ted as she received her
victorious daughter with a good big hug and many kisses. But her
father, who was a stout, gruff-toned squirrel, though not unkind, was
suspicious.

"I can't understand," said he, "why a girl that never does anything but
play--never studies at home--should be the very head of a class of
clever boys and girls. There is no special gift in our family to
explain 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 to
study or help their parents, Silver Ribbon remained stealthily behind
to amuse herself as best she could. Hearing a soft noise in the tree
upon whose branches she was leaping and running, she turned quickly
round and saw a large, dark snake with gleaming, piercing eyes. She
was frightened and was about to run away, which she could easily have
done, as the reptile was not very near, but it spoke at once, and in a
soft, 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 from
the other slates, and I fear I can't keep that up long."

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

"I do," said Silver Ribbon.

"Well, dear, take my advice, and when the class meets again go to your
teacher in a very modest manner and make a graceful curtsey. Tell him
that though you would not in the least mind being at the lower end of
the class, yet because of your weak back he might favor you by allowing
you the support of the shade tree opposite the 4th place. This will
win 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 what
the three pupils above you jot down on their slates, and copy all their
answers if they be different. When the teacher comes to examine the
slates, beginning with number one, and mentions who is correct, yo