, , , , now, withaswarmofcleanandnoisyboysandgirls, , agrave, elderlyman, interfered; thenturnedhisbackamomentandTompulledaboy’shairinthenextbench, andwasabsorbedinhisbookwhentheboyturnedaround; stuckapininanotherboy, presently, inordertohearhimsay "Ouch!" ’swholeclasswereofapattern—restless, noisy, , notoneofthemknewhisversesperfectly, , theyworriedthrough, andeachgothisreward—insmallbluetickets, eachwithapassageofScriptureonit; , andcouldbeexchangedforit; tenredticketsequalledayellowone; fortenyellowticketsthesuperintendentgaveaveryplainlyboundBible (worthfortycentsinthoseeasytimes) , evenforaDoreBible? AndyetMaryhadacquiredtwoBiblesinthisway—itwasthepatientworkoftwoyears—; butthestrainuponhismentalfacultieswastoogreat, andhewaslittlebetterthananidiotfromthatdayforth—agrievousmisfortunefortheschool, forongreatoccasions, beforecompany, thesuperintendent (asTomexpressedit) hadalwaysmadethisboycomeoutand "spreadhimself." OnlytheolderpupilsmanagedtokeeptheirticketsandsticktotheirtediousworklongenoughtogetaBible, andsothedeliveryofoneoftheseprizeswasarareandnoteworthycircumstance; thesuccessfulpupilwassogreatandconspicuousforthatdaythatonthespoteveryscholar’’smentalstomachhadneverreallyhungeredforoneofthoseprizes, butunquestionablyhisentirebeinghadformanyadaylongedforthegloryandtheeclatthatcamewithit.
