the afternoon, and he naturally liked to have as many visitors as
possible. He was really a good teacher, though his qualifications
were limited; but as far as his knowledge went, he was quite
successful in imparting it to others.

In the afternoon there was quite a fair attendance of parents and
friends of the scholars, though some did not come in till late,
like Mrs. Walton. It is not my intention to speak of the examination
in detail. My readers know too little of the scholars to make that
interesting. Ephraim Higgins made some amusing mistakes, but that
didn't excite any surprise, for his scholarship was correctly
estimated in the village. Tom Walton did passably well, but was
not likely to make his parents proud of his performances. Harry,
however, eclipsed himself. His ambition had been stirred by the
offer of a prize, and he was resolved to deserve it. His recitations
were prompt and correct, and his answers were given with confidence.
But perhaps he did himself most credit in declamation. He had
always been very fond of that, and though he had never received
and scientific instruction in it, he possessed a natural grace
and a deep feeling of earnestness which made success easy. He had
selected an extract from Webster--the reply to the Hayne--and this
was the showpiece of the afternoon. The rest of the declamation
was crude enough, but Harry's impressed even the most ignorant of
his listeners as superior for a boy of his age. When he uttered his
last sentence, and made a parting bow, there was subdued applause,
and brought a flush of gratification to the cheek of our young
hero.

"This is the last exercise," said the teacher "except one. At the
commencement of the term, I offered a prize to the scholar that