"This looks like business," said Herr Schuler. "If you keep on as you have begun, it will not take long to make a scholar of you."
He took Rick in, set him down at a little table, and gave him an easy lesson to learn, in spelling. It was soon learned, and then followed one column of the multiplication table. After that, Rick wrote the words of a copy over half a dozen times, very carefully. Then he read a short story aloud. Herr Schuler said that was enough for once; and Rick went home feeling very proud and happy, to tell his mother and Nanette what Herr Schuler said,—that there was now no reason why he should not become as good a scholar as any in the whole country.
His mother and Nanette praised and encouraged him; but they said behind his back, that this new freak would not continue long. They were greatly mistaken. Day after day Rick went to Herr Schuler's, and learned his lessons faithfully: more than that, he seemed to enjoy them as much as he had previously enjoyed his idleness. One reason of this was, that Herr Schuler had a way of making lessons so interesting that they seemed like play, and he did not give too long tasks.
After Rick had been to school about a fortnight, he lingered after he had been dismissed.
"Do you want to speak with me, Rick?" asked Herr Schuler.
"I only want to ask you," replied Rick, "when you are going to use your long stick upon me?"
"What!" exclaimed Herr Schuler, in great glee, thinking Rick was joking. "You don't want a whipping, do you?"
"Yes, I do!" replied Rick soberly and emphatically.
"You don't mean it!" exclaimed Herr Schuler, in amazement.
"Why not?" replied Rick. "I never shall make a man, if you don't whip me some; and I want you to begin right off."