Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-11-04
The Golden Prize.
attention, young ladies p

glances of curiosity, regarded Madam
De Lancy, of whose boarding school they
were all members 555ts'@ -
s.You are aware, young ladies, that
our semi-annual exhibition is appointed
for the twenty fourth of this month, OF
three weeks from to-day. 1t is scarcely
necessary for me to say that | desire it
to appear as we'll as possible. A part
of the exercises will consist of essays,
the best six that have been written du- /
ring the term being selected. In order
to excite your emulation, and induce
you to exert yourselves more than you
otherwise would, I offer this gold pencil
as prize to be given to the writer of
the best essay by member of this school.
They are to be handed in fortnight
from to-day, and the decision will be an
nounced the day before the exhibition.
| | will add that the manuscript must be
perfectly neat and clean, and that a
blot will be considered sufficient to ex-
clude from the competition
The gold pencil which Madam De
Lancy held up was elegant and without
doubt costly, 1t was only natural that
more than one of the girls should have
felt strong desire to possess it. Yet
most hoped against expectation, feeling
that there was only one present who
would probably bear off the coveted
prize, much as they might exert them
selves.
/ This fortunate one was Miriam Ham
ilton, a brilliant, dashing girl, with con-
siderable beauty, and not a little talent.
She was generally considered ''genius, y
being able to make snowy recitation
after a slender preparation. In truth,
she was little disposed to exert herself,
confding in her readiness, and making
it her boast. ao.r
Itcould hardly be said that she was
a favorite. She was too imperious. and
too exacting of admiration for that
Yet by sort of tacit consent, the chief
place in the school was assigned to her.
At recess she remarked to compan-
ion who expressed her admiration of the
prize ,..g
'Yes, it is very pretty. 1t will be
just the thing for me to wear at my birth
) day party .'a
"When will your birthday come %
''On the twenty-seventh. three days
after the exhibition"
"Then of course you will exert your
self to get it
81 shall write for it, said Miriam
; sbut," she proudly added, 81 conceive
: that it will be hardly necessary for ME
: to exert myself particularly, Marian
3 Trevor" r
: 80 no, certainly not" said her com
5 PLEASANT friend. every body know:
: that you are the best writer in school.
0 Standing at the distance of few feet
$ sufficiently near to hear every word thai
was said, was a plain girl, dressed in {
cheap. calico, whose appearance contrast
ed strongly with the rich attire of tn,
brilliant Miriam
An expression of pain swept over tn,
face of Jane Ashton, as she heard thes,
. words and she said to herself despond
emily, "Of course Miriam will get tht
prize. Why should | be foolish enough
> to hope for it? And yet, I should ST
like to get it. 1t would please DR.. Her
man so much
She fell into a reverie. We will i'm
> prove the time of her self-communion b,
mentioning briefly the outlines of he
), story.
In the first place, she was poor. |
:, needed only a glance at her plain dres
:, to assure one of that. How then di
she happen to be in attendance at Mad
am De Lancy's fashionable school? Sh
was not there as a boarding scholar.
e few day scholars were admitted, and sh
IS was one of these. Even the high rat
(; of tuition would have been too much fo
l. her slender means, but this was defraye
t. by a young physician, DIR. Herman, VIII
N had taken an interest in her. She ha
h at first, with commendable independents,
is declined his generous proposal, but Il
e. promised her that when she became
or teacher-the goal Of her ambition, AN
10 had saved up enough to make it perfec
as ly convenient, he would permit her
n repay him. On this condition she a
Ie cepted his offer with grateful thank
ht and entered the school. Yet none IL
of less did she feel grateful to the kir
ed physician who had extended to her IL
ne helping hand which no one else wou.
an have been inclined to do. None less d
er she pray for his health and happine
nd every night upon her knees.
in. And now she was anxious to show hi
ed that his kindness was not thrown ava
lat For this only, and not to crafty al
ne ambition of her own, she hoped to car
ad off the prize
tn She was not very hopeful of it. NJ
cir lam Hamilton had enjoyed the adva
ION tage Of the school twice as long as 81
18th Miriam had talent and brilliancy ia
M was not sure whether she had taller
led / Sho E,,orrr tho Il, -.