CLOSE OF SCHOOL IN PINE DISTRICT.
Whether Dr. Clayton cared for me or not, he exerted his influence in
my behalf, plainly telling John Thompson that he ought to be ashamed
to annoy me as he did; and dropping a few hints to Mrs. Thompson, who
now tried to restrain her son; so that after the party hostilities in
that quarter nearly ceased. But the ball was in motion, and could
not well be stopped; for what the Thompsons now lacked, the rest of
the District made up. It was the general impression, I believe, that
the scholars had learned nothing save a few pieces of poetry; and
that I had done nothing but whip, scold, and cry. To all these
accusations I plead guilty, and when Mr. Randall, one day, proposed
to me to bring my labors to a close, I replied that "nothing could
please me better," though there was a tremor in my voice as I thought
how the people of Meadow Brook would laugh. Mr. Randall, probably,
divined my thoughts, for he quickly rejoined, "The weather is gettin'
so hot that the youngsters need a vacation. Mebby, in the fall, when
it is cooler, we shall have you back."
And so it was settled that school should close the next week on
Saturday, and that on Friday I should have an _examination_! This,
to a teacher in Western New York, may seem strange; but those who
have taught in that part of New England where I did, know that such a
thing cannot well be avoided. No matter how small the school, or hew
inefficient the teacher may be, an examination must be held, or you
at once lose _caste_; the people unanimously declaring you to be
ashamed of showing how little your pupils have learned. In my case,
I was rather anxious than otherwise for an opportunity to show off;
for I was sure my scholars would acquit themselves creditably. I
well knew they could stand up and repeat "verses," the multiplication
table, the names of the fourteen counties of Massachusetts, and tell
who made them, and where the sun rose, louder and faster than any
other seventeen children in town! I confidently expected all the
parents and friends to be there, and as my own wardrobe was rather
scanty, I coaxed my sister Anna, who, though several years my senior,
was still not much taller than myself, to let me wear her new black
silk!
It was my first appearance in a long dress, and it troubled me
greatly; but by dint of holding it up, as ladies do nowadays, I
succeeded in getting to the schoolhouse, where I found my pupils
arrayed in their best; Ike Ross having in his shirt bosom the
selfsame glass breastpin which I had sported at Dell Thompson's
party. Not wishing the spectators to lose any of the exercises, I
sat in grim silence, awaiting their arrival: but my waiting was all
in vain; for, with the exception of Mrs. Randall and Dr. Clayton, the
latter of whom came in the capacity of Inspector, not a single
individual was present! Not a parent--not a friend, nor a foe--and
still, if the examination had not been held, those who stayed away
would have ridiculed me, and voted my school even a worse failure
than they did. So much for consistency. Parents, I think, are not
sufficiently aware of the great good their occasional presence in the
schoolroom will do, both to teacher and scholar; the latter of whom
will almost invariably study harder and strive to have better
lessons, if there is a prospect of their father or mother's hearing
them recite; while the former, feeling that an interest is taken in
them, will also be incited to fresh efforts for the improvement of
those committed to their charge.
But not thus thought the people of Pine Hill. Satisfied that an
examination was going on, they stayed at home, expressing their
surprise when they heard that nobody was there, wondering what it
meant, and saying "folks ought to be ashamed for not going!" As if
to make amends for their neglect, Dr. Clayton, in his closing
remarks, said some very complimentary things concerning my school,
which he bade the children repeat to their parents; and such is human
nature, that, when I had received my _Eight Dollars_, and was gone,
the District, in speaking of me, said, "I wasn't the _worst_ teacher,
after all."
About four o'clock, there came up a thunder shower, which caused both
Mrs. Randall and the scholars to hasten home. Dr. Clayton, on the
contrary, was in no hurry. "It was, perhaps, the last opportunity he
would have of seeing me," he said, "and he meant to improve it."
It was not very far to Meadow Brook I thought, and so I at last
ventured to say.
"I know that," he replied; "but people might talk were I to call on
you, and I do not wish to do anything which will affect you
unpleasantly."
"I don't care what folks say," arose to my lips, but its utterance
was prevented by a flash of lightning and a thunder crash, which made
me shriek aloud, while I covered my face with my hands.
I shall not describe the way which Dr. Clayton took to calm my
fright, for all who have passed through a similar experience can
imagine it; but the remembrance of that thunder-storm lingered in my
memory long after I had forgotten the night when I sat with him in
the soft light beneath the old oak tree. When the storm had ceased
and the sun was again shining on the tree-tops at the west, he left
me, placing on my hand at parting a little gold ring, on which was
inscribed, simply "Rose."
"It was the gift of friendship," he said--"nothing more;" and he
wished me to wear it "for the sake of the few pleasant hours we had
spent together."
I suppose it was wrong in me to accept it. I thought so then, but I
could not refuse it; and remembering the fate of the one sent by
Herbert Langley to Anna, I resolved upon keeping it a secret, and
only wearing it when I was alone. For a long time I sat in the
deserted schoolroom, while the damp air, which came through the open
window, fell upon my uncovered neck and arms, nor was I reminded of
the lapse of time until it began to grow dark around me; then hastily
throwing on my things, I started for Mr. Randall's, wetting my feet,
for I had no rubbers with me. As the result of this, when I awoke
next morning I was conscious of a pain in my head, a soreness in my
throat, and an aching of my back, quite as unexpected as it was
disagreeable. I had taken a violent cold, and Mrs. Randall, when she
saw how pale I was and how faint I appeared, said I must not go to
school. George, she said, would go and tell the scholars, and I must
stay there until my father came for me at night as had been arranged
the week before. To this plan I finally yielded, and all the day
long I hovered over the fire, which, in the little sitting-room, was
kindled for my comfort.
At night, when my father came for me, I was almost too weak to stand
alone; but the excitement of riding imparted to me an artificial
strength, which wholly deserted me the moment I reached home, and for
many days I kept my bed, attended by _Dr. Clayton_, who accidentally
heard of my illness, and who came daily to see me. Grandma, who was
something of a nurse, proposed several times that he be dismissed,
saying, he only made me worse, for I was always more feverish and
restless after one of his visits! But the doctor, to whom she one
day made the suggestion, said he should not leave me until I was
well, and when she asked him how he accounted for my rapid pulse and
flushed cheeks, whenever he was present, he very gravely replied,
that "possibly my _heart_ might be _affected_--the symptoms seemed
much like it," adding, as he saw the look of concern on grandma's
face, "but I think I can cure that, don't you, Rose?" turning to me,
and taking my hand to see _how fast my pulse did beat_!
After this, grandma made no further objections to his visits. "If
Rose had the heart disease, and he could cure it, he ought to do so!"
But, alas! for the heart disease, which feeds upon the smile of one
who, when sure that he holds it in his grasp, casts it from him, as
children do a long coveted toy, of which they have grown weary.