The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1890-01-02
: THAT coLo MEDAL.
why 1t Was Given to spicer. My Compel
tor.

hated Jack Spicer: he always got up
head. He was always being praised and
complimcntcd. and told how much bet
ter he was than the rest; and then he
was always setting himself up give adj
vice. That's why we fellows didn't like
him. He'd do lxindness why. he used
to give little Morris italf his lsft4eh near
~ every day. Little Morris had the
worst kind OF step-mother, and II he
was bad-she called it bad II he sneezed
in church, or took an apple without
leave-why, then she'd send him OF
without his breakfast.
Yes, he was kind. He sat upall night
with Shriner, the German pupil teacher,
that the boys sent into fever by maxi
ing fun of, and gave him his medicine,
and brought him oranges, and made us
all ashamed.
That was the worst Of Spicer; he al
ways made you ashamed; but about
Sbriner he was right.
We had merits at DR.. Browns for be-
ing early, and dement's for being late.
Jack Spicer was always early. | never
knew any thing like him for that. 1t
.helps-a--hef- on wonderfully They
think he means to do his best II they
find him there in-th morning, first
thing, and looking over his lessons as
Jack spieer. always was.
4 thought good deal about Jack when
the big gold medal was going to be given
out. Pho boy who had no dement's was
to have it, or IL there we're several, we
drew for it. / knew could not beat
Spicer; he would be perfect; but | might
draw for the medal il 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
lad hopes, and that If did get off with
out one demerit he would give me a
watch-a silver watch-with first-rate
works inside of it. Ana so l did my
best; and the day before the prize-day |
stood even with Jack Spicer. One fail
urc next day, or being late, or talking
when it was forbidden, would throw me
ont-or him. But no one even thought
Of that; the wonder was about me.
Sam Squfres bet his six-bfaded PEN
knife against Bill Hopper's baseball
that I'd lose the chance somehow in that
twenty-four hours. wouldn't have
risked any thing myself, Jack Spicer's
luck was SO wonderful; but ! did my
best.
The last day. Up went the sun, and
.ap went /. washed and dressed. got
my lesson before breakfast--got Uncle
Reuben to hear me over. Uncle Reuben
inas good fellow il you pleased him.
And then | hurried my breakfast
washed my hands, polished up my nails,
and made my shine got de-
merits if you were untidy at DR.. Browns,
and of ! went. i
Now lived good long way from the
school, but Jack lived farther still. We
came along the same road and through
a bit of woods, and then down the hill
to the school-house. And ] was flying
through these woods like race-horse,
when down camo as II I'd been shot.
There 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 l suppose they had fixed the
wire Oh, didn't say what it was
fell over. Some one had fastened q
barbed wire across the road. They did 1t
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 it again, and there
was. Coming at such speed, got a
throw, can tell you, and my legs were
cut through my knickerbockers. ] had
a lump on my forehead; almost broke
my neck, and I@bruised my arm.
For minute ] couldn't get up. Then
was giddy, and had to sit down;
and thought: '.I1l be late
and lose my chance after all"
But came right in few minutes. OF
coarsc 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 Spiccr coming;
you could hear any one long before you
could see them, and l knew his run.
While i was working at the. wire he
would pass. He would get to school
carly; should be late. And suppose
and when / said SO to the minister, no
said 1t 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 Spiccr fall down and
be made late; all the better for you. =
And away ! went, leaving Spicer coming
on at a 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
his mind but school and the medal.
.4s 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.
yo,l couldn't see it from the other side,
for some grass and weeds that grew
Just there and the way the sun was.
And knew that, medal or no medal. !
should have stopped TO unfasten it, too.
Hut It least tried to think that it
wns not who pat u there, that Il
Jack had been iiret he would have left
~ ~, Int voa nof "a enra Of that