Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-03-30
CHAPTER VIII.

club in the county was present al
the meeting. There were many others
and bankers. 1t was a jolly CROWD
thai gathered together that morning
Everyone had his joke and his laugh
The noise never ceased for a moment
until the club was called to order
and Mr.. Burns stepped up on the ros-
trum to make a few remarks before
the awarding Of the prizes began.
81 want to say" he began. smiling
that I am very proud that this county
is in my district. When I tell you
why, boys, you'll be proud also"
A stiffness settled over the crowd
and the boys listened eagerly for the
next words.
What I refer ." continued Mr.
Burns, "is the (, that some boy OF
this county. some boy sitting here In
this room, has won the state prize-s
trip to Washington. Think Of that
BOYS. One Of your club has not only
won the first prize for the county, but
he has beat every other boy In the
state. 1 wonder If any of you know
who the winner is?"
AS he asked the question the agent
allowed his eyes to wander about ove1
the crowd Of boys, as II he himself
was trying to locate the lucky youth
The boys looked at each other ano
tried to guess the winner. But the
agent left it to the committee to re-
veal the name.
They didn't have long to wait, how
ever. Presently Mr.. Burns sat down
and the chairman Of the committee
stood up to award the prizes.
Sam Powell will please come for
ward" he said.
Sam could hardly realize that 1t was
his name that had been called, but he
rose and went forward. The chairman
had him step up on the rostrum beside
him, facing the assembly. The mex,
words of the man caused the young
farmer almost to faint.
Sam Powell" he said, Il wish to In
form you that as a competitor In the
Boys Corn club you nave won the frs,
prize offered to the boy in this state
who produced on m acre the larges,
amount Of corn at the least cost. The
prize consists of 500 in cash, to be
used in paying the expenses Of a trir
to Washington.
furthermore, I wish to inform you
that you have won the first prize of.
fered to the boy in this county who
produced on one acre the best al
round crop Of corn, quality, quantity
and cost considered. This prize con-
sists Of one registered Jersey COW.
For your achievement in farming
the state also presents you with this
certificate Of honor. 1t is signed by
the governor and stamped with the
great seal Of the commonwealth. Tc
win this certificate is alone a distinc'
ton to be proud Of"
Holding the certificate in his hand
Sam went back to his seat. 1t seemed
almost too good to be true that he hat
won those first prizes. He was anx.
ious to get out and go home to tell TIT
news. How proud his mother and sis
ter would be!
The awarding Of the prizes Wen
on, but Sam, to tell the truth, was sc
busy thinking about the Jersey COW
and the trip to Washington that hi
| didn't pay much attention to anything
else. There was hardly a member Of
the club. however, who did not wiz
some prize besides the certificate o.
honor which was given to every boy
who raised over fifty bushels Of corr
to the acre.
After all the prizes had been award
ed and the agent and W or three
visitors had made short speeches, en-
c~ouraging the boys and urging them t.
begin thai very day to prepare for the
contest next year, Mr.. Burns rose and
smiling, asked If any member Of the
club would like to say anything.
No one responded, but suddenly
some one called out Sam Powell!'
Then from different parts Of the
house came the call:
Sam POWELL"
"Sam POWELL"
Sam POWELL"
Sam flushed with the excitement
and embarrassment of it. He couldn'
make a speech, he knew, but he hat
won first prize, and they wanted hin
to say something. He had thought O.
one or two things that he really die
want to say to the boys, so when SOM
one called his name again he ros'
from his seat.
Members of the club and visitors
he said, you flatter me by calling OF
me for a speech. Speechmaking ism
much in the line Of the Boys Corr
club, but 1 do really wish that I coult
make a speech today. I'd like to tall
a long time on farming and what W.
can do for ourselves by following it a
a business. That's what I think W.
ought to consider-ourselves. W.
want to improve our farms. but W.
want to improve ourselves more thar
the farms. BY going to school W.
learn some things, and the most i'm
portant thing we learn is how t
study. When we learn how to stud,
we can keep on going to school with
out a teacher. And there's so much t
learn in books and outdoors that W.
ought to keep on learning and study
ing as long as we live.
We've all done pretty we'll thi!
year, but we can do better next an
still better the next. We are just be
| ginning to see how much land will
produce. Better seed and better stock
must be our w~atchword. Double thu
| crop to the acre and halve the cost
must be our class yell. I'm going t
grow more and better corn to the acr'
next year and try to do it at less cost
We have raised some fine corn already
though, and we must send some of
| 90 H. oo,,t, and state fairS Won mpI