“Then,” said the visitor, rising to go, “I will consider that you are engaged to teach the next term.”
“Yes, sir, on this condition, that if circumstances arise, rendering it impossible, I may be released upon notifying you.”
“But such circumstances are not likely to arise, are they, Mr. Howard?”
“I think not.”
“Well, I will trust that nothing will occur to prevent your remaining with us. Good-evening.”
“Good-evening, sir.”
Walter was gratified to receive so decided a mark of approval from the chairman of the trustees. He had undertaken a task in which few boys of his age would have succeeded, but his pluck and good judgment had carried him through.
“What would my classmates at the Essex Classical Institute think, if they should hear of my setting up as a Western schoolmaster? They would be amused, I am sure,” he thought to himself. “We don’t know what we can do till we try. I have heard that said often, and now I know it to be so.”
Next his thoughts reverted to Mr. Shaw’s letter, given in the last chapter, and he wrote the following answer:
“My Dear Friend, Mr. Shaw:--I was very glad to get your letter, which I have considered carefully. I like your plan for me to visit the mines during my vacation, and I have decided to do so. I shall have four weeks, and that will be quite sufficient. General Wall, the chairman of the school trustees, has just called upon me, to engage me to teach the next term. He offers to pay me five dollars a month extra out of his own pocket. Of course, my success pleases me, especially as there was some disposition to make trouble at first. But I conciliated the ringleader, after beating him in a fair fight, and now he is my friend.