"Then you may all try again; and since you agree that my cow is the best, you can take her for a pattern."
So they all tried to make one like Miss Ashton's. Carrie's was much like her first attempt, neither better nor worse; but in Bessie's and Belle's a great improvement was to be seen.
Before the half-hour was up, Maggie and Gracie had finished their compositions, and laid down their slates; but some of the children were still poring over theirs, having very little written. At last Miss Ashton said the time was up, and sent Belle to collect the slates, saying she should read the compositions aloud.
Some were very well done, Maggie's and Gracie's the two best; but with some it was plainly to be seen that the young writers had taken little or no pains. One little girl had written only,—
"I got up, and I stayed up till I went to bed. That is all I know." At which, when it was read out, the other children laughed; but the little girl herself felt rather ashamed, and wished she had tried to do better. But Miss Ashton found no fault, laying each slate aside without remark, but when she was through, and it was nearly twelve o'clock, said that her uncle wished to say a few words to all the school. Then the folding-doors were opened, and presently a white-haired old gentleman walked in and stood at Mrs. Ashton's table.
He was as pleasant-looking an old gentleman as it would be easy to find, with a merry twinkle in his eye, and a kind smile on his lips; and when he spoke it was in a hearty, cheery voice that it did one good to hear.
"My dear children," he began, "I do not mean to keep you long, for school-hours are about over, and I suppose you would rather be at your play than listening to an old man. God has not given me any children of my own, but I love all the young folks, and like to make them happy, and to help them along in any way I can. Now I have a plan to propose to you, and it is this. I will give five prizes on the first of next May. Two will be for composition—one for each class, to be given to the young lady, or little girl, who shall produce the best composition; the subject to be chosen by herself. The next two will be for general good standing in the classes, perfect lessons, and punctual attendance, etc. All these, of course, will be bestowed according to the judgment of your teachers and the number of your good marks. But the fifth and last prize, and the one which I consider the most important, will be given according to the choice of the scholars of both classes, to her who has proved herself the most obedient, truthful, and unselfish among you; in short, to her who shows in her life and conduct that she remembers and practises the two great commandments which our Saviour gave us—viz. 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength; and the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.' You shall yourselves say to whom this is due, who has best proved that she has the fear of God and the love of her neighbour in her heart and before her eyes. And since I believe that such a child will rejoice in the power of doing good to others, I will tell you what I mean to offer as a reward.
"In a certain hospital at a short distance from this city, where little deformed children and cripples are nursed and cared for and often cured, I own a bed; that is, I pay for its use, and it is occupied by any needy child whom I may choose to send there. At present, it is taken up by a little girl who has been in the hospital for two years, and who was dreadfully lame when she went there. Now she is so nearly cured that she walks without her crutches, and the doctors say that by the spring she will be quite well.
"When she goes away, her place will be ready for some other poor child who may need such care as she has had; and to the girl whom the voice of her school-mates say has earned the right to it shall be given the choice of its next occupant. Do you understand me, little ones? This bed, with all the comforts and kind care which belong to it, shall be given to any crippled child named by the girl who shall first be chosen by the whole school as the most deserving of the pleasure. Perhaps some among you may not know any one, at present, who stands in need of it; but, if you will make inquiries among your friends, I think you cannot fail to find some poor child to whom it will be a great blessing. And now, I will keep you no longer, but say good-bye to you, hoping to meet you all here in the spring, and that you will all do so well that we shall have a great deal of trouble in deciding who are to receive the prizes."
To describe the buzz of tongues, the exclamations, wonderings, and questionings that followed as soon as Mr. Ashton had gone, would be quite impossible. It was twelve o'clock, and two or three nurses were waiting in the cloak-room for their little charges; but they found it hard work to coax them away. Miss Ashton had gone down-stairs with her uncle and mother, kindly giving Maggie a few minutes to talk off her excitement before she called her to her music-lesson, which she knew would meet with small attention just at present.