Mary had only eight scholars, and she had leisure to attend to each one, and make them understand all their lessons, that they might have something to think about when they went home from school.
On this morning the scholars were exercised in spelling, reading and arithmetic. The large boys and girls did sums in multiplication and subtraction, and the smaller ones made figures, after Mary had written a line upon their slates for them thus:—
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0.
After they had been two hours in school, Mary rang a little bell. As soon as they heard it, they knew it was recess-time, and they all went out to play for fifteen minutes.
The school was in the country, on the farm where Harry Linn’s father and mother lived, and Mary lived with them.
Mary had been to the best schools to receive her education; and she was very fond of two things—learning and children. So, she agreed to come and live with Harry Linn’s father and mother, and teach school: and she had five of the neighbouring children, besides Harry and his brother and sister, for scholars.
First Day.
The School House at the edge of the wood. p. [13].
The school-room was built at the edge of a piece of “woods,” not far from the house, and it was very cool and shady round about, all summer.
In the winter, when the leaves had fallen off from the trees, the sun shone in at the school-room windows, and it was so light and cheerful that the teacher and her scholars liked to be there better than anywhere else.