The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-11-28
A REWARD or MERIT.
why It Was Given to spicer. MY Compe

HeWAHO " MENJJs
why It was Given to spicer. NY Compel
it0r.
hated Jack Spicer; he always got up
head. He was always being praised and
complimentcd, and told how much bet
ter he was than the rest; and then he
was always setting himself up to give adj
vice. That's why we fellows didn't like
him. He'd do kindness: why, he used
to give little Morris half his lunch near
" every day. Little Morris had the
worst kind of q step-mother, and II he
was bad-she called it bad il he sneczed
in church, or took an apple without
leave-why, then she'd send him of
without his breakfast.
Yes. he was kind. He sat mp all night
with Shriner, the German pupil teacher,
that the boys sent into fever by MAX
ing fun OF, and gave him his medicine,
and brought him oranges, and made us
oil ashamed.
That was the worst Of Spicer; he al
ways made you ashamed; but about
Shriner he was right.
We had merits at DR.. Browns for be-
ing early, and dement's for being late.
Jack Spiccr was always early. / never
knew any thing like him for that. 1t
helps boy on wonderfully. They
think he means to do his best II they
find him there in the morning, first
thing, and looking over his lessons as
Jack Spicer always was.
thought good deal about Jack when
the big gold medal was going to be given
out. The boy who had no dement's was
to have it, or II there were several, we
drew for it. knew could not beat
Spicer; he would be perfect; but might
draw for the medal II l tried; and oh!
did try. was always early; knew all
my lessons. did every thing SO we'll
that my Uncle Reuben said he had some
hopes Of me at last. That was good
deal for Uncle Reuben to say. for he had
been in the habit Of predicting some
very bad end for me; but now he said he
had hopes, and that If did get of with
out one demerit he would give me .
watch--a silver watch-with first-rate
works inside Of it. And 50 ! did my
best; and the day before the prize-day
stood even with Jack Spicer. One fail
ure next day, or being late, or talking
when 1t was forbidden, would throw me
Cut-or him. But no one even thought
of that; the wonder was about me.
Sam Squires bet his six-bladed PEN
knife against Bill Hoppcr's baseball
that I'd lose the chance somehow in that
twenty-four hours. wouldn't have
risked any thing myself, Jack Spiccr's
luck was 30 wonderful; but did my
best.
Tho last day. Up went the sun, and
mp went I. washed and dressed. got
my lesson before breakfast--got Uncle
Reuben to hear me over. Uncle Reuben
scds a good fellow II you pleased him.
And then hurried my breakfast,
washed my hands, polished up my nails.
and made my hair shinc-you got de-
merits If you were untidy at DIR. Browns,
and of went.
Now lived good long way from the
school, but Jack lived farther still. We
came along the same road. and through
bit of woods, and then down the hill
to the school-house. And I was flying
through these woods like race-horse.
when down came as if Id been shot.
Thore were lot Of boys up to any thing
| in the village: they hated DR.. Browns
boys because they had good clothes;
called them dudes, and all that sort Of
thing; and suppose they had fixed tho
wire Oh, didn't say what it was
fell over. Some one had fastened q
barbed wire across the road. They did it
once when the folks were going to
church, and there was time about it;
and Johnny Bowler got locked up, and
afterward they found out 1t was Mug
gins, the butchers boy, that did it. But
some one had done 1t again, and there /
was. Coming 1t such , speed, got .
throw, can tell you, and my legs were
cut through my knickerbockers. had
lump on my forehead; almost broke
my neck, and bruised my arm.
For minute couldn't get up. Then
was giddy, and had to sit down;
and thought: "Ill be late
and lose my chance after all
But came right in few minutes. OF
course it hurt yet, but that was nothing.
came all right. and picked up my
books, and was going to unfasten the
wire, when heard Jack Spicer coming;
you could hear any one long before you
could sec them, and / knew his run.
While / was working 1T the wire he
would pass. He would get to school
early; l should be late. And suppose
and when said SO to the minister, he
said it was probably so-that Satan look
ed over my shoulder at that very mo-
ment. LET Jack Spicer take care of
himself" was what he made me think
Satan mean; ''let Spicer fall down and
be made late; all the better for you. "
And away went, leaving Spicer coming
on at great speed. with his nose in the
air and his eyes on the horison-that's
the way he always ran-and no idea in
bis mind but school and the medal.
Well, got in early, and the other
boys came in one by one, and we were
called to order, and lessons began, and
still no sign of Jack Spicer.
The boys began to look at me. The
medal was mine, and at first l felt
jolly over it. Then / began to think OF
the barbed wire, of the lonely road, Of
my fall, Of what Jacks might have been,
for had heard him coming. had
turned to stop and tell him Of the wire.
You couldn't see it from the other side,
for some grass and weeds that grew
Just there and the way the sun was.
And l knew that, medal or no medal,
should have stopped to unfasten it, too.
But at least tried to think that II
was not who put it there, that il
Jack had been first he would have left
It SO, but was not SO sure of that.
Moreover, Jack did not come, and We
were told what to do about next day,
and given notes Of invitation for oul
parents, and all went on as usual, only
Jack Spicer's shiny red head was not te
be seen as usual, and know every body
thought Of that as we'll as I, only not
rs did. As went slowly home, no
lticed that the wire was gone.
mo demerits," said my uncle; III
buy the watch tomorrow"
But could not smile; felt wretched
i-wicked--murdercus couldn't heir