The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-06-20

| district school, there was some eX-
cuse for his being older and less
advanced than the city boys in a
graded school. He was very tall and
thin. Hence his nickname. His
proper name was Edward Austin.
When he arrived home, he rushed
| into the house, slamming the door
after him, and threw himself down
on a chair.
"What's the matter, Ned?' asked
his mother.
"Oh, Pm sick of those Scotch fell
lows. It's nothing but Scotch. They
do this, and they do that. Sandy
says their school-boys know more
than American school-boys. There
are more eminent men among them,
according to population, than there
are in any other country. If they are
smart, what do they come here for?
There is scarcely day Sandy doesn't
tell us about some Scotch wonder" :
"Who was the wonder today7 You
seem greatly put out over him."
No one in particular. "He was tell
ing us what Scotch boys know when
they are through the grammar school
Two of the fellows are Scotch, and |
can't see that they are so smart
Guthrie thinks he knows it all, but
he's going to lose this time. We
Americans can beat them if we set
out to; and I'm going to win just to
show them. I'll sit up all night from
now until October, and study and
study, before I'll let Guthrie win"
"Win what, Neds What are you
driving at? Now just cool down,
and tell me what this is about"
The two weeks sped rapidly, and
August found Ned back again with
his wild flowers. Through this month
he gathered the Touch-me-not, or
Jewel Weed; the Soapwort, or Bounc-
ing Bet; and the Chiccory; also the
Blue-eyed Grass. The Blue eyed
Grass he found in his own yard. Now
he had all but one.
School would begin in a week.
How anxious he was to know if Guth-
rie had ten mounted
At last school opened. The boys
were not so noisy as usual. They
gathered in clusters to talk about
their success. Some of the boys had
not met since school closed.
Ned, going up to where Guthrie
was talking to some boys, said, Have
you ten mounted, Guthrie?"
"Yes. Have you"
No Only nine"
"Have you got nine, Lankeys Good
for you" said number of the boys
together. "Smart boy! Something
in your old noddle, after all. Let us
see them
81 guess not, said Ned. Sandy
said no comparing of each others
work"
so Sandy did," said voice over
their heads. The boys happened to
be talking under one of the windows;
and Mr.. Cameron, stepping to the
window, had overheard.
After the boys were seated in the
school-room, he asked how many had
succeeded with their work. Twenty
out of the fifty-fye raised their hands.
The others had become discouraged.
Mr.. Cameron thanked all who had
tried, and said he was very grateful
to those who had succeeded.
Nov, boys" he said, write your
names beside the number that is in
your books and hand them in"
This put Ned in tremor.
"Oh! Oh! Mr.. Cameron" he called
out: cant we have another week."
You may have until the first of
October. l understood you were all
ready"
All that week Ned hunted, but
could not find specimen to suit him.
He wanted something that others did
not have, and time was flying. 1t
was the third Saturday in September,
Why couldn't he find onea OFF he
Sandy
You mean the master?"
Eyes. We all call him Sandy. He
wants botany taught in our school;
and he told us today he would give
prize to the boy who pressed and
mounted ten wild flowers by next
October, | mean the boy whose work
is the best. He is going to begin to-
morrow to teach us about it. We
are to study it for fifteen minutes
each day. After he has shown us
how, we are to gather ten wild flow
ers ourselves, analyze and describe
them; and then we are to press
them, and mount them in book he
is going to give us. He said we must