CHAPTER VIII.
KEEPING SCHOOL.
The teacher of the New Hope school, engaged for the winter, proved to bea poor stick. He allowed the scholars to throw spit-balls, snapapple-seeds, eat molasses candy, pull each other's hair, and have finefrolics. Paul wished very much to attend school, to study Latin, and fithimself for College; but when he saw how forceless a fellow Mr. Supplewas, he concluded that it would be lost time to attend such a school. Heknew that knowledge is power, and he longed to obtain a thorougheducation. Sometimes, when he thought how much Judge Adams knew, andwhen he read books written by learned men, he felt that he knew next tonothing. But whenever he felt like giving up the contest with adversecircumstances, a walk in the fresh, cool, bracing air, or a night'ssleep, revived his flagging spirit. The thought often came, "What wouldDaphne or Azalia say if they knew how chicken-hearted I am?" So hispride gave him strength. Though he did not attend school, he made rapidprogress studying at home.
Matters came to a crisis in the school, for one day the big boys--BobSwift among others--carried Mr. Supple out of the school-house, dug ahole in a snow-drift, and stuck him into it with his head down and hisheels up. Then they took possession of the school-house and played tagover the benches for the rest of the day. Mr. Supple did not attempt toenter the school-house again, but picked up his hat, went to hisboarding-house, packed his trunk, and left town.
After a week's vacation, Mr. Cannel, who was the school-agent, obtainedanother teacher,--a thin, pale-faced, quick-tempered young man,--Mr.Thrasher. "I'll bring them to their trumps," he said, when Mr. Cannelengaged him.
"I intend to have order in this school. I shall lick the first boy whothrows a spit-ball, or who does anything contrary to the rules of theschool," said Mr. Thrasher, flourishing a raw hide, on the firstmorning. He read a long list of rules, numbered from one up to eighteen.Before he finished his rules, a little boy laughed, and caught awhipping. Before noon half a dozen were hauled up. There was a councilof war at noon among the big boys, who, having had their own way, weredetermined to keep it. They agreed to give Mr. Thrasher a pitchedbattle. They had it in the afternoon; a half-dozen pounced upon themaster at once, and after a short struggle put him out doors. They gavea grand hurrah, and pelted him with snowballs, and drove him up thestreet.
There was great commotion in the town. Those who loved law and orderwere alarmed for the welfare of their children.
"We must have a master who can rule them, or they will grow up to belawless citizens," said Judge Adams.
Mr. Cannel could find no one who was willing to teach the school.
"I don't see why anybody who is competent to teach should be afraid toundertake the task," said Paul to Mr. Chrome, one day, as they talkedthe matter over.
Mr. Chrome met Mr. Cannel that evening on the street. "If there isanybody who is competent to keep the school, it is Paul Parker," saidMr. Chrome, who had exalted ideas of Paul's ability to overcomedifficulties.
"I believe you," Mr. Cannel replied, and started at once to see Paul.
"I will think of it, and let you know in the morning whether I willteach or not," was Paul's reply, after hearing what Mr. Cannel had tosay.
He talked the matter over with his mother.
"It is a great undertaking, Paul; I cannot advise you," she said.
When he offered his evening prayer, he asked that God would direct him.He thought upon the subject during the night. Could he carry it through?The scholars all knew him,--had been to school with him,--were his oldfriends and playmates. Bob Swift was a ringleader; and outside, not inthe school, was Philip, who would make all the trouble he could. Therewas Miss Dobb, who would like to have picked him to pieces. There wereothers who would rejoice to see him fail. But would it not be gloriousto succeed,--to triumph over Miss Dobb? But that was an unworthy motive,and he put the thought out of his mind. He resolved to undertake thetask, and try to do good,--to guide and mould the minds of thescholars,--those who were to be men and women, who were to act animportant part in life, and who were to live not only here, but inanother world,--who, he hoped, would be companions of the angels. Wouldit not be worth while to aid in overcoming evil, in establishing law andorder,--to inculcate a love of virtue, truth, and honor?
It would require nerve, energy, patience, and wisdom. "I'll try it," hesaid to himself, after looking at all sides.
When it was known that Paul was going to try his hand at school-keepingthe big boys chuckled. "We'll sweeten him," said Bob, rubbing his hands,and anticipating the glorious fun they would have.
