“I know it,” replied Oscar; “but they agreed to write, some of them, every month; and besides, I believe I think more of letters from home than I used to.”
“That is a good sign, if you do,” replied Mrs. Page; “only you must be sure and do your share of the correspondence.”
“I have done my share,” continued Oscar. “I have written regularly every month, almost from the time I came here.”
“Then I think you will hear from home soon,” replied Mrs. Page.
“Sooner than he expects, perhaps,” said a voice from the sitting-room, the door of which, opening from the kitchen, stood ajar.
“Why, mother! is that you?” cried Oscar, springing to the door; “and you, too, father! Why, who would have thought you were in here, hearing me scold about you!”
It was even so. Oscar’s parents had arrived late in the afternoon, quite unexpectedly, to make a short visit, and his aunt, as he entered the room, conceived the idea of withholding the news from him for a few moments, to render his surprise the more complete. The warm greeting need not be described; but it may be well to add, that both his father and mother protested that they were not in the slightest degree displeased with the “scolding” they had overheard, and promised there should be no further occasion for it, if they could help it.
The examination and exhibition of the academy took place, in a few days, and a part of the exercises were attended by Oscar’s parents. Two days were devoted to this business, and, as usual, they were arduous and anxious days to both teachers and students. The committee who conducted the examination, like the similar body mentioned in the dialogue, seemed bound to find out all that the students knew, and a good deal more. The scholars, however, stood their ground well, and when the examination was concluded, Mr. Merrill, the village clergyman, pronounced it one of the most satisfactory he had ever attended in that place. Then came the closing entertainment, or exhibition, in which speaking, reading compositions, singing, etc., were the order of the day. This, too, passed off quite successfully. The whole concluded with the award of prizes. Among the successful competitors were Jessie Hapley, who took one of the highest premiums, for superior scholarship and good conduct; Oscar, who received a handsome volume, for faithful endeavors; Harrison Clark, who was awarded a prize for general improvement; and Charles Wilder, who received a gift for several fine drawings exhibited by him.
In the evening after the exhibition, all of the students and teachers of the academy assembled at the house of Mr. Upton, the preceptor, to make him a surprise visit. The affair was so well managed, that he knew nothing of the intentions of his pupils until they began to pour into his house. But cheerful fires were soon blazing on the hearths of the principal rooms, fresh lamps were lit, and a dozen or two of chairs were brought in from a neighbor’s, which were all the preparations deemed necessary for the occasion. The hours were enlivened with social intercourse, and games, and music, and mirth, in which all participated with the utmost freedom and good-will. No refreshments except apples were offered, one of the elder pupils having considerately informed Mr. Upton at the outset that “they had eaten their suppers once, and considered that sufficient, whether at home or abroad.”
In the course of the evening, by some manœuvre which he did not clearly understand, Mr. Upton found himself suddenly surrounded by the whole body of his pupils, and immediately one of their number, a young lady, commenced addressing him in a set speech. She held in her hand an elegantly bound book, which, after a neat address, she handed to the preceptor. This book was entitled, “The Highburg Academy Offering to their Beloved Friend and Preceptor, Robert Upton, A. M.” It contained the autograph signature of every scholar connected with the institution, to each of which was prefixed a verse or two of appropriate poetry, or a few prose sentences, original or selected, transcribed by the several writers. The volume also contained quite a number of drawings, water-color paintings, maps, etc., executed by the scholars.