Boys of the Central: A High-School Story

by I. T. Thurston

“I’ve begun about a dozen times, and all my efforts, thus far, seem to me to be fit for the same receptacle,” laughed Gordon; “but there’s so little time left, that all I can do is to pick out the best of the lot—if there is any best—and make a smooth copy of it, and let it go at that.”

“Oh, yes, that’ll do for you to say,” grumbled Hamlin; “but all the same you’ll hand in an essay all trimmed up and polished off in tip-top style. That’s what you’ll both do. I know you two chaps; seen you before.”

Any boy in the Latin class was free to hand in an essay in competition for the prize scholarship; but it was well enough understood who were the six sure to stand at the head of the class, and there was small likelihood that any other boy could produce a better essay than any one of these six could write. Nevertheless, a few made the attempt, and nine essays were given to the judges. The decision was not to be made known, however, until Commencement day; so, when their papers had been handed in, the boys tried to forget all about the matter until the decision should be announced.

The day before Commencement was always one of intense interest, because then the results of all the examinations were announced, and not till then could the scholars know their marks on the whole year’s work, and for those who had been in the school through the entire three years, their standing for the whole period. Those who hoped to win one of the scholarships were especially anxious to know their standing, to see what their chances might be.

Rules were relaxed on this day. There were no more recitations. The work of the senior year was ended, and this last day was really more in the nature of a final friendly meeting as a class, than anything else.

When Mr. Horton, who had been down to Prof. Keene’s office, returned to his class-room with a paper in his hand, the merry chatter ceased, and the boys dropped into their seats, prepared to give him their undivided attention.

He began by telling them that never since he had been teaching had he had a class that had done, on the whole, so satisfactory work as this class had done during the past year. He spoke of the marked improvement, both in scholarship and moral character of the class as a whole, and told them that their influence had not been confined to their own section, but had extended to the whole school, so that Prof. Keene declared that the school stood much higher in reputation than it had done a year ago. “And he attributes this,” said Mr. Horton, “to the influence of the Law and Order Society of section D.”

A round of applause greeted this, but it was quickly hushed, as the teacher went on:—

“It gives me much pleasure to say, as it will give you to hear, that section D is the banner section of the Central, this year.”

The applause that followed this announcement was so enthusiastic and prolonged that it reached the ears of Prof. Keene, in his office, but he only smiled as he listened.