t done as well as he shood. but he
had showed such talent that he aught to be menshioned espesially as he
had been studying much better laitly. when old Francis said that aunt
Sarah and Keene and Cele set up strate and father tride to look as if he
dident know who he meant and i said my speach over soft, to be sure i
had it rite. then old Francis said i have selected as a present for this
boy a book, and the name of this boy is, and then he stoped a moment and
i cood almost hear my heart thumping, and then he said Johnny
Chickering. Gosh i had forgotten all about Chick Chickering living on
Coart Street. when he said that aunt Sarah and Keene and Cele sat rite
back in there chairs and father turned auful red and looked at me as if
he wanted to nock my head rite of and then he droped his hat on the
floor and it fell of the platform and roled way out under Medo
Thirstons seet and then he blew his nose with a auful toot. then old
Francis give Chick the book and then he read the names of the 10 next
best scolars and my name wasent there eether. and then father looked mad
enuf to bust, and Aunt Sarah and Keene and Cele looked prety sick. then
we all sung happy school Ah from the never shall our hearts long time be
turning, and then school was dismissed. docter Goram and Nippers father
and mother and Pricillas father and mother and Chicks father and mother
and lots of the people staid to shake hands with old Francis, but father
marched rite out and Aunt Sarah and the girls two. well when i got home
you aught to have heard father. he said i was the laziest and most
wirthless boy there ever was, and i was a disgrace to him and he sent me
to bed lively. i dident want the old book ennyway.

Mar. 5. Church today. i dont care.

Mar. 6. Brite and fair. Chick feals prety big about his old book. Ed
Tole has got a new game rooster. we are going to throw him over in John
Adams yard the first time John lets his bolton gray out. i rode on the
hack today all the morning. it is more fun then geting good marks in
school. ennyway it is vacation and i am going to raise time. i dont care
for a old prise ennyway.

Mar. 7. Brite and fair. i broak a window today on purpose, i dont care.

Mar. 8. Brite and fair. got sent to bed tonite for swearing. all i said
was gol darn it. father needent feel so big. i have herd him say wirse
things than that. i dont care.

Mar. 9. clowdy but no rane. i dont care if i dident get no prise. Chick
needent feel