CHAPTER XIII.
MASTER PAGE.
| The new satchel—Otis homesick—Ronald’s impatience—The academy commences—Incidents of the first day—Oscar a monitor—Why Otis and Ronald were not seated together—Lewis Daniels—The boy who didn’t care for Marcus—Ronald’s nickname—Jessie Hapley—Why she went to the academy—“Trying to be somebody”—Abby Leonard—Eating chalk and drinking vinegar—Mr. Upton’s sickness—Marcus principal pro tem.—An alarming proposal—He accedes to it—His experience as principal—The troublesome boys—Marcus re-seats them—The snow image—Charlie Wilder—A statue in snow—What is required to make a statue—Drawing—A specimen by Charlie—His wish gratified—An anonymous note—Interdicted keys—Oscar at fault—The rebuke—Ronald’s mischievousness—Snapping nut shells—His punishment—His seat changed—An increase of lessons proposed—Required for his mental discipline, and to keep him out of mischief—Otis in school—A hard sum—What Marcus told Georgiana—Why the same direction would not answer for Otis—The difference in scholars—The stimulus of shame successfully applied | [201] |
CHAPTER XIV.
THE TROUBLESOME SCHOLAR.
| Harrison Clark—A threat—His career—Assault upon his teacher—Trial and sentence—One good trait—Harrison’s mother—His conduct towards Marcus—Kindness repelled—Coughing—Objections to it—Can be controlled—Harrison’s impertinence—Bears in town—Preparations for a hunt—Warlike appearances—Going off at recess—Requests denied—Harrison’s flight—Ineffectual attempt to bring him back—The hunting party—Turkey Hill—Forming a ring—Testing the connection—The advance—Closing up the circle—Reports of muskets—The two bears—Dragging the trophies home—How they were disposed of—Harrison at school again—His coolness—Detained after school—How he enjoyed the hunt—Frankness—Marcus mildly points out Harrison’s misconduct—Two ways of meeting the evil—Severity and kindness—Failure of both—Candid admissions—Expulsion—Its evils—A talk about Harrison’s mother—A frank warning—The question—Subdued bearing—Harrison’s decision—Confession of his fault—His sincerity severely tested—The offence forgiven—The boy saved, | [222] |
CHAPTER XV.
SAM HAPLEY.
| A neglected farm—Out of fuel—Going to the woods—The pipe and jug—Parting admonitions—A scene in the woods—Going home—Effects of the cider—Green wood and the rheumatism—The cows and their dinner—Benny absent—Sam’s assault upon him—His father’s anger—Origin of the trouble—A scuffle between Sam and his father—Sam bound and flogged—The outcry—Interference—Marcus intercedes—A rude repulse—Sam released—Marcus expostulates—He is silenced—Sam’s disappearance—Absent for a week—His return—His arrest—Searching for stolen property—It is found—A sad shock to Jessie—Her self-control—Growing recklessness of Mr. Hapley—A visit to Sam—His confession—His flight—Adventures on the road—Mack, the thief—Housebreaking—The alarm—Sam’s escape—Mack caught—How Sam was tracked—Preparations for the trial—What the judge thought of the case—The sentence, | [242] |
CHAPTER XVI.