[VI]
THE BOY WHO WON A PRIZE
You know what sort of stories Bede was fond of telling—of course in Latin. If you should be asked with whom English prose began, I think it would be safe to say, "With Bede, who wrote the life of St. Cuthbert and the Ecclesiastical History." But that is not why you should say that Bede began English prose, but because at his death he was busy finishing a book written in English and called Translation of the Gospel of St. John.
When his last day came the good old man called all his scholars about him.
"There is still a chapter wanting," said the youth who always took down all of Bede's dictation, "and it is hard for thee to question thyself longer."
"It is easily done," answered Bede; "take thy pen and write quickly."
And all day long they wrote.
When twilight came the boy cried out, "There is still one sentence unwritten, dear master."