Bessie Bradfords Prize | Page 7

had just read to the two gentlemen a letter from her brother,
Colonel Rush, speaking of Lena's continued imprisonment; and they
had continued to talk of their little heroine and her achievement.
"Was Lena delirious at any time while she was so very ill?" asked
Russell.
"Not exactly delirious," answered his mother, "but somewhat flighty at
times; and at those times, and indeed when she was herself, her chief
thought and her chief distress seemed to be that she would not be able
to enter into competition with her schoolmates for some prize to be
gained for composition. Your Aunt Marion told me that this prize was
an art education provided by some one for a girl with talent, whose
circumstances would not permit her to obtain one for herself; and she
said that Lena had become very much interested in an English girl, the
daughter of the rector of a poor struggling church in the suburbs of the
city, a girl with a very remarkable artistic talent; and that she and those
little Bradfords, on whose education and training Horace and Marion
seem to base all their ideas respecting children--if, indeed, they have
any ideas except those of the most unlimited indulgence and

license--had set their hearts on winning this prize for that child. Had it
been brought about in any other way and without physical injury to
herself, I should be glad that Lena was removed from such competition.
I highly disapprove of all such arrangements. Children should be taught
to seek improvement and to do their duty because it is their duty, and
not with the object of gaining some outside advantage either for
themselves or others."
"In this case, it certainly seems to have been for a praiseworthy,
unselfish object. Poor, dear little Lena!" said Russell, who was the only
member of his family who ever ventured to set up his opinion in
opposition to his mother's.
"It is the principle of the thing I object to," she said, a little severely.
"As I say, I wish my children to do right because it is right, and not
with any ulterior object."
"The inducement seemed to have one good effect, at least," persisted
Russell, with a slight shrug of his shoulders which was not, perhaps,
altogether respectful, "and that was the wonderful improvement Lena
made in letter-writing; in the matter and manner, the style and the
handwriting, she has certainly made rapid progress during the time she
has been with Miss Ashton. Do you not agree with me, father?"
"Ahem-m-m! Yes, I do indeed," answered Mr. Neville, thinking of a
little letter which lay snugly ensconced in his left-hand waistcoat
pocket, a letter which had come by the same mail as that which his wife
held in her hand, but which he had not thought fit to submit to her
perusal. It was a letter thanking him for giving her the liberty of asking
for anything she wished for--her choice had been that she might be
allowed to remain at her uncle's house during the stay of the family in
the country--a letter sweet, tender, and confiding, and giving him
glimpses into the child's heart which were a revelation to him; a letter
which had touched him deeply, but which he believed Mrs. Neville
would call "gush" and "nonsense." And just now he did not care to have
it so criticised, so he would not show it to his wife, at least at present.
But before the subject of the conversation had changed, Mrs. Neville
was called from the room, and Mr. Neville said to his son:
"Russell, I am feeling that I owe--ahem!--I owe some
recognition--ahem!--to the Almighty for the very signal mercies
granted to us during the past few weeks, some thank-offering--and,

ahem!--perhaps I owe some to Lena, too. You, in a fair way of recovery;
and, through Lena's wonderful heroism, a frightful casualty averted;
and now she herself doing far better than we had dared to hope. If the
child is set upon giving an artist's education to this young
countrywoman of our own, and your Uncle Horace thinks well of
it,--perhaps it might give her pleasure to have the means of doing so.
Being now disabled it will be impossible for her to enter into farther
competition with her schoolmates, and I wish her to have the pleasure
of making the gift herself. What say you?"
The idea met with unqualified approbation from his son; and not only
this, but Russell expressed a wish to join his father in his thank-offering.
He was liberal and open-handed, this young man, and, having lately
come of age and into possession of quite a fortune in his own right, he
was ready to seize upon any opportunity of benefiting others out of his
own means. He was