Mr. Upton invited his assistants, Marcus and Jessie, to take tea with him, at the close of the examination. They accepted the invitation, and after an hour or two, passed very pleasantly with their friend, Marcus proposed to return home, as he had business to attend to. Mr. Upton said that, as he had been closely confined through the day, he thought the fresh air would do him good, so he proposed to walk home with them. As soon as they came in sight of Mrs. Page’s house, an unusual display of lights attracted attention, and set them to conjecturing what it could mean. On entering the house, however, the mystery was quickly explained. All the scholars of the academy were there, and, with smiling faces and words of welcome, pressed forward to greet the new comers. The trustees, too, were soon discovered in the background, quietly enjoying the scene.
“Why, how secret they have kept this!” whispered Jessie to Marcus, as soon as she found an opportunity. “They didn’t even let me know anything about it—I’m as much surprised as you are.”
“They are pretty good for keeping a secret,” replied Marcus, smiling.
“And who would have thought of seeing the trustees here, too? Why, I think it is quite a compliment to you,” continued Jessie.
“Do you suppose there is to be any presentation?” whispered Marcus, with a look of concern.
“I don’t know,” replied Jessie; “but I shouldn’t wonder if there was—you’d better prepare yourself for a speech.”
After a season passed in games, and conversation, and pleasant social intercourse, the party were invited to the tables, which had been bountifully spread with good cheer by the scholars. The feast was despatched without any speeches or other formalities, but not without a merry interchange of good feeling, and a little of that “flow of soul” which, according to the newspaper reporters, is seldom wanting when a company of hungry people gather around a well-filled table, on any public or special occasion. After the collation, the company adjourned to the front rooms, and seemed unusually quiet, as if waiting for some expected performance. Pretty soon Marcus arose, and, with a roguish twinkle in his eye, said:
“Soon after I came in here, this evening, our friend, Miss Hapley, whispered to me that there would probably be a presentation, and advised me to be thinking of my speech. She was right, in her prediction. Here is a beautiful paper box which has just been put into my hand—though, I am happy to say, without any speech-making. If agreeable to the company, I will examine its contents.”
No one objecting, Marcus, before opening the box, proceeded to describe it. It was covered with exquisitely tinted blue paper, ornamented with a rich pattern in gold. On the cover was a beautiful colored engraving, represented on the opposite page. The picture bore an inscription selected from the last chapter of the book of Proverbs, as follows: