The Coconino weekly sun., 1895-01-03
"we'tI,. ma, !, said tbssturdv A,n

it any more1 than do% eEeea isswork- ing hardfor' that prizcs> He's going to college, anyhow; but heard him say ing he'd like that money to splurre On ] when he gets there. His ma; is going to take him to the city and rig himiup in new clothes before he starts" "If you go, I'm afraid you'll have to do on what you got now, or a little more," sighed Mrs. Bixby. "Of course boy of sixteen don't want much; but anyhow, your pa, you know, is'- "l don't care about clothes, if I only get there," interrupted Jim, part ing a tough stick of wood. "The books are what I'm after. Lee hardly has thing to do, though there is so much work to be done around their farm and house now. You know the baby ain't well, and little Alice tags around after her ma whining all the time. She's ailing, too, I guess. It's mighty hard on Mrs. Raymond; but she doesn't like Lee to spend time off his books helping her."
 "'Tis hard on her, "agreed Mrs Blk by, thinking of the time when she and the pretty Mrs. Raymond had been girls together "She and l were mighty fond of each other once I wish l could go over and help her some, but your pad be mad. Anyhow, l guess she can't be so bad off or she'd let Lee do something 'Tain't good fur boy to be at his books all the time; he needs some work"
 'Oh, ma, don't you get to thinking | like pa," groaned the usually uncom- blaming Jim. "He says it's good for a boys mind when his body is all tired out: but that's not so. wish could ,i make him go and sit on hard bench all day at school studying, and then come home and do chores, finishing off by milking so many kicking cows that his fingers get too nerveless to hold n book Then l wish he'd set up ge- ometry before him, and try to work out an original problem. guess he'd find it hard"
 "Why, sonny" cried Mrs. Bixby.
 'I know l oughtn't to say anything, but do get so tired"
 Tt ain't easy fur you, dear" whis- pered Mrs. Bixby, laying her rknotty hand on the boys brown curls. But l do whatI can'for your"
 Jim looked ashamed, as he furtively squeezed her fingers
 You're the best ma there is," he said, the very best. I'm pretty good on history, and I'll work we'll, and per haps I'll win the prize. The examina- I t,AN tc thraa off aa won't be hurried at all in getting ready for it"
 ''But don't neglect your other stud- ies," cautioned Mrs Bixby, as they walked together to the house.
 Jim studied faithfully for three weeks, and so did Lee Raymond. The latter was the only boy whom Jim feared would surpass him on the ex- animation. Every evening as he tramped homeward he had to pass the Raymond house, and he would see Lee, seated by the sitting-room window, working away on the history. The boys never spoke, but Lee would let his lips widen in superior sort of a smile, that decidedly irritated the other lad. '"'a
 The night before the momentous ex- animation, MT Bixby leaned over his sons shoulder, as the latter was trying to fix in his mind the fact that Busiris was said to have built the city of Thebes.
 Jim" he said, "'you had better come out head on this examination, sonny. Raymond was talking in the village this morning, boosting about his boy and his boys smartness. He hinted that Lee would win the history prize. You recollect what's at stake for you, and beat him." .....,- s. q
 "rll do the best can, pa." Poor Jim was almost tired of repeating that phrase of late.
 Jim, it's twenty minutes past seven," said Mrs. Bixby next morning, glancing at the clock. Don't you b'lieve you better start now, on aG- couunt of the weather?"
 Land, mar' laughed Jim, nervous ly; presume I could walk four miles in an hour and half. if the snow was up to my neck"
 But in few moments he put on his coat and cap, took the precious history to study on the way and, despite his usual undemonstrative ways. returned the hearty kiss his mother gave him.
 Ten minutes wore away until it was half-past ten.
 Guess Jim must be bout half through his questions now" thought Mrs Bixby. At the same moment the kitchen door opened, and Jim, white faced and red-eycd, entered.
 "Oh, Jim, what is it?" cried the wo- man.
 'I was late, ma," said Jim, slowly. "It was five minutes past nine when l got to the classroom"
 Surely you didn't loiter on the way?"
 Tt took me from half-past seven till five minutes past nine to get to the schoolroom, answered Jim, constrain- edly
 But what kept youP"
 Don't ask me anything, ma. You don't know how bad feel" | uYou're holding something back,