The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-10-17
Polly Percy's Prize.

Polly Percy's Prize.
eff were not trying to be a Chris
tian," soliloquized little Miss Polly
Percy, II could try for that prize. O
dear I most wish I wasn't-N-no !
don't mean that, not exactly, but
well, it would be lovely to get the
prize. I guess-yes, I think I will try
for it. Anyway, don't papa and NAM
ma expect me to be the very best
scholar? If they were at home, they'd
tell me to, T know, and of course I
ought to obey. And that watch is the
loveliest thing! I've wanted one for
ages, and now-I declare I most wish
that there wasn't any Kitty Lowe, for
then could try for that pr-Why! I
didn't see you before, grandma"
"You do not use your eyes to as good
advantage as I do my ears" smiled
Mrs. Percy. "But what is the trouble,
my dear? Perhaps I can tell you
what to do, as mother is not here to
advise. Well, Polly?"
It's a prize," began Polly eagerly.
"Mr. Roberts, one of the committee,
has offered it, and he said-it's the
very dearest little watch, grandma-he
said that if there were t%o best schol-
ars the rest of the term he would di-
vide the money that the watch is
worth between them, and if there was
only one best scholar, he would give
her either the money or the watch.
I'd take the watch, grandma, wouldn't
you?"
II see no reason why you should not
try to win the watch, darling" said
grandma "that is, provided you are
honest in your endeavors.
II didn't tell you the reason," ex-
planned Polly. "I-you see, Kittyand
are both best scholars; she is No. l
one week, and Pm No. l the next.
But she's dreadfully poor, grandma,
and so lend her my books, and we
study together-and-you see-if-we
study together any more we shall both
have the prize-and I don't want Sis,
want the watch-and it will be sell
fish if I don't study with her, and"
Grandma smiled sympathetically as
Polly paused.
"You know what you ought to do,
Polly" she said "now tell me what
you will do"
II don't know" Polly confessed,
shaking her head mournfully. ~
don't want to be selfish, for it is hor.
rid and besides. it doesn't please Je,
sus-and I do want to please him ; butt
o grandma! you don't know how
much I want that watch! It's any
quantity prettier than Caddy Holland
sons ever thought of being. Grand
ma, don't you suppose our Lord was
ever selfsh-just the least bit. you
know-when he was a little boy?"
"'Even Christ pleased not him.
self,' quoted Mrs. Percy softly.
"Well," sighed Polly, after long
silence-"well, I rather guess, grand
ma, that I shall try to be willing for
Kitty to win the prize. I know she
will if don't, because the other girls
don't care about having good lessons ;
and I wish you'd pray that I may be
willing that she should have the whole
prize, instead of only half"
"That's my brave girl" !" said grand
ma, approvingly.
Ever so many weeks after, Mr.. Rob-
erts handed scarlet-cheeked Kitty
three bright gold eagles as the reward
for her patient study. Then Miss Kid
der, the teacher, said: "Polly Percy
deserves honorable mention; had it
not been for an unlucky spelling les
son, in which she misspelled one word
she would be entitled to half the
prize"
And Kitty, her arms thrown about
Polly's neck, whispered: "You are
the loveliest girl! Iknow you missed
'elocution' on purpose that day, and I
wish you hadn't-only now can buy
lots of medicine for mamma, and
shoes for baby Bob"
After all, grandma's praise was best.
Darling, yours is the prize of the
high calling of God in Christ Jesus. "
Take of gum camphor piece about
one third the size of a hens egg, and
evaporate it by placing it in a tin YES