Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-04-10

| nv 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 il 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 10 think that it
was not who put it there. that if
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 dav,
and given notes of invitation for our
parents, and all went on as usual, only
Jack Spicer's shiny red head was not to
be seen as usual, and know every body
thought OF that as well as I. only not
as did. As went slowly home, no.
ticed that the wire was gone.
No dement's, said my uncle; I'll
buy the watch tomorrow
| But | could not smile: l felt wretched
| wicked ] couldn't help
letting mother see my scratches and
bruises, and got lots of pity and lotion
for them. but they didn't acne as my
conscience did.
And when ! went 70 school next morn
ing in my best suit, with carnation in
the buttonhole of my jacket. I'd have
given the world to see Spicer standing
in his place; yes and to see him get the
medal too.
Well, there we all were Mother,
father, Uncle Jack and Sister Tillywere
all in the audience. We went through
our exercises, and we sang, and we
drilled; and then the prizes were given
out-last Of all, the gold medal to the
perfect boy.
At last DR.. Brown rose up and looked
about him and made his speech, and
ended thus:
But for an accident which occurred
yesterday two of the competitors would
have been entitled to draw for the
medal but Jack Spicer-perhaps the
most meritorious pupil in the school
injured himself severely by falling over
barbed wire, purposely placed across
the path, we believe. He is very i'll
at home, and was yesterday; but his
mother tells me that, injured as he was,
he unfasted the wire before he crawled
to Dinah Burroughs little cottage for
help We all regret the absence of
our young friend, especially from such a
cause"
A little murmur of pity arose.
Henry Martin, said DR.. Brown, you
are entitled to the medal"
l saw my mother smile. Uncle Reu-
ben waved his hand to me; but did not
feel glad and triumphant
arose: walked up the aisle: l stood
before DR. Brown, and put my hands in
behind my back.
"Dr. Brown" / said, 81 am not en-
titled TO the medal. 1t is a sort of-oi
deception if l took it. fell over that
barbed wire yesterday, and if l had
stopped to take it down Jack Spicel
would not have been hurt. l was hurt
myself, but l came on and left it."
That was careless" said DIR. Brown
but you couldn't know Spicer would
fall"
had my chance out of it then, with
honors, too; but ! couldn't be so NEAR
as TO stop there
III. DIOMus SdlQ. utGTu
coming. | knew he must fall. | want
ed him to fall. OF course, / didn't thinl
of his hurting himself so much. But i
was any thing TO get ahead of him.
think, if you please, that ought not t.
have the medal. deserve the bigges
demerit for being so contemplate tina
ever you gave me yet"
was hot and red, and was trembling
all over. But DIR. Brown reached hi'
hand over the desk.
Il give you the demerit," he said
'Shake hands You shall carry Jacl
Spicer his medal He is the only DO,
who has none in the school,
Then every body cheered, and cam,
near crying, and l saw my mother doing
it.
DIR. Brown went with me TO take Spi
Ger his medal, and he was very glad
and the doctor-the pill doctor, / meal
said it helped to make him get wei
sooner.
And what do you think? Uncle Reu
ben gave me the watch!
; You'll understand why when you ar
older, my lad he said.
And Spicer and / have always beer
the best of friends ever since.-N. Y
Ledger.
who Blew the whistle?
Little Eddie Howard liked to ride il