34

Winning a Prize

Spring, with its soft, balmy zephyrs, its awakening flowers, its unfolding buds, and its growing grasses, had returned once more. Little birds could be seen flitting gaily from tree to tree, and no doubt were pouring forth a stream of melody, unconscious that their songs were all unheard by the little girls who, with pleased smiles, watched them from the balcony.

It was Saturday afternoon, and the girls, having nothing to do, promenaded up and down the long balcony, strolled about the pleasant grounds of the institution, or watched a number of the officers and teachers who were engaged in playing a game of croquet on the smooth, green lawn. By and by, some of them grew tired of all these pursuits, so they ventured up to the matron’s room and asked permission to go down to the greenhouse for a while. This was a thing they were seldom allowed to do, so they felt rather doubtful about being able to secure permission. But upon their promising not to meddle with any of the flowers, and to return soon, permission was granted. Joyfully they hurried to their rooms for their hats, and, arm in arm, strolled down the smooth, macadam drive toward the garden.

They soon reached it and happily found the greenhouse door open. A fountain in the center was throwing a column of water into a cup held in the hand of a statue, from whence it fell to the basin beneath. In this basin were a number of red fish swimming gaily about. Some aquatic plants spread their broad leaves at the water’s edge, and a little distance from the fountain grew a lemon tree, upon which were several green lemons. There were plants of many kinds in pots along each side of the greenhouse. After inspecting these the girls passed through a door at the opposite end into a small corridor. Beyond this corridor, through another open door, they caught a glimpse of blooming flowers, whose perfume filled the air. Soon they were making their way along the narrow paths that extended on each side of a pyramid of beautiful hothouse flowers, while above their heads, close to the glass roof, vines, with glossy green leaves amid which gleamed gay-colored flowers, were seen. That lovely scene delighted the girls, and some of them longed to pluck just one flower from the profusion blooming there. But, remembering their promise not to meddle, they refrained.

The superintendent had received a number of nice Bibles of different styles from the American Bible Society. These Bibles, he announced, would be awarded as prizes to those pupils who diligently studied the Scriptures. The first prize was to be given to the one who learned the greatest number of verses by the close of the term. The next, to the one who learned the next greatest number, and so on until the supply of Bibles should be exhausted. Those pupils who concluded to try and win one of the prizes announced their intention to their teacher, who, each Monday morning thereafter, had them write from memory all the verses they had learned during the preceding week. The number learned by each was then recorded in a book kept for the purpose.

Carrie Raymond, who was actively competing for one of the prizes, was taken quite sick before the end of the term, and she had to relinquish her studies and go to the hospital for a while. When that unlooked-for misfortune came upon her, she feared that she might miss winning one of the prizes or else fall far behind others in the race. So she had her Bible brought up to her room, and, whenever she felt able, studied a few verses.

When the last Sunday of the term came—the day fixed for the distribution of the Bibles—all the pupils were summoned to the chapel. There, on a round table, lay the Bibles, ready for distribution. The first name on the prize list proved to be that of a young man of fine personal appearance as well as scholarly attainments. He was called up by the superintendent and requested to make his choice of a Bible. He did so, selecting a large, neatly bound copy, and he then, in a graceful manner, thanked the superintendent for it and returned to his seat. The next name on the list was that of a brother of the first young man. The third name was that of a young lady belonging to the academic class. Carrie was much gratified to find that her own name came next, she having learned the fourth to the greatest number of verses. There were about fifty copies of the Bible for distribution, and none who had kept on studying to win one was disappointed in the expectation of receiving a copy. After they were all distributed the superintendent advised those who had received a copy to study it and try to profit by its teachings.

The examinations had begun the previous week and closed on Tuesday. On Wednesday the graduating exercises took place.

Arrangements for the homegoing were rapidly made. Half-fare tickets were procured for all of the pupils, and certificates entitling them to travel at half-fare on their return trip were also furnished them. Passes were secured for the teachers who were to go with them to see that they reached their homes in safety.

On the day of the departure for home, when Carrie Raymond was seated in one of the spacious railway coaches with a number of her schoolmates and Mr. Vance—who was in charge of their party—the trainboy came along with a basket of prize packages. He paused at Carrie’s seat, took up one of his packages, and began talking to her vocally. Carrie could not understand a word of what he was saying, yet she surmised that he was trying to induce her to buy one of his packages. Feeling unable to win a prize that appealed to her purse, she slowly shook her head, thus indicating that she would not take one. But the trainboy, undaunted, still kept up his vocal exercise, and Carrie again shook her head negatively, without effect. Then her companion, a sprightly young lady, made a sign to attract his attention, and, putting her finger to her ear, she shook her head negatively. Then she pointed first to herself and then to Carrie, thus giving him to understand they were both deaf. At this information he picked up his basket, and, rather embarrassedly, moved on.