ceedingly fascinating, for her came one evening the final
hour of study, and the last hope disappeared of her ever winning the
coveted "First Prize." Hateful little red spots blossomed all over
Lucy's face, as if by magic, so suddenly that no one noticed, until Joe,
glancing up to find a word in the dictionary, discovered them, and
nudged Aunt Nancy.

"Mercy!" said that individual, looking keenly over her spectacles at the
little student--"if you haven't broken out with measles! Shut your book,
child; it's dreadfully bad for the eyes. Now you mustn't read another
word."

If Lucy was red as a rose before, now she was pale enough. All of the
hateful little red spots seemed to run right in at the command, and hide
their heads.

No more study! How could she give it up? Oh! and there were still ten
days before the glorious Fourth!

With all Joe's sorrow for his little afflicted sister, with all his
kindness of disposition, he couldn't help but rejoice just one wee bit
at being sole conqueror--just for one minute, though. The next he said,

"See here, Lucy. I'll read 'em to you--every one of the questions, you
know. There, don't cry, puss. And then you can learn the answers, and
say 'em over and over; and--goodness me!--why, you'll learn a heap that
way."

"I can't," moaned poor Lucy, screwing her fingers into her smarting
eyes. "It'll put you back; you might be studying all that while, Joe. Oh
dear! dear!"

"That's very true," observed Aunt Nancy, whisking off something very
bright from her cheek; "and that wouldn't be quite right, Lucy. It's all
the same a good thing in you, Joe, to want to. There are some things
better than prizes, or knowledge even. But I'll read to you, Lucy, and
if you can have the patience to learn that way--it'll be much harder,
you know--but if you can do it, why perhaps you'll come off better than
you think--who knows?"

* * * * *

So Lucy, with her father's old silk handkerchief tied over her eyes, sat
on her little stool patiently day after day, while Aunt Nancy went over
as much ground as could be covered in that slow way; and on the unequal
battle waged.

"Of course I don't expect any prize," said Lucy, with a very big sigh,
when the eventful evening of the 3d of July arrived; "but I know a
little something, and that's nice. But, oh! to think of Joe!"

"Where's Harper?" said Mr. Smith, when the little circle was formed
around him.

"Here," said a d