The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-01-25

face, Percy saw an expression thai
meant: II am SO glad, Percy. YOU
won't tell any more lies, will you7"
Then the younger face frightened
and Percy reached home by series
OF happy jumps.
Then followed many beautiful
sunny days in the rocking-chair on
Grandpa's porch.
Grandmother was always kind now
Percy was surely growing truthful.
Susie Flanagan brought the most
lovely wild flowers from the woods
and Billy trolled out witty Irish
songs that made one shake with
laughter.
Many of the boys had walked by
the house, and called out, "Hello,
Albert!" with much respect One
day Fred Benton had marched brave
ly in, and asked Albert to "make up"
The days were joyous to Albert;
only, during all this absence from
school, what of the hoped for prizes
His chance was gone. That was
all there was of it. Sometimes AL
bert said he didn't "care much" and
he thought to himself that, if Bessie
Green should get it, he wouldn't care
at all; for Bessie was well-dressed,
high-spirited little despot, who in the
old times had stanchly averred to
Albert's enemies, "You're jealous:
that's what ails you;' and "Albert
Myer knows almost as much as Miss
Allen"
On the whole, Albert concluded
not to care about the medal.
The doctor had said he would be
able to go the Opera House, and sit
with his grade when the last day ex-
ercises took place. That would be
pleasant, and maybe next year he
could win the medal.
The great crowd of people gathered
at Newberry Opera House on the 10Th
of June of that year proved the wide
spread interest aroused in commun-
ity by its public school exercises.
After the declarations and the
essays, the songs and dialogues, came
the plies.
Looking more than usually impor-
tant, Mr.. Sweller TODD at the front of
the platform, and read the names of
the prize winners.
"In Grade Four" read he, "the
silver medal for attendance, punctu
ality, department, and scholarship,
is awarded to Bessie j. Green"
In fresh white gown and dainty
ribbons, Bessie j. Green futtered to
the platform.
Albert saw the bit of shining silver,
in a pretty, velvetlined case, placed
in the little girls upstretched hand,
and forgot that he had ever tried to
win the medal for himself.
The President of the Board of Ed
ucation advanced to the front OF the
platform and began speaking, but
Albert, his eyes still on Bessie, had
forgotten his surroundings. Sudden
ly he realized that voice, not the
principals, was saying quite clearly,
ga medal in gold"
Then, with face turning from white
to red, and red back to white again,
the astonished child listened while
the Hon. Mr.. Warner told of the
faithful attendance, the superior
scholarship, and honorable deport-
ment of Albert Myer.
"His school-work was interrupted
by Sickness" continued the presi-
dent, "of which you all know the
cause. To show our appreciation of
true courage, the Board of Education
now presents the boy with this gold
en- medal, on which he will find en-
graved, albert Myer, the bravest
among many"
Mr.. Warmers face was happy, as
he stopped, and looked down the
aisle for Albert.
Would you have had the child go
forward, smiling and proud9 Alas!
| am simply an historian.
Sitting bolt upright in the balcony,
smiling and excited, was tf9 proud
old grandmother; but down below,
among the children, overcome by his