Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-02-10

COilpldCtul All, WIllIC SuC uICe thS
eyes of a fair and beautiful, but naughty
looking girl Of fifteen, seated among the
pupils.
as he concluded, and laying it aside with
out comment, he took up the next-Lines
to a %favorite Tree by Catharine Sumner.
The next a story, and Harriet Cartoons
eyes and checks changed color as she lis
tened. 1t was the same, yet not the samel
The incidents were hers, the sentiments
were novel-like, and many a flowery and
highly-wrought sentence had been intro
duced, which she had never heard before.
She sat speeches. with wonder, indigna-
ton, and dismay, and though several other
inferior compositions were read, she was
so absorbed in r%everie, that she heard no
more until she was startled by Mr.. Went
worth's voice calling her by name. She
looked up. In his hand was the prize-a
richly chased golden pencil case, suspended
to a chain Of the same material. The
sound, the sight recalled her bewildered
faculties, and ere she reached the desk, she
had formed a resolution, which, however,
it required all her native strength of soul to
put it in practice.
Miss Carlton, the prize is yours, and
the teacher leaned forward to throw the
chain around her neck. The child drew
back
% mo sir she said in a low but firm and
distinct voice, looking up bravely in his
face, Il did not write the story you have
read
Not write it' exclaimed Mr.. Wentworth,
why then does it bear your namel Am l
to understand, Miss Carlton, that you have
asked another's assistance in your compo-
%sition, and that you now repent the decep-
ton
Poor Harriet! this was to much Her dark
eye first flashed, and, then filled with
tears; her lip trembled with emotion, and
she paused a moment as if disdaining a re-
ply to this unmerited charge.
A slight aud s%neering laugh from the
beauty aroused her, and she answered, re-
spectfully but firmly.
The story, / did write, was in that en-.
velope yesterday. Some one has changed
it without my knowledge. 1t was not so
good as that you have read; so | must not
take the prize
There was a murmur of applause through
the assembly, and the teacher bent upon
the b~lushing girl a look of approval, which
amply repaid her for all the embarrassment
she suffered.
Aunt Eloise took advantage Of the mo- =
mentary excitement to steal from the room. !
Harriet took her seat, and Miss Angelina :
Burton was next called up. The portly i
matron leaned smilingly forward; and the q
graceful little beauty, already affecting the |
airs of a fine lady, sauntered up to the desk
and languidly reached out her hand for the !
prize. Il
| cannot shy much for your taste in %selec- c
ton, Miss Burton. | do not admire your d
authors sentiments. The next time you
wish to make an extract, you must allow I
me to choose for you. There are better ?
things than this, even in the trashy Maya =
zine from which you have copied it. -
And with this severe, but Justly merited n
reproof of the imposition that had been @
practised, he handed the young lady, not
the prize, which she expected, but the MS. $
essay on Friendship, which she had copied !
word for word, from an old Magazine.
The portly lady turned very red, and the
beauty, bursting into tears of anger and
modification, returned 10 her seat discom- :.
flied.
Miss Catharine Sumner resumed the :
teacher, with a benign smile, to a plain, vet i
looking girl; who came as he spoke. n
Il believe there can be no mistake about v
your little ~effusion. | feel great pleasure
in presenting you the reward due, not only u
TO your mental cultivation, but the goodness =
of your heart. What do you too hesitate?' :
will you be kind enough, SIR said the Y
Kate, taking a paper from her t
ito read Harriet's story before you e
decide. l asked her for a copy several "
days ago, and here it is a
'You shall read it to the audience YOUR :,
self, my dear; | am sure they will listen "
patiently to so kind a pleader in her friends a
h
The listeners looked pleased and eager h
10 hear the story and Kate Sumner, with
a modest selfpossession, which well became r
her, and with her fine eyes lighting up as il
she read, did full justice to the pretty and c
touching story, of which Harriet had been t.
80 cruelty robbed. n
1t is well. worth reading said Mr.. Went y.
worth, when she had finished; your friend n
mas won the prize, my dear young lady
ind, as she yves it to your generosity, Il
you shall have the pleasure of bestowing fl
yourself. Il
Hates face glowed with emotion as she II
lung the chain around Harriet's neck and "
could not restrain her tears, while ic
The whispered, Il will take it, not as a prize, Il
'ut as a gift from you, dear Kate!' #
And now, Miss Sumner, said Mr.. Went y
worth, in conclusion, 'let me beg your ac- II
of these volumes, as a token of CT
'our teachers respect aud esteem and
presenting her a beautifully bound edition CO
If Millions works, he bowed his adieu to hi
he retiring audience. ia