Litchfield enquirer., 1859-07-07
A MORE EXCELLENT WAY
 From the New York Observer

l A MORE EXCELLENT WAY.
 From the New York observer.]
 Mother, mother," exclaimed Charley Morris, as he rushed into the house aftel school in great excitement, "what do you think we are going to GO in school p
 "Study, hope," said his mother, quietly while tue little boy stopped to take breath
 We shall have to, that's a fact" said Charley, but that was not what wanted to ] tell you, mother You know there are just six weeks before examination, and they are going to give certificates then only to the ve " best scholars, who have sustained them selves perfectly through the term. And you mean, of course, to rank among the very best if you can," said Mrs Morris ] "Of course do, mother, but there is one thing more The boy who has been at the head of his classes for the longest time is te have, besides his dil sIoma, golden star te 1 wear upon his breast. He will be called the 1 star scholar, and will rank highest in the school"
 So you are aiming at this bright particu lar star"
 Yes, mother, and will have it too, ycu will see! Dr.. H. says it is more honorable distinction than the Legicn of Honor. Won't you be proud, mother, to see me wearing it at the evening exhibition 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, ea- gerly.
 "Glad l shall certainly be of the scholar ship that has won the honor, if it is fairly earned" replied the mother G But what are your grounds of expectation p Why, mother, 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 | if he was always there, but he is sometimes absent at the hour We erecte, and so lie won't have as good q chance of keeping his place in the class"
 What is the cause of his absence ?" He has to do errands for his mother She takes in sewing, and they are too poor to have any servant, so Henry carries the bundles holac"
 Mrs. Cotton has made great effort to keep her boy at school He is good scholar is he not W
 Yes, mother I don't know boy that studies harder than Henry Colton."
 "Not even Charley Morris"
 No mother, but then am not obliged to study so much because have been to school more regularly than he has, and then have more time to myself at home. Why, Henry is up and studying before any one else is stirring n the morning, and always sleeps with his book undcr his pillow at night"
 "Thcn if he fails to obtain the highest rank ln the school, it will not be f,r want of dil- gence or even Of scholarship, but from h :, mere accident of his outward circumstances But he will doubtless make greater effort to be punctual these six weeks to come"
 :" He will, if he knows of the plan," said Charley mood.ly.
 "He learas his lesson at home, does he not, so as to keep up with the class, though he should be absent for single day ?"
 Yes, mother, but to- day we had special explanation of something in arithmetic, that 1 kaass he cannot work out by himself"
 els my boy quite conscious of the spirit he is induIy yiug ?'' asked the mother, gently :" Does lie really wish to gain this prize for himself at the expense of one who deserves it full as much, and deserves it perhaps even more ?"
 "Tben you don't want me to get the star after all mother," said Charley, after few moments silence.
 You will not doubt your mothers interest in your improvement, even if she should be less solicitous about this particular lionor," Mrs. Morris replied, You know all the ambition have in the world, is ceutered in my children. would see them active, energetic, foremost, if possible, iu the pursuit of every honorable attainment And yet there is a more excel lent way"which would have them follow an attainment higher even thon mental wealth,- without which, though possessing all knowl- edge they are nothing"
 CharIey's glowing ambition had somewhat cooled, during his mothers calm, but earn est conversation He was listening attentively as he sat in his favorite place at her ct, though his eyes were downcast, and sense of shame stole over him.
 '' You remember the passage in which this way is described p asked his mother Charley took down the little w,l-worn Bible in which he always loved to read aloud to his mother. Turning to the 18th of Corinthinns, he slowly read the first six verses.
 Do you think, mother," he asked, |" that this forbds seeking any honor for oEe's self It says seeketh net her own."
 1t is not necessary for us to settle the bear ing Of this on the question of przes Tn school. But one question comes nearer to the case in hand Do you think that in strict honesty the star would be your oaom, if you grined it, not by superior scholarship, but by your more prosperous circumstances, and Henry's hin- drance through his mothers necessities The only value of the sign is in the thing signiGed. To me this badge would mean, not that my boy was better scholar than Henry, but on ly that his father was richer than Henry's mother"
 "Mother don't wait the star at all," said Charley with a resolute effort, that is, if Henry can get it. am going around now, 1 if you are willing, to show lian about tht | arithmetic, and to ask his mother to arrange