“Yes; I didn’t want the class put back to the beginning of fractions.”
“The master was pretty well cornered, I wondered how he would get out.”{135}
“I hope he knows more about other things than arithmetic.”
“I wish we had Mr. Fairbanks back again. He had the whole arithmetic by heart. There wasn’t a sum he couldn’t do; though he didn’t brag about it, like Mr. Slocum. He knew how to explain so a feller couldn’t help understand him.”
In the afternoon Mr. Slocum had another chance to boast. This time it was about his travels, which, by the way, were limited to his journey from Maine, by way of New York. But the city of New York, in which he spent two days, had impressed him very much, and he was proud of having visited it.
“What is the largest city in the United States, Julius?” asked the teacher; though this question was not included in the lesson.
“New York.”
“Quite correct. New York is indeed a vast city. I am quite familiar with it, having spent some time there not long since. I expect you have not any of you had the privilege of visiting this great city.” Here Julius and Teddy Bates exchanged glances of amusement.
“New York contains a great variety of beautiful edifices,” continued Mr. Slocum, complacently. “I used often to walk up Broadway, and survey the beautiful stores. I made some purchases at the store of the celebrated{136} A. T. Stewart, whom you have heard of frequently.”
Mr. Slocum’s extensive purchases to which he alluded consisted of a handkerchief, for which he paid fifty cents.