Mr. Fairfield declared that the medium must be phosphorus, but all agreed that it was a wonderful achievement, and many thought it would surely take the prize.
The sphere was hollow, and made of a light framework, and Mr. Hepworth walked inside of it, really carrying it along with him. It so nearly touched the ground that his feet were scarcely observable, and the great six foot globe made a decided sensation, as it moved slowly along.
Patty remembered that Roger had declared he was going to take the prize, and as she had knowledge of the boy’s ability along these lines, she felt by no means sure that it wouldn’t eclipse Mr. Hepworth’s shining orb.
And sure enough, when Roger appeared, it was in the character of a Christmas tree!
The clever youth had selected just the right kind of a tree, and cutting away enough twigs and branches near the trunk on one side, he had made a space in which he could thrust the whole of his tall slender self.
To protect his face and hands from the scratchy foliage, and also to render himself inconspicuous, he wore a tight-fitting robe of dark brown muslin, which concealed even his face and arms, though eyeholes allowed him to see where he was going.
In a word, the boy himself almost constituted the trunk of the tree, and by walking slowly, it looked as if the tree itself was moving along without assistance.
The tree was gaily hung with real Christmas trinkets and decorations, and lighted with candles.
The idea was wonderfully clever, and though it had been hard work to arrange the boughs to conceal him entirely, Roger had accomplished it, and the gay decorations hid all defects.
The judges awarded the prize to Roger, who calmly remarked to Patty, afterward, “I told you I’d get it, didn’t I?”