The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-07-29
A More Excellent Way.

quietly, while the little fellow stopped to
take breath.
awe shall have to, that's fact" said
Charley, "but that WAS not what
wanted to tell you, mother. You know
that there are just six weeks before cxami.
nation, and they are going TO give certlf-
Gates then only 10 :he very best scholars,
who have sustained themselves perfectly
/ through the term
/ And you mean, Of course, to rank
among the yer! best, If you can" said
Mrs. Morris.
"Of course, | do mother, but there is
one thing more. The boy who has been
Mt the head of his classes for the longest
time is to have besides his diploma, a
golden star to wear upon his breast. He
will be called the star scholar, and rank
/ highest in the school"
$50 you are aiming at this bright par.
! ticular star"
" Yes, mother, and I will have it too,
| you will see ! DR.. A. says it is more
honorable distinction than the Legion Of
Honor. Won't you be proud, mother, to
see me wearing it at the evening ex.
hibilion. The teachers will tell you that
your boy is the best scholar in the school, "
Mrs. Morris smiled. Won't you be
glad, Mother ?" repeated Charley
eagerly.
Glad I shall certainly be Of the
I scholar that has Won the honor, if it is
fairly earned" replied the mother
But what are your grounds of expec.
tation p
"Why, mother, l am at the head Of all
my classes but one, and in that there is
no one above me but Henry Cotton. /
don't suppose there would be any hope Of
! going beyond him il he was always there,
but he IS sometimes absent at the hour
we reciie, and so he won't have as good
a chance Of keeping bis place in the class"
| What is the cause of his absenco:'
| 'llo has to do errands for his mother.
She takes in sowing, and they arc too poor
to have any servant. so Horny carries the
bundles home"
Mrs, Cotton had made great efforts to
keep her boy a, school. He is good schol-
ar, is ho moi !:
Yes, mother, don't know boy that
studies harder than Henry Cotton"
Not oven Charley Morris
No, mother, but thon | am not obliged
to study so much. because | have boon TO
| school moro regularly than he has, and then
| have moro time to myself at homo. Why,
Henry is up and studying before any ono
else is stirring in the morning, and always
sleeps with his book undor his pillow at
night
'1'hcn If he. fails to obtain tho highest
rank in school it will not DO for want of dill
gcnce, or oven Of scholarship, but from the
mere accident o: his outward circumstances
But he will doubtless make u greater effort
to he pnnctual these six weeks 10 come
'llo will, if ho knows of tho plan, said
Charley, mOOdily.
He learns his lesson at homo, docs no not,
so as to koop up with his class, though he
should be absent for single day :"
Yes. mother, bur to-day we had special
explanation of something in arithmetic that
| know he cannot work out by himself
'ls my boy quito conscious of the spirit
he is induging !? asked tho mother, gently
Does ho really wish to gain this prize for
himself at tho expense Of one who deserves
it full as much, and deserves it perhaps
oven more :"
Then you don't want mo to got tho star,
after ALL mother said Charley, a(tor a few
moments silence.
You will not doubt your mothers inter-
est in yonr Improvement. even if sho should
DO less soicitOus about this particular hon
or Mrs Morris replied you know all the
! ambition | have in tho world, is centercd
| in my children | would SEQ them active,
energetic, foremost, ifpossbIo, in the pur-
suit Of every honorable attainment. And
yet thero is a more excellent way which
would havo them follow; an attainment
higher even than mental wealtl-without
which, though possessing all knowledge,
thoy aro nothing
! Chareys growing ambition had some
what cooled, during Gis mothers calm. bot
earnest conversation. Ilu was listening at
| tcntively, us he sat in his tayorite place at
| hcr fcot, though his oyes were dowucast,
and sense of shame stOlo over him.
"Yon remember tho passage in which
this way is described :" asked his mother.
Charley took down tho littlo we'll worn
| Biblo in which no always loved to read
aloud to his mother Turning to the 18th
of Corinthians he slowly read tho first six
verses.
DO you think. mother" no asked, that
this fOrbids seeking any other way for ones
sot ? 1t says 'sookoth not her own.
1T is not necessary for us to settle the
bearing OF this on tho question OF prizes III
school. But ono question comes nearer to
the case in hanG. Do you think that in
strict honesty tho star would be your own
if you gained it, not by superior scholarship
but by your own prosperous circumstances
aud IIcnry's hindrance through his mothers
; necessities Tho only value Of the sign Is
tho thing Signiied To me this badge
would mean, not that my boy was better
: scholar than Horny, but only that his father
/ was richer than Henrys mother"
"Mother, dou't want tho star at all
said Charley with rosolute effort, "thNt is
If Henry can get it. l am going around
now, II you arc willing. to show him about
the arithmetic. and to ask his mothor tC
arrange II possible. 30 that he can attend
school Constantly for tho next six weeks"
Mrs. Colton's consent to the latter ar
rangement was easily gained, especially
2 when Charley had begged permission to as-
. slst in doing tho orIands after school hours
The obstacles in arithmetic woro clearet
+ away, so that tho two rivals started on theil
friendly race with fair field and no favol
to either. Henry had been at the end o
: the class Just the same length of time tha
Charley had been before him, when thre,
s weeks before the examination, he was takeI
, sick. 1t would be difficult to say which o