Chapter XI—Ledge Hill School

 Ever since he began to study at Geauga Seminary James had looked forward to earning a little money by keeping school himself; not an advanced school, of course, but an ordinary school, such as was kept in the country districts in the winter. He felt no hesitation¹ as to his competence². The qualifications required by the school committees were by no means large, and so far there was no difficulty.

 

There was one obstacle, however: James was still a boy himself—a large boy, to be sure, but he had a youthful face, and the chances were that he would have a number of pupils older than himself. Could he keep order? Would the rough country boys submit to the authority of one like themselves, whatever might be his reputation as a scholar? This was a point to consider anxiously. However, James had pluck, and he was ready to try the experiment.

 

He would have been glad to secure a school so far away that he could go there as a stranger, and be received as a young man. But no such opportunity offered. There was another opening nearer home.

 

A teacher was wanted for the Ledge³ Hill district in Orange, and the committee-man bethought himself of James Garfield.

 

So one day he knocked at Mrs. Garfield's door.

 

"Is James at home?" he asked.

 

James heard the question, and came forward to meet his visitor.

 

"Good-morning," he said, pleasantly; "did you want to see me?"

 

"Are you calculating to keep school this winter" asked his visitor.

 

"If I can get a school to keep," was the reply.

 

"That's the business I came about. We want a schoolmaster for the Ledge Hill School. How would you like to try it?"

 

"The Ledge Hill School!" repeated James, in some dismay. "Why, all the boys know me there."

 

"Of course they do. Then they won't need to be introduced."

 

"Will they obey me? That's what I was thinking of. There are some pretty hard cases in that school."

 

"That's where you are right."

 

"I wouldn't like to try it and fail," said James, doubtfully.

 

"You won't if you'll follow my advice," said the committee-man.

 

"What's that?"

 

"Thrash the first boy that gives you any trouble. Don't half do it; but give him a sound flogging, so that he will understand who's master. You're strong enough; you can do it."

 

James extended his muscular arm with a smile. He knew he was strong. He was a large boy, and his training had been such as to develop his muscles.

 

"You know the boys that will go to school. Is there any one that can master you?" asked his visitor.

 

"No, I don't think there is," answered James, with a smile.

 

"Then you'll do. Let 'em know you are not afraid of them the first day. That's the best advice I can give you."

 

"I shouldn't like to get into a fight with a pupil," said James, slowly.

 

"You'll have to run the risk of it unless you teach a girls' school. I guess you wouldn't have any trouble there."

 

"Not of that kind, probably. What wages do you pay?"

 

"Twelve dollars a month and board. Of course, you'll board round."

 

Twelve dollars a month would not be considered very high wages now, but to James it was a consideration. He had earned as much in other ways, but he was quite anxious to try his luck as a teacher. That might be his future vocation⁴, not teaching a district school, of course, but this would be the first round of the ladder that might lead to a college professorship. The first step is the most difficult, but it must be taken, and the Ledge Hill School, difficult as it probably would be, was to be the first step for the future President of Hiram College.

 

All these considerations James rapidly revolved⁵ in his mind, and then he came to a decision.

 

"When does the school commence?" he asked.

 

"Next Monday."

 

"I accept your offer. I'll be on hand in time."

 

 

The news quickly reached the Ledge Hill district that "Jim Garfield," as he was popularly called, was to be their next teacher.

 

"Have you heard about the new master?" asked Tom Bassett, one of the hard cases, of a friend.

 

"No. Who is it?"

 

"Jim Garfield."

 

The other whistled.

 

"You don't mean it?"

 

"Yes, I do."

 

"How did you hear?"

 

"Mr. ——," naming the committee-man, "told me."

 

"Then it must be so. We'll have a high old time if that's so."

 

"So we will," chuckled⁶ the other. "I'm anxious for school to begin."

 

"He's only a boy like us."

 

"That's so."

 

"He knows enough for a teacher; but knowing isn't everything."

 

"You're right. We can't be expected to mind a boy like ourselves that we've known all our lives."

 

"Of course not."

