Mr. Rathburn commenced in the usual manner; but after the
devotional exercises were over, he paused, and, after a brief
silence, during which those who had heard John's words listened
with earnest attention, spoke as follows:

"As I approached the schoolroom this morning I chanced to catch
some words which I presume were not intended for my ear. If I
remember rightly they were, 'I don't care how many prizes
Rathburn gives his favorite!' There were several that heard them,
so that I can be easily corrected if I have made any mistake. Now
I will not affect to misunderstand the charge conveyed by these
words. I am accused of assigning the prizes, or at least, one of
them, yesterday, not with strict regard to the merit of the
essays presented, but under the influence of partiality. If this
is the real feeling of the speaker, I can only say that I am
sorry he should have so low an opinion of me. I do not believe
the scholars generally entertain any such suspicion. Though I may
err in judgment, I think that most of you will not charge me with
anything more serious. If you ask me whether a teacher has
favorites, I say that he cannot help having them. He cannot help
making a difference between the studious on the one hand, and the
indolent and neglectful on the other. But in a matter like this I
ask you to believe me when I say that no consideration except
that of merit is permitted to weigh. The boy who made this charge
is one of my most advanced scholars, and has no reason to believe
that he would be treated with unfairness. I do not choose to say
any more on this subject, except that I have decided to offer two
similar prizes for the two best compositions submitted within the
next four weeks. I shall assign them to the best of my judgment,