Smiths and ask if they want another cake. Good night!" And the boys separated. Ted Musgrove came racing home in about half an hour, and found his brother Philip sitting in the corner of the room, with his slate before him. Soon he put it down, and sat staring at the fire without speaking. He was thinking about the examination, and what his chance of a prize might be. "My Scripture knowledge is all right,” thought he, "that's one mercy. No one but me knew who Noah's grandfather was, and young Williams said he never could remember the difference between Elijah and Elisha. I wish they would ask about Asia in geography, or else the tributary streams of the Humber. I know all the places where Saint Paul stopped right off. Then history's safe too. Charlie Smith reads a good bit; but he is such a fool, he likes to bother on with one reign; says it interests him; so of course he don't get time for the important things. I'll see if I can remember the rhyme about the kings 'First William the Norman, then William his son; No, that's not it, 'Edwards, one, two, and three. Victoria the loved and the last,' I know it ends. I'm quite sure about my summing, though; but I should like to have time just to finish all these; it would make the gentlemen stare so, to hear I'd done all the fraction sums in a month." The examination day came. The school-room was lighted up, and adorned with evergreens and wreaths of flowers. Numbers of parents sat on the back benches, each thinking their own boys were quite sure to deserve the prizes. Among the firstclass boys sat Philip Musgrove, full of delight at the prospect of his own praises. The first subject was geography. Phil answered well, and heard one of the gentlemen say, "Sharp lad that; son of Musgrove the baker." History was the next subject. A different gentleman rose to question the boys. "What do you know of William the Third, boys ?" Philip's hand was up instantly. "He invaded England; fought the battle of Waterloo, wherein the Black Prince was slain; and thus England and Ireland, united under-" The gentleman turned to the schoolmaster and said, "What is the boy saying? I do not understand. Is he an idiot ?" "Only a parrot," whispered one of the audience. The master, colouring, and much vexed, said, "Sit down, Musgrove. He has got confused, sir." And then came the arithmetic. A black board, on which sums were set, was placed before the boys, and they were provided with slates. Each time Philip's was the first filled, and every sum was right. He felt full of hope. Just when it was expected that the winner of the arithmetic prize would be declared, one of the gentlemen stepped to the front of the platform and said, "Before we can decide who deserves the arithmetic prize, I must ask a few questions on the use of summing." "To help us to keep shop, sir!" "To help us to buy things!" "To teach us how to keep accounts!" said several of the boys at once. "True; but when you go into a shop to buy some tea, does the shopman reckon up what it will come to with a board and chalk ?" "No, sir." 66 'Well, my boys; I want to see if you can be as clever as a shopman. I shall give you a few very easy sums; but you must do them in your heads, and I shall not tell you how. Number one: If a man were born in the year 1810, and died in the year 1860, how long would he have lived? Number two: Give the price of four ounces of tea at 4s. 6d. per lb? Number three-What's the matter, Musgrove." "I don't do those sort of sums, I do fractions ?" "If you can do fractions, you ought to be able to do these. Write the answers on your slate. Number three: Six pounds of candles, at the rate of twelve pounds for eight shillings? If any boy in the lower classes can answer these questions he may do so, I give you five minutes." The five minutes went by. The slates were handed up. The gentleman took Philip's, and read the questions and answers. He then said, "If a man were born in 1810, and died in 1860, he would be-why more than three million years old! Methusaleh would be nothing to him! And four ounces of tea, at 4s. 6d. a pound, would be eighteen shillings; and your candles would cost forty-eight shillings. You are clever at multiplication, my boy; but I hope you don't keep your father's books! Let me see the slates of the lower boys. Edward Musgrove, nothing on yours ?" 66 Please, sir, I had no pencil, but I have done the sums. First sum: Answer, 50 years. Second sum : Answer, one shilling and three half-pence. Third sum: Answer, four shillings." "Very well; can you do harder sums than these ?" "Yes sir, in my head." "Not on a slate?" "No, sir, I only do simple rules.' "But you are sharp at this sort of summing. I cannot give you the prize which belongs to the first class; but there is a shilling for you." The first-class prize was then given to a boy who had been usually thought stupid, but who had common sense, and who, although he knew nothing about fractions, gave himself time to think before he began to reckon. THE LITTLE SCHOONER. THEY built a little ship By the rough sea-side; They laid her keel in hope, And they launched it in pride. Lightly was she rigged, And strongly was she sparred; She had bow-lines and bunt-lines, Topping-lift and yard. They swung round her boom, When the wind blew piff-paff; For she was a little schooner, And she sailed with a gaff. The men who were making her Shall never breast the foam: She made two trips In the smooth summer-days; Back she came merrily, All sang her praise. Once she brought figs From a land of good heat; Once she brought Memel wood, Strong, hard, and sweet. She made three trips When winter gales were strong; Back she came gallantly, Not a spar wrong. |