Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-05-09

| eIrand to the minister wife. She was
| engaged when | made my business
known, and gave me new magazine
| to look over until she could wait upon
me. Among the first articles to at
tract my attention was one of my own
little poems, clipped from the paper for
which it had been written. My heart
throbbed joyfully at this token of APP
probation. For few minutes / was
supremely happy, and then an over
whelming sense of my utter loneliness
came over me, and with the bitter
thought that | had not single friend
to rejoice with me over my success,
turned rapidly through the remaining
pages, until tho words, ''Five-hundred
dollar prize" attracted my attention.
l first ran my eye over it hastily, then
re-read it carefully, after which 1 took
paper and pencil from my pocket and
copied the address. The pr re was offer
ed by the editor of the magazine for
the best serial story for girls. All
competing manuscripts were to be in
the hands of the editor by January 1st.
and the prize was awarded early in
April. 1t was now the middle of Octo-
Der. Before slept l had written for
particulars. and a neighbours lad, pass
ing by at day-break the next morning,
carried the letter to the office for me-
AS soon as | received instructions,
went to work with will, and l have
no doubt but that my aunt had just
cause for her fault finding during the
next three months. for my mind was
more upon the characters that my i'm
aginaton had brought into being, than
upon my work. Aunt had persistent
ly denied me light in my room dur
ing the whole year. but kind Margaret
remembered me on my birthday by
writing me good long letter. in
which she enclosed a crisp, new dollar
bill. Part of this / used for paper and
oil, and the balance was boarded for
postage.
A week before the time specified had
expired, my precious package was
committed to the care of Uncle Sam.
and the two next months l waited and
hoped, yet dreaded to hear the decision
that the spring might have in store for
for me. Three days later my weary
watching was changed into glad song
OF thanksgiving, for misunderstanding
letter which uncle put into my hands
brought me the five hundred dollars
had been dreaming about for six
months. l had won the prize: how, L
scarcely know, unless my desperate
case had nerved me for the conflict. 1t
may be that my aching head made
itself felt through my fingers tips.
At any rate, had won the prize,
and the money, indisputable, was
mine.
Five hundred dollars may seem a
very insignificant sum to those who
count their possessions by the thou
sands, but to ME it meant peaceful
home with my dear old Margaret and
escape from the bitter bread OF depend
ence.
well. it does seem as if book -larnin'
amounted to something after ALL" adj
mitted Aunt Phlls when she learned
of my success.
just as l told you exactly" said
Uncle Reuben, rubbing his hands to-
gether, whe gal shows her bringing up.
She ort to be thankful for the home I
opened up to her when penniless
child"
John looked more sullen than ever,
though when he took me to the station
few days later, l overheard him ex-
planning my success to young lady
acquaintance, and, if mistake not, he
proudly owned me as one of the fami-
ly.--Iankee Blade.