"--then you must see that your pupils and his get together for a
test examination."

The old man pretended not to be interested in her proposition, but
all the same it caught his fancy. And some days later the sexton
received a letter from him wherein he proposed that the children of
both schools be allowed to test their respective merits.

The sexton was not averse to this, of course, only he wanted to
have the contest held some time during the Christmas holidays, so
that it could be made a festive occasion for the children.

"That was a happy conceit," thought he. "Now I shan't have to
review any lessons this term."

Nor was it necessary. It was positively amazing the amount of
reading and studying that went on just then in the two schools!


The contest was held the evening of the day after Christmas. The
schoolroom had been decorated for the occasion with spruce trees,
on which shone all the church candles left over from the Christmas
Matins, and there were apples enough to give every child two
apiece. It was whispered about that the parents and guardians who
had come to listen to the children would be served with coffee and
cakes. The chief attraction, however, was the big contest.

On one side of the room sat the soldier's pupils, on the other the
sexton's. And now it was for the children to defend their teachers'