Mitchell Inc. issued $240$ of its $6\%,$ $$1,000$ bonds on January $1$ of Year $1.$ The bonds pay cash interest semiannually each July $1$ and January $1$ and were issued to yield $7\%.$ The bonds mature in three years on December $31,$ and the company uses the effective interest method to amortize bond discounts or premiums.

a$.$ Determine the selling price of the bonds.

b$.$ Prepare an amortization schedule for the first year of the bond term.

c$.$ Prepare journal entries on the following dates.

$1.$ January $1$ of Year $1,$ bond issuance.

$2.$ July $1$ of Year $1,$ interest payment.

$3.$ December $31$ of Year $1,$ interest accrual.

$4.$ January $1$ of Year $2,$ interest payment. $($No reversing entries made.$)$