At six o'clock the school was dismissed. And Ishmael went home, enchanted with his new life, but wondering where little Claudia could be; he had not seen her that day. And thus ended his first day at school.
When he reached the hut Hannah had supper on the table.
"Well, Ishmael, how did you get on?" she asked.
"Oh, Aunt Hannah, I have had such a happy day!" exclaimed the boy. And thereupon he commenced and poured upon her in a torrent of words a description of the schoolroom, the teachers, the studies, the dinner, the recreations, and, in short, the history of his whole day's experiences.
"And so you are charmed?" said Hannah.
"Oh, aunt, so much!" smiled the boy.
"Hope it may last, that's all! for I never yet saw the lad that liked school after the first novelty wore off," observed the woman.
The next morning Ishmael awoke with the dawn, and sprang from his pallet in the loft as a lark from its nest in the tree.
He hurried downstairs to help Hannah with the morning work before he should prepare for school.
He cut wood, and brought water enough to last through the day, and then ate his frugal breakfast, and set off for school.