Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-07-03
A Prize In a Month


won the race - not the hare. Julie be-
haved like the hare, and - but when
you read on, you'll see.
mo, I'm not on. Well, cant say
expected to be-"
jules big brown eyes danced as she
surveyed the Honor Roll on which her
name did not appear. TWO or three
girls whose names were on 1t moved
away, as if half ashamed OF being
caught reading them.
"It's too bad" one murmured sympa-
thetically.
mo, it isn't said quiet little Grace
Refs, suddenly. Grace was so small
and so quiet that when she asserted
herself everybody who was near at the
asserting started, Just as surprised
Julie had once said, "as Alice was
when the Caterpillar spoke
"I thought you were my friend!'
cried Julie now, turning on her
81 am" replied Grace, seriously;
"but all the same l don't think It's
shame you're not on the Honor Roll.
and why?" asked Julie, dimpling
and sparkling.
think of the things you have that
we don't" Grace warmed up to defend
her attitude You 60 out for walks
in the evenings, when we stay by our
books; you sleep late, when we get up
at five; you have care free mlnd'
when we're trying to make things stay
in ours. 1t wouldn't be fair If you mad
our poor little laurels, too Besides,
and now she surprised everybody, Il
sometimes think you're wise. we IKE
to be on the Honor Roll, oh, yes, and
we're on - once month, at most. we
like prizes - they're handed to us once
a year. But for every night you're
able to do what you like, and on no
day at all do you worry"
Good for you Grace" laughed Julie.
81 couldn't have defended my line or
action half so we'll. l didn't realize
what I thought, but now l understand
myself. Thank you"
"Why, I think Grace is right came
in surprised tones from Mary Lee. rs
that (she pointed disdainfully to the
Honor RolD worth all we pay for IT?
II think it is
The girls started at the quiet words:
Miss Carmichael, the principal, had
come up behind them
20 Miss Carmichael" Julie was gen.
erously anxious to defend Grace. we
are only half in earnest
81 know that" the principal smiled:
"But remember this. You get the thrill
of seeing yourself on the Honor Roll
only once month. perhaps; but they
are there all the time. And the prizes
are only given once year, true; but
you're prize winners all the year round
if you're prize winners at all.
THAT puts a new aspect on It,, muir
INJURED Grace.
"Also,' went on the lady, remember
this = that the world is more and
more prone to ask now, when you pre-
sent yourselves for work In 1t, HOW
much do you know? And prizes
stand for knowledge"
jules sparkling brown eyes grew
sober, She knew very we'll that she
must some day work. What she had
not realized was that these idle honors
= as she thought them of her school
DAYS might influence her chances.
Here is a case in point went on
Miss Carmichael. II have a friend IN
Boston, who heads a large private
school. She has written to me for
junior teacher next year. Listen to
what she says"
/ Miss Carmichael took letter from
the little bag she carried pockets be-
ing still out of date) and read:
"* y And prize winner, too. l
say this because prize winner Is us
ually girl of steady, studious habits
believe some pupils who do not win
prizes may be- as intelligent, perhaps
even know as much; but prize WIN
ner must work evenly, and that Is
what I want"
I An interruption came then, and the
girls separated. But Julie was unus-
ually quiet. She had friends In Bos-
ton, and her widowed mother wished
very much to go there. If she could
!. take home word that she had hopes OF
e position there!
'Ill get prize" announced Julie,
at supper. i've only 1nohth' puI
I'll do it,"
Mrs. Quesnel, who was gay and
vivacious, like her daughter, though
she had learned not to neglect that
which must be done--a lesson still be-
fore Julie-laughed and then sighed.
81 wish you had decided earlier,
dear" she answered. I'm afraid you
can do but little now"
1--WE a month";" said Julie. TO
morrow I'll ask Miss Carmichael which
is my best subject" -....r
The best subject turned out to be
history. Julie had vivid magma
ton, and any historical character who
made any appeal became real to her.
She could reconstruct the age in which
he lived, the conditions of his life
From that moment she applied her
self to work with a steadiness which
amazed all who knew her, including
herself. She rose early and worked
at tabulations, at lists OF dates. at
synopsis of events. She made maps of
wax, and stuck pins, with variously
colored heads, for her kings, leaders.
and statesmen.
Green means the church, she ex-
planned as the girls once met in the
little room her mother had made into
study for her Purple, royalty, of
course. Crimson. war battles, heroes.
x,~r1o ,,I