Jonathan's history essay wins first place, but when he changes the essay to reflect facts the Captain provides, he stirs up resentment and puts his prize and the family's peace in jeopardy.
Jonathan wins the school essay contest (initiated by Claymore Gregg as Head of the Chamber of Commerce) but creates an uproar by changing it after listening to Captain Gregg's account of jealousy between John Adams and Ben Franklin. The townies threatens to disqualify the lad, whom Carolyn lets decide whether to revert to his original composition and win first prize or stick to his truer but despised revision.—statmanjeff