hung up in Ma's bedroom, I think, along with the blue-and-tinseled crown,
marked "Charity" in gilt letters across the front, which I wore in the
exciting dialogue of "Faith, Hope and Charity" at a Sunday school
exhibition.

But more than any prize I valued the help and friendship of John Burke and
the consciousness that he considered me his most promising pupil. Upborne
by new ideals, I resolved to study through the vacation that followed, and
to my surprise this was not an infliction but a pleasure, now that I was
my own task-mistress.

Next term the "girl teacher"--for economy's sake we had them in summer
when there were no big boys to thrash--was astonished at my industry and
wisdom, and as I could see, a little afraid of them. At the end of the
first week I went home bursting with an idea that in secret I had long
cherished. Aunt Keren was at tea, I remember, and the talk fell upon my
work in school, giving me my opportunity.

"Who'd a thought a mischeevious little tyke like her would ha' turned out
a first-rate learner, after all?" queried Auntie, beaming upon me good-
naturedly from behind her gold-bowed spectacles. "I al'ays tol' ye, Ezry,
ye'd be proud o' her some day."

"I guess Sue Arkwright's a famous good teacher; that's one thing," said
Ma, amiably. "Sis never done near so well before; at least, not till last
term."

"I never thought Sue was anythin' remarkable," Pa broke in. "How is that,
Sis? Is she a good teacher?"