Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-12-14


or other for n couple Of blue ones. He
way laid other boys - they came, and
went on buying tickets Of various colors
10 or 10 minutes longer. he entered
tho church now with . swarm Of clean
and noisy boys and girls, proceeded to
his seat and started quarrel with the
6rst boy that came handy. The teacher.
grave, elderly man, interfered; then
turned bis back Q moment and Tom
pulled boys hair In the next bench
and was absorbed In his book when the
boy turned around, stuck Q pin In an.
other boy. presently. In order to hear
him say "Ouchv' and got new fepri-
mand from his teacher Toms whole
class were Of q pattern-restle@. noisy
and troublesome. When they came to
recite their lessons, not ono Of them
knew his verses perfectly. but had 70 be
prompted all along. However. they
worried through. and each got his re-
ward in small blue tickets, each with .
passage Of Scripture on It Each
blue ticket was pay for two verses
Of tho recitation. Ten blue tickets
equaled q red one and could DO ex-
changed for It. Ten red tickets equal.
ed yellow one. For tan yellow tickets
the superintendent gave very plainly
bound Bible. worth 20 cents In those
easy times, to the pupil. How many Of
my readers would have tho industry and
application to memorise 1000 verses,
even for Dore Biblei And yet Mary
had acquired two Bibles in this way
IL was the patient work Of two years-
and boy Of German parentage had won
four or Eve He once recited 5000
verses without stopping. but the strain
upon his mental faculties was too great,
and he was little better than m idiot
from that day forth, grievous miGfor-
tune for the school, for on great coca.
sions before company the superintend-
ent, ~ Tom expressed IL, bad always
made this boy come out and "spread
himself" Only the older pupils man.
aged to keep their tickets and stick to
their tedious work long enough to get .
Bible, and 20 the delivery Of one Of
these prizes was rare. noteworthy cir
cumstance. The suooessful pupil was %
great and conspicuous for that day tha.
on the very spot every scholars heart
was fred with q fresh ambition that
often lasted . couple Of weekA IL II pos
sible that Toms mental stomach had
never really hungered for one Of those
prizes, but unquestionably his entire b.
ing had for many . day louged for the
glory and eclat that came with It
In dus course the superintendent
stood up in front Of the pulpit with .
closed hymnbook In bis hand and biz
fore6neer inserted between its leaves
and commanded attention. When Sun
day school superintendent makes his
customary little speech. hymnbook in
the hand 10 - necessary - the inevi-
table sheet Of music In the hand OF .
singer who stands forward on the plat.
form and dnes . solo at . concert.
though why 10 . mystery, for neither
the hymnbook nor the sheet Of music IL
ever referred to BY the sufferer. The Su-
perintendent was . slim creature Of 30
with a sandy goatee and short sandy
hair. He wore q stifi standing collar
whose upper edge almost reached his
ears. and whose sharp points curved for.
ward abreast the corners Of his mouth
. fence that compelled straight look
out ahead and . turning Of the whole
body when Q side view was required.
His chin was propped on . spreading
crsyat which was q broad and - long
a. bank note and had fringed eudA
His boot toes were turned sharply Up.
An the fashion Of the day, like sleigh
ruppers, an effect patiently and labori.
ously produced BY the young men sit-
ting with their toes pressed against q
wall for hours together Mr.. Walters
was very earnest Of mien and very sin-
oere and honest at heart, and he held
sacred thinas and places in such rever.
ence and 70 separated them from world.
$4,000. .h.. rroor.c;on.,v n him.
,s y ~ -. s..S.. .chccl vo;cs h.d a.
s.M' .s s's '"..,,;:. ;r."n..io,, vh;ch -.
quu ,, @ -ssIS... Ts h.~.n