Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-02-27
FAILURE AND SUCCESS.
How Bob Gresham Won the Tod
dlethwaite Prize.

"On the fifth day OF last December
there came TO this land a man of alien
blood, of foreign and unfamiliar habit,
costume and accent; yet the most elo-
quent'-hm-m-'yet the most-yet the
most eloquent of speech
"Bobp o, Bobm
"'The most eloquent by his history
and circumstance-the'- what is it,
Teddyp"
II wish you'd just catch hold of me
round the left wrist" moaned Teddy,
81 can stand it better when you do"
The most eloquent-the most
which the world has for many ages
seen-the'- Yes, Ted. Yes. I'll
catch on. Yes. Here ! am, Ted"
Bob Gresham, with the hearty sigh Of
big, disappointed fellow, laid down
his well-worn copy of Rufus Choate's
Phi Beta Kappa address, turned and
annotated by the Evolutionary profess
sor, at the tribute to Kossuth. He
looked Mt his sick chum keenly; then
went over at once and sat upon the bed
DcSlue MIN.
Don't feel so well, do you, TeddyP"
I'm going to die, this time" observed
Teddy, cheerfully.
"rll wait till after Prize Speaking, II
j can, Bob" he added, with an effort to
be generous.
"Oh! come" said Gresham. He did
not know what else to say; and so he
said nothing more ut all.
1t really was too bad. Nobody in all
the Academy denied that. 1t was too
bad that Teddy Delan should have to
come down with one of his rheumatic
fevers just as the great Toddlethwaite
Prizes came on. Teddy was little
slip of Southern boy, pale and frail;
poor as lizard; lived away in some
foreign nation-Dclaware or Maryland
had no people anywhere at hand;
had no people anywhere. except one
old mo her, i'm dreadful bonnet, who
once in the history of the Academy
was telegraphed for by the principal
to come and bury Teddy. But Teddy
declined to be buried, and it cost
the poor old thing so much to get to
Massachusetts for any thing short of a
funeral, that Gresham had said il was
shame. Gresham had roomed with
Teddy for three years. He always took
care OF him now, when he "came
down" Teddy adored Gresham with
the terrible alteration of the little for
the big, and the sick for the we'll. He
had the piteous self 1hness of unbear-
able suffering. Nobody but Bob could
handle him. Bob was big and we'll and
tender and faithful and made no fuss
about it, and did it all like hero but
Bob was tired out. And Bob was to
compete for the Toddlethwaite Prize to-
morrow night at eight o clock precisely
And Bob expected TO get it, And every
body else expected Bob to get it. Bob
had no rivals. That was the rub And
Teddy
al think IL ! had a little water"
walled Teddy, "no. n mite Of ice No.
That's too cold. | want cup of milk
ooh! can't swallow! I'm beginning
to die. I'm going to do it, Bob. / shall
die tonight. They'd better telegraph
to mother. She'd mind it, may be-"
al wouldn't be such fiat as TO die,
If j were you, Ted" said Gresham,
pleasantly. But Bunny has tele-
graphed, you know. We thought you'd
like TO sec her. She'll get round pres
emily"
Now Bunny was the principal Of this
ancient and honored institution. His
name, i believe, was Blundcrboys. But
no lad in the academy, whether dying
or alive, would have known whom you
meant, If you called the principal any
thing else than Bunny.
He was TALL man. too, with very
tall hat and Phi. ID. They put him
down ID. ID. in the catalogue.
81 wonder il Bunny paid for the mes
sageP" whispered Teddy. deliriously,
''or If he sent it 'collectP'
81 think / will ask the doctor TO look
in, replied Gresham, after moment.
ut would be rather nice TO see the doc
tor"
Teddy was worse. There was no
doubt about that Gresham went across
the corridor of the dormitory TO get
fellow to sit with Teddy, while he
he himself ran for the doctor. He car
ried his Rufus Choate and read as he
ran: "'Among the memories OF Bunker
Hill-everywhere he has held all with
a charm as absolute as that with which
the Ancient Mariner kept back the
bridal guest after the music OF the mar
riage feast had begun"
1.-The tribute OF tears and applaud
ings, the tribute Of sympathy
Here! You! Well! Yes! Doctor IMP
and of thoughts too deep for applaud
ings, too deep for tears Hi? Doctorp
Delan's in a bad way. Would you just
yes, I'll ride back with you. Excuse
me II keep at it. won't youP Speak at
the Toddlethwaite. Haven't got much
spare time-considering Teddy The
tribute of tears and applaudings. The
tribute the tribute'"-
why don't you put another fellow
on dutyP" The doctor gave the lad one
long look. Got TO bo dore u you want
the Toddlethwaitc. You're nervous.
Those strains act on the brain-cclls
sometimes affect the memory, and all
that. You must look out
"Ohl I'll manage, said Gresham.
III Teddy were. like any body else"
he added. But you know. Dnctor,