Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-05-17
CHAPTER XIII.


 who had been telling him of the unruly
 boys. great hulking fellows that made trouble every winter term. Trouble
 it's a grand thing-but I'm not selfish
 and if find any I'll agree to divide it
 with the boys. I don't know but I'll be generous and let them have the most of it. If they put me out of the school house I'll have learned something"
 The trustee looked at the six feet and two inches of bone and muscle that sat lounglng in a chair-looked from end to end of it.
 What's that?' he inquired. smiling.
 ''That I've no business there," said young Mir. Trove.
 < 'I guess you'll dew" said the trus- tee Make 'em toe the line; that's all | got t say"
 2 And all I've got to do is my best. I don't promise any more," the other answered modestiy as he rose to leave.
 Lfnley school was at the four cor ners in Pleasant valley-a low frame Structure, small and weathered gray. Windows, with no shade or shutter, were set, two on side, in perfect ap- position. A passing traveller could see Through them to the rocky pasture be- syond. Who came there for knowledge, though. fool, was dubbed scholar" It was word sharply etched in the dialect of that region. If one were to say "skollur-r-r' he might come near 1t. Every winter morning the scholar entered a little vestibule which was part of the wood shed. He passed an ash barrel and the odor of drying wood, hung cap and coat on a peg in the closet, lifted the latch of pine door and came into the schoolroom. If before it would be noisy with shout and laughter. the buzz of tongues, the tread of running feet. Big girls in neat aprons would be gossiping at the stove hearth; small boys would be chasing each other up and down aisles and leaping the whittled desks of pine; little girls fin checked flannel or home spun would be circling in a song play; big boys would be trying feats of strength that ended in loud laughter. So it was the first morning of that winter term in 1850. A tall youth stood by the window. Suddenly he gave a loud "Sh-h-h" Running feet fell silently and halted; words be- gun with shoutSendsd ina whisper A boy making caricatures at the black board dropped his chalk that now fell noisily. A whisper, heavy with awe and expectation, flew hissing from lip to lip, "The teacherr' There came a tramping in the vestibule, the door latch jumped with a loud rattle, and in came Sidney Trove. All eyes were turned upon him. A look of rectitude, dovelike and too good to be true, came over many faces.
 Good morning" said the young man, removing his cap. coat and overshoes. Some nodded, dumb with tmidity.. On ly few little ones had the bravery to speak up. as they gave back the words in tone that would have fitted a gold en text. He came to the roaring stove and stood a moment. warming his hands. A group of the big boys were in a corner whispering. Two were sturdy and quite six feet tall - the Beach boys.
 Big as a bull moose" one whis- pered.
 An stouter," said another.
 The teacher took a pencil from his pocket and tapped the desk.
 "Please take your seats" said he.
 All obeyed. Then he went around with the roll and took their names, of which there were thirty-four.
 T believe know your name" said Trcve. smiling, as be came. to Polly Vaughn.
 T believe you do" said she, glanclng up at him, with half a smile and a lit- tie move in her lips that seemed to ask. How could you forget mel"
 Then the teacher. knowing the peril of her eyes, became very dignified as he glanced over the books she had brought to school. He knew 1t was going to he a hard day. For a little be wondered If he had not been foolish. after all. in trying job so difficult and 30 perilous. If he should be thrown out of school be felt sure it would ruin him-he could never look Polly in the face again. AS he turned to begin the work of teaching 1t seemed to him a case of do or de. and he felt the of an OK in his heavy mus cies.
 -he big boys had settled themselves . a back corner side by side. a situa- non too favorable for mischief. He asked them to take other seats They complied sulleniy and with hesitation. He looked over books. organized the school in classes and started one of them on its way. It was the primer class. including a half dozen very small boys and girls. They shouted each word in the reading lesson. ls- bored in silence with another and gave voice again with unabated energy. Tn their pursuit of learning they bayed Ike hounds. Their work began upon his ancient and informing legend. rritten to indicate the shout and skip ,f the youthful student:
 The-sm-is-up-a p-and-it-is-dsy- iavIdsy.
 ~Yo1're aftaid.- the teaeher began lfter a little. Come up here close to ne-
 They ezre te his clair and stood bout him Some were cOnfisi-lt. Otk- rs hung hack suspici5us and untamel