For several days the blizzard continued, so long in fact that John grew restless and longed for something to do. He had about decided that he did not like this town and thought he would move on as soon as the weather permitted.
One day the landlord was declaiming earnestly on the merits of the town and its institutions.
"Now, there's the academy," said he. "Now that academy is——"
"What's an academy?" interrupted John.
"Oh, that's a place where they teach you things."
"What kind of things?" persisted John.
"Reading and arithmetic and geography and—here's Gray, he'll tell you all about it, he goes there. Henry, come here a minute," he shouted.
A young man in overalls, well sprinkled with ashes, and carrying a fire shovel appeared.
The landlord introduced them and told Gray that John was looking for information about the academy. Then he went off, leaving them together.