“All right,” said Julius, who enjoyed the prospect of cornering the teacher.
Accordingly at recess Julius went up to the teacher gravely, and said, “Mr. Slocum, will you tell me how to do this sum?”
“Ahem! let me see it,” said the teacher.
He took the book and read the following example:
“If seven is the denominator of the following fraction,{131} nine and one-quarter over twelve and seven-eighths, what is its value when reduced to a simple fraction?”
Now this ought not to present any difficulty to a teacher; but Mr. Slocum had tried it at home, and knew he could not do it. He relied upon some one of the scholars to do it on the board, and as he decided in his own mind, from his experience of the day before, that Julius was most to be relied upon, he was dismayed by receiving such an application from our hero.
“It is rather a difficult example,” he said, slowly. “Have you tried it?”
“Yes, sir.”
Julius had tried it, and obtained the correct answer; but this he did not think it necessary to mention.
“Then you had better go to your desk and try again.”