Adapted from the story of "Little Daffydowndilly," by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
The author was born at Salem, Mass., in 1804, and ranks among the first of
American novelists. He died in 1864.
1. Hugh Idle loved to do only what was agreeable, and took no delight in
labor of any kind. But while Hugh was yet a little boy, he was sent away
from home, and put under the care of a very strict schoolmaster, who went
by the name of Mr. Toil.
2. Those who knew him best, affirmed that Mr. Toil was a very worthy
character, and that he had done more good, both to children and grown
people, than anybody else in the world. He had, however, a severe and ugly
countenance; his voice was harsh; and all his ways and customs were
disagreeable to our young friend, Hugh Idle.
3. The whole day long this terrible old schoolmaster sulked about among
his scholars, with a big cane in his hand; and unless a lad chose to
attend constantly and quietly to his book, he had no chance of enjoying a
single quiet moment. "This will never do for me," thought Hugh; "I'll run
off, and try to find my way home."
4. So the very next morning off he started, with only some bread and
cheese for his breakfast, and very little pocket money to pay his
expenses. He had gone but a short distance, when he overtook a man of
grave and sedate appearance trudging at a moderate pace along the road.
5. "Good morning, my fine lad!" said the stranger; and his voice seemed
hard and severe, yet had a sort of kindness in it; "whence do you come so
early, and whither are you going?"
6. Now Hugh was a boy of very frank disposition, and had never been known
to tell a lie in all his life. Nor did he tell one now, but confessed that
he had run away from school on account of his great dislike to Mr. Toil.
"Oh, very well, my little friend!" answered the stranger; "then we will go
together; for I likewise have had a good deal to do with Mr. Toil, and
should be glad to find some place where he was never heard of." So they
walked on very sociably side by side.
7. By and by their road led them past a field, where some haymakers were
at work. Hugh could not help thinking how much pleasanter it must be to
make hay in the sunshine, under the blue sky, than to learn lessons all
day long, shut up in a dismal schoolroom, continually watched by Mr. Toil.
8. But in the midst of these thoughts, while he was stopping to peep over
the stone wall, he started back and caught hold of his companion's hand.
"Quick, quick!" cried he; "let us run away, or he will catch us!"