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Chapter 2 THE PRIZE

Word Count: 1998    |    Released on: 01/12/2017

een for some years under the charge of James Rathburn, A. M., a thorough scholar and a skilful teacher. A large part

ly from the town of Rossville. Mr. Rathburn, h

One class, however, had commenced reading the Aeneid of Virgil, and was intending to pursue the full course of preparation for college; though in regard t

the healthful color in his cheeks is good evidence that he is not pursuing his studies at the expens

thin face, very black hair is tall of his age, and already beginning to feel himself a young man. His manner is full of pretension. He never forgets that his father is the richest man in town, and can afford to give him ad

st of the three, excels the other two in scholarship. But there is some doubt whether he will be able to go to college. His father is in moderate circumstances, deriving a comfortable subsistence from a small farm, but is able to lay by a very small surplus every year, and this he feels

om of the Rossville Academy on the morning of

er the preliminary devotional exercise, Mr. Rathburn, instead of call

boy over fourteen years of age; the other for the best composition by any one under that age. It gives me pleasure to state that in most of those submitted to me I recognize merit, and I should be glad if i

the prize. He did not so much care for this, except for the credit it would give him. But his father, who was ambitious for him, had promised him twenty-five dollars if he succee

ed that the prize should be adjudged to an essay entitled 'The Duti

was a general favorite, and even his disappointed rivals felt a

anger and vexation. He scowled darkly while the rest of the boys were applaudi

. He had made a great effort to succeed, and he knew that at home th

come forward," s

Mr. Rathburn placed in his hand a neat edi

n incentive to renew

he girls. As she has no part in our stor

sirous of examining the prize volumes. All expressed hearty good-will,

er. "We all know that you're old Rathburn's favorite. It didn't make m

rover impetuously. "You only say that because you w

urn's sixpenny books. I can buy as many as I please. If he'd given 'em t

it proceeded from disappointed rivalry, he wisely said nothing to increase his exasperation. He

the failure of his effort to prevent the town's voting bounties to volunteers. In particular he was incensed with Mr. Frost

t the prize," commenced Jo

is father coldly. "You might have g

burn was sure to give

questioned Squire Haynes, n

rost, to

view of the matter. His dislike of the father was so great that it readi

other. All the boys know Frank Frost is his pet. You

t he had not yet tried this method

"It is highly detrimental to a teacher's influence, and subversive o

s,

I think it deserving, I will take care that

took out a sheet of foolscap, three sides of which were written over. This he br

equential manner read his rejected essay. It was superficial and commonplace, and abundantly m

t sort of an essay young Frost wrote, but I venture to say it was not as

is ears, and list

sha'n't soon forget it. It isn't for his interest to ins

got a mortgag

m of it. But to come back to your own affair

py of Whittier's Po

nding, I

s,

y you the same thing bound in calf. I don't intend

felt like making the most of his father's favorable mood, "bu

of it, I will give you thirty in

k you, sir!" he said. "I wouldn't change pla

pompously. "Your position as the son of a poor

the full-length mirror in which his figure was reflected. "Ten years from now Frank Frost will be only a common laborer on his father

ection had ever done. They were very much alike-both cold, calculating, and selfish. The squire was indeed ambitious for

is mother had been a good, though not a strong-minded woman, and her influence might have been of advantage to her so

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