Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-11-07
A GOLD MEDAL.

st. Nicholas.
A GOLD MEDAL.
/ shall never forget lesson re-
ceived at school. We saw boy nam
ed Watson driving COW to pasture.
In the evening he drove her back
again, we did not know where, and
this continued several weeks.
The boys attending the school were
nearly all sons of wealthy parents,
and some of them were ounces enough
to look with disdain on scholar who
had to drive COW.
With admirable good nature Wat
son bore all their attempts to annoy
him.
Il suppose, Watson" said jackson,
another boy, one day, 81 suppose your
father intends to make milkman of
your"
why not?" asked Watson.
"Oh, nothing. Only don't leave
much water in the cans after you
rinse them-thats ALL"
The boys laughed, and Watson, not
in the least mortified, replied: Never
fear. If ever am milkman, I'll
give good measure and good milk"
The day after this conversation
there was public examination, at
which ladies and gentlemen from the
neighboring towns were present, and
prizes We're awarded by the principal
of our school, and both Watson and
Jackson received a creditable num-
Der; for, in respect to scholarship,
they were about equal. After the
ceremony Of distribution, the prin-
cipal remarked that there was one
prize. consisting of gold medal,
which was rarely awarded, not so
much on account of its great cost,
as because the instances were rare
which rendered its bestowal proper.
1t was the prize of heroism. The
last medal was awarded about three
years ago to boy in the first class,
who rescued a poor little girl from
drowning.
The principal then said that, with
the permission of the company, he
would relate short anecdote.
Not long since some boys were
flying kite in the street just as a
poor lad on horseback rode by on his
way to the mill. The horse took fright
and threw the boy, injurying him so
badly that he was carried home and
confined some weeks to his bed. OF
the boys who had unintentionally
ho foI1 ~
learn the fate of the wounded lad.
There was one boy. however, who
not only went to make inquiries. but
stayed to render service.
This boy soon learned that the
wounded boy was the grandson OF a
poor widow whose sole support con-
sisted in selling the milk of a COW OF
which she was the owner. She was
old and lame, and her grandson, on
whom she depended to drive her COW
to the pasture, was now helpless with
his bruises. Never mind said the
boy; I will drive the cow
But his kindness did not stop
there. Money was wanted to get
articles from the apothecary. I have
money that my mother sent me to
buy pair of boots with, said he,
but can do without them for awhile
oh. no. said the old woman, I can't
consent to that; but here is pair OF
heavy boots that bought for Thomas
who cant wear them. If you would
only buy these. we should get on
nicely The boy bought the boots.
clumsy as they were, and has worn
them up to this time.
well, when 1t was discovered by
the other boys at the school that our
scholar was in the habit of driving a
COW, he was assailed every day with
laughter and ridicule. His cowhide
boots in particular were made mat.
ter of mirth. But he kept on cheer
fully and brayely, day after day, new.
er stunning observation, driving the
Widows COW, and wearing his thick
boots. He never explained why he
drove the COW. 1t was by mere acct
dent that his kindness and self-denial
was discovered by his teacher.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen,
ask you, was there not true heriosm
in this boys conduct? Nay, Master
Watson. do not get out Of sight be.
hind the blackboard. You were not
afraid of ridicule. you must not be
afraid of praise"
AS Watson, with blushing cheeks,
came forward, a round of applause
spoke the general approbation.-Th The
Children's Own.