Blue Ribbon Corn

Never in her life had Kate worked harder than she did that fall;
but she retained her splendid health. Everything was sheltered
and housed, their implements under cover, their stock in good
condition, their store-room filled, and their fruits and
vegetables buried in hills and long rows in the garden. Adam had
a first wheat premium at the County Fair and a second on corn,
concerning which he felt abused. He thought his corn scored the
highest number of points, but that the award was given another man
because of Adam's having had first on wheat. In her heart Kate
agreed with him; but she tried to satisfy him with the blue ribbon
on wheat and keep him interested sufficiently to try for the first
on corn the coming year. She began making suggestions for the
possible improvement of his corn. Adam was not easily
propitiated.

"Mother," he said, "you know as well as you know you're alive,
that if I had failed on wheat, or had second, I would have been
given FIRST on my corn; my corn was the best in every way, but
they thought I would swell up and burst if I had two blue ribbons.
That was what ailed the judges. What encouragement is that to try
again? I might grow even finer corn in the coming year than I did
this, and be given no award at all, because I had two this year.
It would amount to exactly the same thing."

"We'll get some more books, and see if we can study up any new
wrinkles, this winter," said Kate. "Now cheer up, and go tell
Milly about it. Maybe she can console you, if I can't."