyone, and his labor in neither case provide money to pay forthe cow. Obviously that would not answer. He must think of some otherway, but at present none seemed open. He sensibly deferred thinking tillafter the examination.
"Are you going to the school examination, father?" asked our hero.
"I can't spare time, Harry. I should like to, for I want to know howfar you have progressed. 'Live and learn,' my boy. That's a good motto,though Squire Green thinks that 'Live and earn' is a better."
"That's the rule he acts on," said Mrs. Walton. "He isn't troubled withlearning."
"No, he isn't as good a scholar probably as Tom, here."
"Isn't he?" said Tom, rather complacently.
"Don't feel too much flattered, Tom," said his mother.
"You don't know enough to hurt you."
"He never will," said his sister, Jane, laughing.
"I don't want to know enough to hurt me," returned Tom, good humoredly.He was rather used to such compliments, and didn't mind them.
"No," said Mr. Walton; "I am afraid I can't spare time to come to theexamination. Are you going, mother?"
It is quite common in the country for husbands to address wives in thismanner.
"I shall try to go in the last of the afternoon," said Mrs. Walton.
"If you will come, mother," said Harry, "we'll all help you afterwards,so you won't lose anything by it."
"I think I will contrive to come."
The examination took place in the afternoon. Mr. Burbank preferred tohave it so, for two reasons. It allowed time to submit the pupils toa previous private examination in the morning, thus insuring a betterappearance in the afternoon. Besides, in the second place, the parentswere more likely to be at liberty to attend in the afternoon, and henaturally liked to have as many visitors as possible. He was really agood teacher, though his qualifications were limited; but as far as hisknowledge went, he was quite successful in imparting it to others.
In the afternoon there was quite a fair attendance of parents andfriends of the scholars, though some did not come in till late, likeMrs. Walton. It is not my intention to speak of the examinationin detail. My readers know too little of the scholars to make thatinteresting. Ephraim Higgins made some amusing mistakes, but that didn'texcite any surprise, for his scholarship was correctly estimated in thevillage. Tom Walton did passably well, but was not likely to make hisparents proud of his performances. Harry, however, eclipsed himself. Hisambition had been stirred by the offer of a prize, and he was resolvedto deserve it. His recitations were prompt and correct, and his answerswere given with confidence. But perhaps he did himself most credit indeclamation. He had always been very fond of that, and though he hadnever received and scientific instruction in it, he possessed a naturalgrace and a deep feeling of earnestness which made success easy. He hadselected an extract from Webster--the reply to the Hayne--and this wasthe showpiece of the afternoon. The rest of the declamation was crudeenough, but Harry's impressed even the most ignorant of his listenersas superior for a boy of his age. When he uttered his last sentence, andmade a parting bow, there was subdued applause, and brought a flush ofgratification to the cheek of our young hero.
"This is the last exercise," said the teacher "except one. At thecommencement of the term, I offered a prize to the scholar that would dothe best from that time till the close of the school. I will now awardthe prize. Harry Walton, come forward."
Harry rose from his seat, his cheeks flushed again with gratification,and advanced to where the teacher was standing.
"Harry," said Mr. Burbank, "I have no hesitation in giving you theprize. You have excelled all the other scholars, and it is fairly yours.The book is not of much value, but I think you will find it interestingand instructive. It is the life of the great American philosopher andstatesman, Benjamin Franklin. I hope you will read and profit by it, andtry like him to make your
life a credit to yourself and a blessing tomankind."
"Thank you, sir," said Harry, bowing low. "I will try to do so."
There was a speech by the chairman of the school committee, in whichallusion was made to Harry and the prize, and the exercises were over.Harry received the congratulations of his schoolmates and others withmodest satisfaction, but he was most pleased by the evident pride andpleasure which his mother exhibited, when she, too, was congratulatedon his success. His worldly prospects were very uncertain, but he hadachieved the success for which he had been laboring, and he was happy.