The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1843-03-23

win The prize"
Wnh every word ihas uttered, Hm-
NETS eyes had grown larger and darker.
and Il The close. she turned lhsm. lsll Of
asionishmeni. from her aunI's fare 10 her
moihers. Re-assnred BY ths expression
Of The laller. she rapIisd.
Bot. aunt Eloise. that would DO .
ialsehood. you know"
"A islsshooJ, missl" cried The msiden
shsrPly; " i isa very common lhing.
assure you!"
But NOT lhe less false Tor being com
mon. EloIsr;" said Mrs. Carlton; . pray
lsi Harriei ksse her own way about il.
II sould be Ear better 10 lose the prize.
Ihan 10 gain il thus dishonesty. !"
Aunt Eloise. - usual. secretly deter
mined 10 have her own way; bul she said
no more thea, and Harriet pursued her
employuent without further interruption.
Ths exhibition day had arrived. Rar-
risi had Enishsj her story several Gays
before, and read il 90 her mother. haas
aslppis. graceful. ehlld.Ike sfIusion. with
less of pIe,ensions and ornament, and
more Of spirit and originality than the
compositions u most children Oflhe same
age contain. --.. 8.
Mrs. Carlton seemed much pleased;
but aunt Elolse had crisised ii without
mercy. Az The sane lime she vas Oh,
served 10 smile frequenlly with seunniIg.
ely. triumphant expression, peculiar 70
herself--sn-expressiUn which she always
wore when shs had secret, and secrets
she had, in abandsnce--a new one al
most every dsy--,riyial petty secrets.
which no oae cared about but herself;
but which she guarded as jeslopsiy as IL
they had beea apples Of gold.
The exhibition day had arrived.
GOOD By, mother; good by aunt. "
said Harriet, glsncing Tor moment into
The breakfast room.
She vas looking very pretty in sim
pie. tasteful dress. made for the occasion.
She held the story in her hand, neatly
enclosed in an enyelaps. sad her eyes
were full Of hope--lhs cloudlsss hope Of
childhood.
"Doni't DO surprised. Harriet" said
her aunt. eat any thing that may happss
to-day. Only be thankful il The prize 10
yours, ihat's all"
al Ks,e Sumner don't win il, do
hope | shalt" replied the eager child, and
away she tripped TO school.
Al twelve o'clock Mrs. Carlton and
her sister took their seats among the su-
dience, in the exhibition room. The
.usl exercises were completed, and il on
ly remained for the compositions 10 read
aloud by the teacher.
The first was sentimental essay up
on Friendship. Mr.. Wentworth. the tea
cher, looked first surprised, then anus
ed, than vexed as he read, while a gsily
and fashionably dressed lady, who oecu-
pied conspicuous place in The assem-
bly,, was observed 10 toss her head and
fan herself with q very complacen' air,
while she met with nod, the conscious
eyes Of q fair and beautiful. but naughty
looking girl Of fifteen seated among the
pupils.
by Angelina Burton. said the teach
er as he concluded, and laying il aside
without further comment, he took up the
next" LiRes to a FavoriIe tree, by Ca
lharine SumHer."
The next was story, and Harriet
Cartoons eyes and cheeks changed color
as she listened I, was the same, yet
not the same! The incidents were hers,
the sentiments more noveilke, and many
a anwery aud highly wrough, sentence
had been introduced. which she had ne
yer heard before.
She sa,'speechless with wonder, indig-
nation and dismay, aud though several
other inferior compositions were read. che
was so absorbed in reverie, that she heard
no more until she was s,rstled by Mr..
Wenlworth's voice. calling her by name.
She looked up. In his hand was The
prize-richly chased, golden pencil Gaze,
suspended to a chain of The same mate-
rial. The sound. the sight recalled her
bewildered faculties. and ere she reached
the desk, she had formed resolution.
which, however, it required oil her native
strength Of soul 10 pu. in practice.
"Miss Carlton. the prize is yours!'
and the teacher leaned formed forward to
throw the chain around her neck. The
child drew back.
mo, sir" she said 10 low but firm,
and distinct voice, looking up brsvely in
his face, =" did no. write the story you
have read"
mot write i,!'' exclaimed Mr.. Went
WORTH" Why does il bear you name!
Am to understand. Miss Carlton. tina,
You have asked ano,her's assistance in
: your composition, and tia, you now re-
port the jecep,ion!"
Poor Harriet, this was too much
Her dark eye first flashed and filled with
tears; her lip trembled with smot'on, and
she paused moment, as il disdaining q
reply to this unmcrited charge.
A slight and sneering laugh from the
ha.utv ar,used her. and she ans werod