The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-04-24

ney.
s'Oh yes. You see haven't gained
a prize since | have been at school, so
/ think it is time to begin now," Len
nox answered. smiling.
Tom was even more surprised than
Bert, and his good-natured face took a
longer turn, as he thought how small q
chance he had against two such good
| composers.
But he groaned aloud when he heard
the subject he was to write upon,
1.-The First Rays of the Sum-" and his
heart was filled with despair.
.Whateyer made him choose that, of
all things?' he said contidentially 20
Bert. Il haven't the faintest notion Of
what to say, and expect that the sun is
here, and sometimes shines, and more
often doesn't. l don't know anything
| further about il.
Bert also had look of perplexity,
and he shrugged his shoulders as he
answered:
And | cannot tell you. 1t is the
most difficult thing we have had as
yet confess | am at a loss myself. :"
''Well as long as I'm not the only
enc, don't care" Tom said, signing.
81 wonder what LennoX thinksr'
''He looks the same as he always
does-calmly and serenely Indifferent.
| | believe if Mr. Selton had told us to
write an essay on the inhabitants of
| the moon, he would be just the same. :"
For the next few weeks every boy
went about with grave, thoughts'il
aspect, evidently deeply puzzled at the
subject the master had chosen.
Only Sidney had remained tranquil
during this time, no perpleXed frown
knitted his brow; his lessons every day
were perfectly said, and Bert's were
not always, his mind seemed to be too
| entirely wrapped up in the subject to
allow of other things.
At last the great day arrived. All
the essays had been given in some time
before.
The boys, in state of suppressed
excitement, trooped early to school,
and many whispered consultations
were carried on in the playground as
| to the probable results.
Il don't believe LennoX has tried at
ALL" Bert remarked complacently to
Tom. He looks too Indifferent, too
dreamy. | dare say he repented be-
fore he got half through
Perhaps; but | don't know. You
never can judge by his face what he is
thinking Of For all we know, he may
be as excited as we are, only he won't
show it Have you succeeded in get
ting good ideap"
Pretty well. l thought for several
days, and at last sudden idea struck
me, and | wrote it out"
"Of course Ihaven't t chance against
two such clever fellows as you and Sid
ney. 1t was perfectly useless trying.
By the way, did he go in for any of the
| other prizesP'
mo; he was too late. Besides he
never could exert himself to do more
than one thing"
But here the conversation was stop
ped by the 2oud clamor of the bell, and
soon all were assem- bled in the school
room, listening in breathless silence to
the announcement of the fortunate
winners.
One by one the prizes were given
out, Bert coming in for his share, and
Tom was made happy by prize for
arithmetic, thing he was very good at;
at the last the prize for composition,
Mr.. Selton looked smilingly around.
Il am very pleased with the essays l
received, they were all better than l
expected. But the most beautifully
written was Sidney Lennox's. l have
great pleasure in handing him his first,
but, hope. not the last prize"
And amidst loud cheer from the
boys, he placed in Sidney's hands a
handsomely bound book-a volume of
poems.
Lennox flushed and thanked his
master, and from that day he became
one of the most earnest workers; not
even Bert can find fault with him now,
or say he is always idle.