Conscious that he had a task before him which would try him severely,Paul yet went bravely to his work, locking the door as he entered theschool-room, and putting the key in his pocket. The big boys looked ateach other, somewhat amazed, each anxious to see what the others thoughtof it. He walked deliberately to his desk. "It is always best to beginan undertaking rightly," said Paul, standing erect and looking calmlyround the room. "There is no better way than to ask our Heavenly Fatherto direct us, and so we will all repeat the Lord's Prayer," he said andwaited till the room was so still that the scholars could almost hearthe beating of their hearts. The stillness filled them with awe. Afterprayer he addressed them,--not alluding to anything which had takenplace, but simply saying that he had been employed to teach them, andshould do what he could to make the school-room a pleasant place to all.He expected that they would obey whatever rules were necessary for thegood of the school, but did not threaten them with punishment.
It was so unlike what they had expected that the big boys did not knowwhat to make of it, or how to take it. Bob could not decide whether itwas best to begin a war, or wait till something happened, and then havea grand battle. So the forenoon passed without any disturbance.
Philip saw Bob at noon. "You are a coward, Bob, or you would havepitched Paul heels over head out of the door. I would if I were there,and so would you if you had as much gumption as an old setting hen. Ithought you were going to 'sweeten him,'" he said, with a sneer.
"So I am," said Bob, nettled at the taunt, and resolving to drive Paulout in the afternoon.
When Paul entered the school-room after dinner, he saw at a glance thatthere was mischief ahead. The whole school was on tip-toe. He locked thedoor, and again put the key in his pocket. Bob was standing in themiddle of the floor with his hat on.
"Take off your hat, Master Swift, and go to your seat," said Paul.
"I sha'n't do it," said Bob,--who the next instant went spinning roundthe room, tumbling over a chair, falling upon the floor, finding himselfpicked up and thrown against a desk, then having his heels tripped up,and then set to whirling so fast that the room seemed all windows. Hewas cuffed backward and forward, to the right and the left, pitchedheadlong, and jerked back again so suddenly, that he lost his breath. Hewas like a little child in the hands of a giant. He was utterlypowerless. One of the other boys sprang to help him, but was met by ablow between his eyes which knocked him to the floor. A second started,but when he saw what had happened he sat down. Bob's brain was in awhirl. His ears were tingling. He saw stars, and it seemed as if allhis hair had been torn out by the roots. He heard Paul say, once more,calmly, as at first, "Take your seat, Master Swift." He hesitated amoment, but when, through the blinking stars, he saw how cool anddecided Paul was, standing there as if nothing had happened,--when hesaw the boy who had started to aid him sprawling on the floor, and theothers who had promised to help put Paul out of doors sitting in theirseats,--he knew that it was of no use to resist. He took his seat andsat all the afternoon wondering at Paul's strength. Paul was surprisedto find himself so powerful and athletic; but then he remembered that hehad right on his side, which always helps a man.
The victory was won. The school felt that he was their master. Yet hehad a pleasant smile. When they were tired of study he said, "I see thatyou are getting dull and need stirring up." Then he told them a storywhich set them all laughing, and so made them forget that they weretired and sleepy.
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p; At night he had a talk with Bob all alone, telling him that he ought tobe a good boy for his poor old mother's sake. That touched Bob in atender place, for he loved his mother, and was a good-hearted fellow,but had allowed Philip to twist him round his little finger.
"For her sake, Bob, I want you to be good; I will help you all I can,"said Paul. It was spoken so kindly and frankly that Bob knew Paul meantit. "Cut loose from those who advise you to do wrong, and tell them thatyou are going to do right," said Paul, as they parted for the night.
"I will," said Bob, who, as he thought it all over that night, andrecalled the kind words, felt that Paul would be his best friend if hedid right.
"I must get Azalia and Daphne to help me make a man of Bob," said Paulto himself,--"they can do what I can't."
He called upon Azalia. There was a bright fire on the hearth in thesitting-room, but the smile on her face, he thought, was more pleasantto see.
"I am glad you have conquered," she said.
"I don't know that I have done so, yet; when I can feel that they alllove me, then I may begin to think that it is a victory. I have had atalk with Bob. He is a good fellow, but under bad influences. I want youto help me. If we can make him respect himself, we shall make a man ofhim."
"I will do what I can," said Azalia.
When Paul went away she sat down by the window and watched him till hewas out of sight. "How thoughtful he is for the welfare of others!" wasthe thought which passed through her mind. Then she gazed upon the redand purple clouds with gold and silver linings, and upon the clearsunset sky beyond, till the twilight faded away, and the stars came outin the heavens. Paul's words were ringing in her ears,--"I want you tohelp me." Yes, she would help him, for he was trying to make the worldbetter.
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