The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-12-25

before he died. Thanks to his thorough
method of instruction and the interesting
manner in which he strove TO present the
great truths he taught, l was not only well
advanced for girl of fifteen, but pos
sessed that inordinate love for books that
makes study pleasure instead of task
Much as / shall always despise John for
his cowardly treatment of a friendlass
orphan, / can not but feel grateful to him
for uttering the singing words that
aroused me from my stony grief, and
opened new source of enjoyment to my
starving soul. Every moment l could
steal from aunt's watchful eye was devoted
to my books.
One evening she came upon me suddenly
when l was replenishing my humble light,
and taking the old saucer from my hand
said sharply:
'Seems to me, Elsie, you use a mighty
sight of tallow Mind, it costs like sixty.
Miss Jones got seven cents pound for
her'n. There is no sense in great girl like
you havin' to carry a light upstairs every
night. Betty Robins told me she had seen
light in your window all hours of the night,
and that folks say you set up to study. II
/ catch you istealin' your time to pore over
books, Ill burn 'em every one"
She set the old cracked dish on the upper
shelf of the pantry, and / crawled upstairs,
discouraged but not conquered. just at
this time | was wholly absorbed in geome-
try. made it point to learn one new
theorem every day, which l mentally
worked out at night. In this way devoured
the book, reviewing until | could have dem
onstrated every theorem it contained with,
out making a single mistake In similar
manner l became proficient in many other
branches. Usually | attempted to master
but one study at a time. AT q very early
age my father had insisted on my writing
verse, story or little sketch, at least once
week. This practice l managed to keep up,
and after my composition was written
through, | had recourse to an old time worn
ledger Of my grandfather's.
On Christmas Day-it was my birthday,
tool gained courage to send one of my lit
tie poems to paper my uncle had been in
duced to take. 1 watched its columns
eagerly every week until my pride was
fully gratifed by seeing my own produc-
ton in print. Again and again my vanity
prompted me to write few verses, which
invariably made their appearance in the
course of a few weeks.
One evening my aunt sent me on an en-
gagged when l told my business and gave
me new magazine to look over until she
would be at leisure. Among the first ar
ticles that attracted my attention was one
of my own little poems, clipped from the
paper for which it had been written. My
heart trembled joyously at this token of
appreciation. For q few moments
was supremacy happy, and then an
1haIr A,F,,
came over me, and with the bitter thought
that l had not a single friend to rejoice over
my success, turned rapidly through the
remaining pages, until the words 'sFive
hundred-dollar prize" attracted my atten-
ton. ran my eyes over it hastily, then
re-read it carefully, after which took pen
Gil and paper from my pocket and copied
the address. The prize was offered by the
editor of the magazine for the best serial
for girls. The story was to be of such a
length as to run through the twelve num-
bors, beginning with the New Year. All
manuscripts intended to compete for the
prize were to be in the hands of the editor
not later than June 30.
Before slept | had written for particulars,
and neighboring lad, passing early next
morning, carried it to the Office As soon as
l received the proper instructions, went to
work with a will. have no doubt but that
my aunt had good reasons for her fault-fnd-
ing during the next six months, for my
mind was more upon the characters that
my imagination had created than upon my
work. Aunt had persistently denied me a
light in my room during the whole year, but
dear Margaret remembered my sixteenth
birthday by sending me dollar. Part of
this used for oil and paper, and the bal
ance was boarded for postage. On the 18th
of June my precious package was committed
to the care Of Uncle Sam and the next
six months | waited and hoped.
yet dreaded to hear the decision that the
10th of December might have in store for
me. On Christmas morning my weary
watching was changed into glad song of
Thanksgiving, for misunderstanding letter
my uncle put into my hands brought me
the five hundred dollars | had dreamed of
every day for year. | had won the prize,
how, | scarcely know, unless my desperate
case had nerved me for the conflict Prob
ably my aching heart made itself felt
through my tinger-tips AT any rate, had
won the prize and the money was indis-
putably mine
Five hundred dollars may seem very
insignificant sum to those who count their
possessions by the thousands, but to me it
meant "A peaceful home with my dear old
Margaret, and relief from the bitter bread
of dependence.
"Well, it does seem as if book larnin'
amounts to something, after all,' admitted
Aunt Phillis
Jest as l told you," said Uucle Reuben.
"The gal shows her bringn' up.n
John looked more sullen than ever,
though when he took me to the train few
days later, overheard him explaining my
success to a young lady, and if am not
mistaken he proudly owned me as one of
the family.
AeAN 3. Gzek9RyD.
Always BE Prompt.
Half the value of any thing to be done