subsistence from a small farm, but is able to lay by a very small
surplus every year, and this he feels it necessary to hold in reserve
for the liquidation of the mortgage held by Squire Haynes. Frank's
chance of attaining what he covets-a college education-seems small;
but he is resolved at least to prepare for college, feeling that even
this will constitute a very respectable education.

The reader is introduced to the main schoolroom of the Rossville
Academy on the morning of the day of which the war meeting takes
place.

At nine o'clock the bell rang, and the scholars took their seats.
After the preliminary devotional exercise, Mr. Rathburn, instead of
calling up the first class at once, paused a moment, and spoke as
follows:

"Scholars, I need not remind you that on the first day of the term,
with the design of encouraging you to aim at improvement in English
composition, I offered two prizes-one for the best essay written by a
boy over fourteen years of age; the other for the best composition by
any one under that age. It gives me pleasure to state that in most of
those submitted to me I recognize merit, and I should be glad if it
were in my power to give three times as many prizes. Those of you,
however, who are unsuccessful will feel repaid by the benefit you have
yourselves derived from the efforts you have made for another end."

During this address, John Haynes looked about him with an air of
complacency and importance. He felt little doubt that his own essay
on the "Military Genius of Napoleon" would win the prize. He did not
so much care for this, except for the credit it would give him. But