THE STRAWBERRY OCTOBER 1906 



ces. Two days later he picked more 

 than on the first day. Not till three days 

 later did the committee allow any other 

 contestant to gather fruit. Some half- 

 dozen boys then came forward with ap- 

 proved berries. Leonard's first showing 

 was recorded as one pound and fourteen 

 ounces. Seth's third picking was re- 

 ceived at the same time, bringing his 

 record up to seven pounds five ounces 

 ahead of that of the exponent of "Head" 

 methods. This serious disadvantage 

 rather discouraged the enthusiasm of some 

 of Leonard's supporters. 



Every bed was now producing fruit. 

 the even growth of Leonard's plants be- 

 gan to tell. He was picking some fruit 

 from nearly every hill. The early start 

 of Seth's crop, however, still gave him 

 considerable advantage. His first plants 

 were already in full bearing, the record of 

 th.- first week of daily picking showed 

 him six and a half pounds ahead. Then 

 it seemed that his earliest plants had passed 

 their prime; runners began to appear. 

 These he picked off, hoping thereby still 

 to force the strength of the vines into 

 the development of berries. 



Commencement day, and the conclu- 

 sion of the contest, was only a week dis- 

 tant. The next five days showed little 

 relative change in the positions of the 

 leaders. First Seth and then Leonard 

 picked the most fruit. Less than two 

 pounds now separated them. The pick- 

 ings of the last two days were to be re- 

 served for exhibition and weighing on the 

 final day, with the announcement of the 

 award. 



The day long looked forward to came. 

 The result of the contest was still as un- 

 certain as when the plants showed their 

 first blossoms. On a table on the plat- 

 form reposed the trays of beautiful fruit. 

 The tastefully arranged flowers decorat- 

 ing the table were hardly more beautiful 

 than the pyramids of crimson berries, re- 

 lieved by masses of their own green leaves. 



The regular exercises of the day seemed 

 to pass slowly to the expectant pupils and 

 their friends. Finally Mr. Jenkins ad- 

 vanced to the table, prepared to announce 

 the award. Young Newton had ap- 

 peared uneasy and nervous. As the chair- 

 man came forward the boy lost his fever- 

 ish flush, and became ashy pale. He 

 sprang from his seat, only to be pulled 

 back by a comrade. Leonard was also 

 pale, but more calm. 



'My friends," began the chairman, 

 It is hardly necessary for me to make 

 any preliminary statement. You are too 

 deeply interested in the award to be in- 

 terested in any remarks. 



'Two of the contestants for the straw- 

 berry prize have, by greater skill, dili- 

 gence, or fortune, outranked their com- 

 rades. The real contest has, for weeks, 

 lain between these two. The race has 

 been so close that the judges themselves 

 could not foretell the result. 



On yield of berries, Seth Newton 



records 138 pounds and seven ounces. 

 Leonard Carter shows 136 pounds and 

 three ounces." 



The breathless hush remained un- 

 broken; the result was still in doubt. 



"On quality of fruit, Seth receives 

 forty-five points, and Leonard forty-six. 



Faint applause was begun by the 

 friends of each boy, but died away as it was 

 realized that the result had not been 

 stated; and was still unknown. 



"The score of Seth is ninety-five and 

 of Leonard ninety-four. Seth Newton 

 has, therefore, grown the prize straw- 

 berries." 



Even the frionds of his successful rival 

 cheered the winner who sat apparently 

 oblivious to surroundings. The boys on 

 either side had to fairly push him from 

 his seat before he aroused himself suffi- 

 ciently to go to the rostrum, in response to 

 the invitation of the chairman. He ex- 

 tended his hand mechanically for the 

 purse offered him. The applause of his 

 friends seemed to call him back to his 

 surroundings. He cast an imploring look 

 toward the array of faces, and turned 

 toward his seat. Then he stopped, turned, 

 and desperately thrust the reward back 

 into the hands of the astonished chair- 

 man. 



"Take it back!" he cried, "it's not 

 mine; I cheated. It belongs to Leonard. 



I transplanted potted plants from our 

 forcing-house one rainy night." 



The astonishment resulting from this 

 confession was followed by alternate 

 cheers for both boys. The committee 

 held a hasty consultation; then Mr. Jen- 

 kins called Leonard to the platform, where 

 he was given the purse at the hand of his 

 repentant rival. The superintendent 

 placed a hand on the shoulder of each 

 boy, and made a final announcement: 



'Both boys are winners. Leonard won 

 the strawberry prize; Seth won a greater 

 prize — the mastery of himself." — The 



Epworth Herald. Amherst, Mass. 



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202 



