The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-10
HOW KITTY WON THE PRIZE.
A School story for Girls.
BY Carolyn Wells.
Copyright, 1901, by S. S. Mcclure Co.

Copyright, 1901, by S. 5. Mcclure Coz
Old Mr.. Jonathan Palmer was a man
who considered mathematics by far
the most important part of anyone's
education. "Readin' an writin' is all
very WELL" he said, "but to get along
in this worp you've got to know how
to fgger."
He Was a generous old man as we'll
as a rich one, and so when he offered
the Palmer prize for mathematics"
no one was very much astounded. But
the prize, of 500 in gold. was we'll
worth working for, and every boy and
girl in the Hickoryville high school
determined to try for it at least.
"Of course / don't stand the ghost
of show" said jolly, lazy Jack Ram
sey, but I'm going to work like sixty
for it"
20, John HOLSTER will get the
prize" said Molly Roberts, decidedly,
hes such a wonder in arithmetic,
and he always takes all the prizes any
way" This was so nearly true that no
one disputed it, but Kitty Farrell said,
longingly:
II suppose he will, and I just know
won't, but 1 know what I'd do with
II II ola get II.
"What?" said the others.
'Why. I'd take mother and go to
the Buffalo exposition. I'm crazy to
go, but father says he can't afford
it, o! 1 wish 1 could win the prize"
well, you can't" said Molly Rob-
erts. honestly, if not very comfort
ingly. History is your forte; you
never did amount to much in arithme-
tic This was true, but Kitty Far
AL Inc haf Of ci RI n
whom encouragement acts as a spur,
and she silently determined then and
there that she'd study for that prize
as she had never studied before in her
life, and so she did; in school and out
she worked away over difficult exam
pies, memorized rules and even drilled
herself afresh on the multiplication
table. Examination day drew nearer,
and Kitty found that there were 9TH
ers studying hard as we'll as herself.
John HOLSTER modestly disclaimed all
idea of winning the prize, but any one
could see that his disclaimer covered
a hope that was almost a certainty.
But Kitty's nature was not of the kind
| that depends on hope. Indeed, she
coud scarcely have told you whether
she hoped to win or not. Her mag
! nation and even her desire had little
| part in the matter; with her the prin
cipal factor was her will. Kitty was
| determined to win, and consequently
neglected no effort which might bring
about the happy result. Systematic
| ally and methodically she portioned
out her arithmetic for study each day,
| and at last, the day before the exam
ination was to take place she had ONLY
| three pages left to learn. But these
three treated of partial payments"
| a subject which was the hardest Nne
of all for Kitty, and which she had
| purposely left for the last in order
| to have it fresh in her memory. Ex-
animation day was Friday. and Thurs
| day afternoon Kitty packed up her
books and walked home from school
| with no especial feeling of confidence
in her success on the morrow, but With
| a greater determination than ever that
| she would win.
Kitty's mother had promised her that
| If she would play out of doors in the
| fresh air after school that day, she
might sit up and study an hour later
| than usual that evening.
This hour Kitty thought, and an
hour which she meant to gain by get
ting up very early next morning, would
be enough for the Partial Payments"
| and she ran into the house with her
books and then ran out again for
| good romp until tea time.
Mr.. and Mrs. Farrell were going out
|
they went away, charging Kitty to
| study no later than 10 o'clock.
Kitty promised this, and after a
| game of bali with the cat, went for
her school books. But when she picked
| up her arithmetic, or at least, the book
she supposed was her arithmetic, and
opened it, she discovered it was her
| United States history.
Kitty sat looking at it with a bewil-
| I,I DI11 lNa
fore, this history, for it was the same
size as her arithmetic, and all of her
! school books We're covered with green
oilcloth. How could she have made
such mistake, this night of all 9TH
| ers?
And Kitty could think of no way to
rectify the error, for every pupil would
be using his or her arithmetic that
night, and quite unwilling to lend it to
poor Kitty.
She tried to think of some way, but
| no brilliant idea presented itself ex-
oept to appeal to Mr. Martin, the prin-
cipal
She decided that If he did not have
an arithmetic which she could borrow
she would ask for the school house
key, then she would rise very early in
the morning, and go for her own book.
She would then have an hour or so to
study, and perhaps she could conquer
i the Partial Payments" in that time.
! But Mr.. Martin was not at home. Mrs.
! Martin, however. quite appreciated the
state of things, and willingly gave Kit
ty the school house key, and babe her
CHEEKY good night.
| 20, yes, you can run over to the
school before o'clock tomorrow
morning, and then by you can learn
all that's in the book"
Kitty said good night and started off
with heavy heart for an hour was
an alarmingly short time in which to
do the work OF three or four hours.
She went home and sat down in the
bright and pleasant library, feeling
disconsolate indeed.
How the precious minutes were slip
ping away, and she could make no
steps toward her goal.
Suddenly an idea came to her. why
not go for her book tonight?
She looked out Of the window, and,
though there was no moon. the streets
were fairly we'll lighted.
With sudden rush OF determination
! Kitty decided 10 go. and silently she
slipped out OF the front door.
! Kitty was usually rather timd. in
deed for girl OF Il she was positive
! ~ childish about tho dark
But on this occasion her desire over
came an fear 81 the dark, lonely road
and she trudged along, thinking only
| of accomplishing her end. She had
! brought q few matches Ia her pocket.
4 but she bopsd Il would nos be ceces-