Mostly Mary

the fair little companion tripping along beside him in her simple white dress with its pale blue ribbons; her deep blue eyes looking out from under her big shade hat; her hair like

a romp with her little frien

rst Friday found the little girl breathle

before he goes to luncheon. But no-I shall tell Mother and Uncle Frank the s

mother, who was coming down the stair

hain, I think Sister must have given you a l

guesses. Remember, this is the First Frida

ssible th

here? Something wrong with your neck

have three guesses. Mother was very hot just

ds has anything to do with it, I fear t

neck to hide some

s one of those tiny pencils th

hy, that wouldn't be wort

Chinese money. The hole in such a coin would m

with the beautiful miraculous medal you gave me when I was bap

hands and showed a little silver medal next to the gold one. "That is a surprise worth while!" and tos

t it," he insisted whe

ightning! So we thought she would surely get the medal, even though Sister said yesterday afternoon that it isn't always the smartest girl who comes out ahead, but often it is the one who applies herself best. I didn't know what Sister meant unti

for no matter how late in the afternoon it is, some of the girls always forget and say, 'Good morning,' to visitors; and I do feel so sorry for Sister. Then we sat down

and I forgot all about my step-back bow; but I jumped up again and made it. The next minute, I heard my name again, and I thought I must be dreaming until Father Lacey called it again and held up the medal. And what do you think! What do you think! The medal had a yellow ribbon on it! Yellow! Oh, I didn't know what to do! I couldn't let Fath

tood there holding out the chain to him. Then Sister remembered and told him; and he took the medal off the ribbon and slipped it on the chain and fastened the chain around my neck himself and patted me on

very exciting morning, de

rst part of prize winning was the work one had to do, not th

e first time my name was called for a prize, I t

iting; because then everyone in the class could hope that she might get it. But no one had any hope, because Mildred is so smart. Poor

to be able to go on with her class afte

stay in the same class, an

ell all the words without any trouble! She would have good reason to be ashamed of herself if she could not do so. Sister Florian's

have just as good a chance f

r chance

g to get it aga

re of that," war

n? I wasn't thinking of the medal, either, when I stu

times, little girls work themselves up to a great pitch over a reward

try again, Mother. Mildred didn't act th

that she could not expect to get

rts, I shall be all ready with my chain in my hand in case

bbon on the medal when you return it to Sister at the en

nk that I expect to

t again, do you not? So why

it, but I hope I shall; and I

ome other girl a chance. Suppose you eat your luncheon. You have not tasted a morsel. This excit

meal, he went around the

nd have a nice quiet time with the babies this afternoon.

when we stay home from school? Besides, I have been head of the class in spelling for a

evening if you do as I say. A little girl who has held first

it wouldn't be

o to school. The afternoon is short, and she will go to bed early to-night and t

mething before she goes bac