The Fairy School of Castle Frank

by Grant Balfour

  CHAPTER V.

  THE ADVICE OF THE SUBTLE SNAKE.

  Two weeks passed, the class had worked hard, and even Black Ribbon hadpulled up wonderfully, but Silver Ribbon had the highest number ofmarks. The time for prize-giving, however, had not come, but thepupils were to get a rest for two or three days before going through aspecial examination, which would last half a day. When this was overthe prizes would be given, and then there would be the gloriousholidays, with excursions far into the forest.

  Meantime Silver Ribbon got the preliminary silver medal attached to herneck. The other pupils crowded around her, congratulated her, andkissed her. Black Ribbon took her hand in his, and in a simple boyishway promised her a nut. Then they all carried her home shoulder high,singing and dancing merrily. Her mother, a kind, thin, old squirrel,with soft, black, melting eyes, was quite excited as she received hervictorious daughter with a good big hug and many kisses. But herfather, who was a stout, gruff-toned squirrel, though not unkind, wassuspicious.

  "I can't understand," said he, "why a girl that never does anything butplay--never studies at home--should be the very head of a class ofclever boys and girls. There is no special gift in our family toexplain it: I fear there is something wrong."

  And, sad to say, her father's honest suspicion was too well founded.The explanation is this. One day shortly after the class was formed,and when the other squirrels had all gone home from play, either tostudy or help their parents, Silver Ribbon remained stealthily behindto amuse herself as best she could. Hearing a soft noise in the treeupon whose branches she was leaping and running, she turned quicklyround and saw a large, dark snake with gleaming, piercing eyes. Shewas frightened and was about to run away, which she could easily havedone, as the reptile was not very near, but it spoke at once, and in asoft, attractive, motherly voice persuaded her to stay a minute.

  "Do you wish to be at the head of your class, dear?" enquired the snake.

  "I do indeed," answered Silver Ribbon, "it is a great honor."

  "You can easily secure it," said the snake.

  "Without labor and trouble?" enquired the squirrel.

  "Yes, if you do what I tell you."

  "What shall I do?" asked the squirrel.

  "What is your position in the class at present?" the reptile asked.

  "I am second, but I have reached it mainly by a cunning copying fromthe other slates, and I fear I can't keep that up long."

  "You suffer slightly from a weak spine, don't you?" enquired the snakein a sympathetic tone.

  "I do," said Silver Ribbon.

  "Well, dear, take my advice, and when the class meets again go to yourteacher in a very modest manner and make a graceful curtsey. Tell himthat though you would not in the least mind being at the lower end ofthe class, yet because of your weak back he might favor you by allowingyou the support of the shade tree opposite the 4th place. This willwin him, for his mother has taught him to love modesty and to be kind.Having secured that place for the remainder of the session, watch whatthe three pupils above you jot down on their slates, and copy all theiranswers if they be different. When the teacher comes to examine theslates, beginning with number one, and mentions who is correct, youwill know which answer to rub out, which you can easily do withoutbeing suspected. Do as I tell you, and you will be as often successfulas any one of the three best pupils above you is correct. Be clever,be cunning, there is no harm in wrong-doing, and you will get honor andreward without any trouble, with plenty of time to go about idle andamuse yourself. Glide along through life as I do, dear, as smoothlyand as pleasantly as you can, taking everything and giving nothing."

  Although Silver Ribbon could not quite shake off her dread of thesnake, and therefore kept her former safe distance, yet the advice wasingenious and charming. She at once agreed to take it, and havingthanked the cunning reptile, she hurriedly scampered home.

  "I shall have you as a choice mouthful yet, and, through you, all therest of your nimble pretty crowd," said the snake, when Silver Ribbonwas gone. The reptile was an active specimen of the greatboa-constrictor tribe, thirty feet long. It had taken a trip from thesunny South to the North, deceiving and doing much mischief on the way.Its advice was the secret of Silver Ribbon's success.