 

"I like Jim well enough. He's a tip-top feller; but, all the same, he aint goin' to boss me round."

 

"Nor me, either."

 

This conversation between Tom Bassett and Bill Stackpole (for obvious reasons I use assumed names) augured⁷ ill for the success of the young teacher. They determined⁸ to make it hot for him, and have all the fun they wanted.

 

They thought they knew James Garfield, but they made a mistake. They knew that he was of a peaceable disposition⁹ and not fond of quarreling, and although they also knew that he was strong and athletic¹⁰, they decided¹¹ that he would not long be able to maintain his position. If they had been able to read the doubts and fears that agitated¹² the mind of their future preceptor, they would have felt confirmed in their belief.

 

The fact was, James shrank from the ordeal¹³ that awaited him.

 

"If I were only going among strangers," he said to his mother, "I wouldn't mind it so much; but all these boys and girls have known me ever since I was a small boy and went barefoot."

 

"Does your heart fail you, my son?" asked his mother, who sympathized with him, yet saw that it was a trial which must come.

 

"I can't exactly say that, but I dread¹⁴ to begin."

 

"We must expect to encounter difficulties and perplexities, James. None of our lives run all smoothly¹⁵. Shall we conquer them or let them conquer us?"

 

The boy's spirit was aroused.

 

"Say no more, mother," he replied. "I will undertake the school, and if success is any way possible, I will succeed. I have been shrinking from it, but I won't shrink any longer."

 

"That is the spirit that succeeds, James."

 

James laughed, and in answer quoted Campbell's stirring lines with proper emphasis:

 

"I will victor exult¹⁶, or in death be laid low,

With my face to the field and my feet to the foe¹⁷."

So the time passed till the eventful day dawned on which James was to assume charge of his first school. He was examined, and adjudged to be qualified¹⁸ to teach; but that he anticipated in advance.

 

The building is still standing¹⁹ in which James taught his first school. It is used for quite another purpose now, being occupied as a carriage-house by the thrifty²⁰ farmer who owns the ground upon which it stands. The place where the teacher's desk stood, behind which the boy stood as preceptor, is now occupied by two stalls for carriage-horses. The benches which once contained the children he taught have been removed to make room for the family carriage, and the play-ground is now a barnyard. The building sits upon a commanding eminence²¹ known as Ledge Hill, and overlooks a long valley winding²² between two lines of hills.

 

This description is furnished by the same correspondent of the Boston Herald²³ to whom I am already indebted for Henry Boynton's reminiscences contained in the last chapter.

 

When James came in sight, and slowly ascended²⁴ the hill in sight of the motley crew of boys and girls who were assembled in front of the school-house on the first morning of the term, it was one of the most trying moments of his life. He knew instinctively²⁵ that the boys were anticipating the fun in store for them in the inevitable²⁶ conflict which awaited him, and he felt constrained²⁷ and nervous. He managed, however, to pass through the crowd, wearing a pleasant smile and greeting his scholars with a bow. There was trouble coming, he was convinced, but he did not choose to betray any apprehension²⁸.

1 hesitation   

n.犹豫，踌躇

参考例句：

• After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
• There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。

2 competence   

n.能力，胜任，称职

参考例句：

• This mess is a poor reflection on his competence.这种混乱情况说明他难当此任。
• These are matters within the competence of the court.这些是法院权限以内的事。

3 ledge   

n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁

参考例句：

• They paid out the line to lower him to the ledge.他们放出绳子使他降到那块岩石的突出部分。
• Suddenly he struck his toe on a rocky ledge and fell.突然他的脚趾绊在一块突出的岩石上，摔倒了。

4 vocation   

n.职业，行业

参考例句：

• She struggled for years to find her true vocation.她多年来苦苦寻找真正适合自己的职业。
• She felt it was her vocation to minister to the sick.她觉得照料病人是她的天职。

5 revolved   

v.（使）旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 )；细想

参考例句：

• The fan revolved slowly. 电扇缓慢地转动着。
• The wheel revolved on its centre. 轮子绕中心转动。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 chuckled   

轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She chuckled at the memory. 想起这件事她就暗自发笑。
• She chuckled softly to herself as she remembered his astonished look. 想起他那惊讶的表情，她就轻轻地暗自发笑。

7 augured   

v.预示，预兆，预言( augur的过去式和过去分词 )；成为预兆；占卜

参考例句：

• The press saw the event as a straw in the wind that augured the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries. 报界把这件事看作是两国之间即将恢复邦交的预兆。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• This augured disaster for 1945. 这就预示1945年要发生灾难。 来自互联网

8 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

9 disposition   

n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署

参考例句：

• He has made a good disposition of his property.他已对财产作了妥善处理。
• He has a cheerful disposition.他性情开朗。

10 athletic   

adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的

参考例句：

• This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
• He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。

11 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

12 agitated   

adj.被鼓动的，不安的

参考例句：

• His answers were all mixed up,so agitated was he.他是那样心神不定，回答全乱了。
• She was agitated because her train was an hour late.她乘坐的火车晚点一个小时，她十分焦虑。

13 ordeal   

n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验

参考例句：

• She managed to keep her sanity throughout the ordeal.在那场磨难中她始终保持神志正常。
• Being lost in the wilderness for a week was an ordeal for me.在荒野里迷路一星期对我来说真是一场磨难。

14 dread   

vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧

参考例句：

• We all dread to think what will happen if the company closes.我们都不敢去想一旦公司关门我们该怎么办。
• Her heart was relieved of its blankest dread.她极度恐惧的心理消除了。

15 smoothly   

adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地

参考例句：

• The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作，所以工作进展顺利。
• Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。

16 exult   

v.狂喜，欢腾；欢欣鼓舞

参考例句：

• Few people would not exult at the abolition of slavery.奴隶制被废除了，人们无不为之欢乐鼓舞。
• Let's exult with the children at the drawing near of Children's Day.六一儿童节到了，让我们陪着小朋友们一起欢腾。

17 foe   

n.敌人，仇敌

参考例句：

• He knew that Karl could be an implacable foe.他明白卡尔可能会成为他的死敌。
• A friend is a friend;a foe is a foe;one must be clearly distinguished from the other.敌是敌，友是友，必须分清界限。

18 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

19 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

20 thrifty   

adj.节俭的；兴旺的；健壮的

参考例句：

• Except for smoking and drinking,he is a thrifty man.除了抽烟、喝酒，他是个生活节俭的人。
• She was a thrifty woman and managed to put aside some money every month.她是个很会持家的妇女，每月都设法存些钱。

21 eminence   

n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家

参考例句：

• He is a statesman of great eminence.他是个声名显赫的政治家。
• Many of the pilots were to achieve eminence in the aeronautical world.这些飞行员中很多人将会在航空界声名显赫。

22 winding   

n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈

参考例句：

• A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
• The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。

23 herald   

vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎

参考例句：

• In England, the cuckoo is the herald of spring.在英国杜鹃鸟是报春的使者。
• Dawn is the herald of day.曙光是白昼的先驱。

24 ascended   

v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He has ascended into heaven. 他已经升入了天堂。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The climbers slowly ascended the mountain. 爬山运动员慢慢地登上了这座山。 来自《简明英汉词典》

25 instinctively   

adv.本能地

参考例句：

• As he leaned towards her she instinctively recoiled. 他向她靠近，她本能地往后缩。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He knew instinctively where he would find her. 他本能地知道在哪儿能找到她。 来自《简明英汉词典》

26 inevitable   

adj.不可避免的，必然发生的

参考例句：

• Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
• The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。

27 constrained   

adj.束缚的,节制的

参考例句：

• The evidence was so compelling that he felt constrained to accept it. 证据是那样的令人折服，他觉得不得不接受。
• I feel constrained to write and ask for your forgiveness. 我不得不写信请你原谅。

28 apprehension   

n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑

参考例句：

• There were still areas of doubt and her apprehension grew.有些地方仍然存疑，于是她越来越担心。
• She is a girl of weak apprehension.她是一个理解力很差的女孩。