All the lads, not quite a score, belonging to the Bushville school, were present at the impromptu3 convention, but the proceedings4 were chiefly in charge of the lads, Tom Britt, Dick Culver and Fred Armstrong. There were but a few months' difference in their ages, none of which was more than fourteen years, but all were so much larger and older than the rest that they were looked up to as leaders in everything except study.
It cannot be denied that the three were indolent by nature, inclined to rebel at authority, and their enforced attendance at school was the affliction of their lives. They had given their teachers no end of trouble, and more than once had combined in open rebellion against their instructors5. Tom's father was a trustee, and like the parents of many ill-trained youths, including those of Dick and Fred, he could see nothing wrong in the conduct of his son. As a consequence, discipline at times was set at naught7 in the Bushville institutions, and one of the best teachers ever employed by the district threw up his situation in disgust, and went off without waiting to collect his month's salary.
The successor of this gentleman was Mr. Lathrop, a young man barely turned twenty, with a beardless face, a mild blue eye, a gentle voice, and such a soft winning manner that the three leaders gave an involuntary sniff8 of contempt when they first saw him and agreed that he would not last more than a week at the most.
"We'll let up on him, for a few days," Tom explained to some of his friends, "so as to give him time to get acquainted. I b'lieve in letting every fellow have a show, but he's got to walk mighty9 straight between now and the end of this week," added the youth impressively; "I ain't in favor of standing10 any nonsense."
A nodding of heads by Dick and Fred showed that Tom had voiced their sentiments.
But, somehow or other, Mr. Lathrop was different from the teachers that had preceded him. He never spoke11 angrily or shouted, and his first act on entering the schoolroom was to break up the long tough hickory "gad12" lying on his desk and to fling it out of the window. The next thing he did, after calling the school to order, was to tell the gaping13, open-eyed children the most entertaining story to which they had ever listened. The anecdote14 had its moral too, for woven in and out and through its charming meshes15 was the woof of a life of heroic suffering, of trial and reward.
At its conclusion, the teacher said to the pupils that if they were studious and transgressed16 no rules, he would be glad to tell them another story the next day, if they would remain a few minutes after the hour of dismissal. The treat was such a rare one that all the girls and most of the boys resolved to earn the right to enjoy it.
"I'm going to hear the yarn17, too," muttered Tom Britt, "for he knows how to tell 'em, but as for behaving myself that depends."
On the following afternoon, when five o'clock arrived (in those days most of the country schools opened at eight and closed at five, with an hour at noon, and not more than two weeks vacation in summer. I have attended school on more than one Saturday, Fourth of July and Christmas), the school was all expectation. When Mr. Lathrop saw the bright eyes turned eagerly toward him, a thrill of pleasure stirred his heart, for he felt that his was the hand to sow good seed, or this was the soil where it could be made to spring up and bear fruit a hundred fold.
"I am glad," said he, in his winning voice, "to know that you have done well and earned the right to hear the best story that I can tell. You have been studious, obedient and careful to break no rules, and I am sure that as we become better acquainted, we shall like each other and get on well together.
"I wish I could say you had all done well, but it grieves me to tell you, what you know, that one boy has neglected his lessons, been tardy18 or so indifferent to my wishes that it would not be right that he should be allowed to sit with the rest of you and listen to the incident I am about to relate. I refer to Thomas Britt. Thomas, you will please take your books and hat and go home."
The words came like a thunderclap. No one expected it, least of all the youth himself. Every eye was turned toward him and his face flushed scarlet19. He quickly rallied from the daze20 into which he was thrown at first, and with his old swagger, looked at the teacher and replied with an insolence21 that was defiance22 itself:
"My father is trustee, and I've as much right here as you or any one else, and I'm going to stay till I'm ready to go home and you can't——" but, before he had completed his defiant23 sentence, the slightly built teacher was at his side and had grasped the nape of his coat. It seemed to the lad, that an iron vise had caught his garment and a span of horses were pulling at him. He clutched desperately24 at everything within reach and spread his legs apart and curled up his toes in the effort to hook into something that would stay proceedings, but it was in vain. Out he came from the seat, and to the awed25 children who were looking on it seemed that his body was elongated26 to double its length during the process,—and he was run through the open door, and his hat tossed after him. Then the teacher walked quietly back to his seat behind the desk on the platform, and without the slightest sign of flurry or mental disturbance27, he told one of the sweetest and most delightful28 incidents to which his pupils had ever listened. He closed with the promise to give them another at the end of the week, if they continued in the good course on which they were so fairly started.
"He catched me foul29," explained the indignant Tom Britt the following day in discussing his hurried exit from the schoolroom; "if he had only let me know he was coming, it would be him that dove out the door instead of me."
The sullen30 youth did not receive much sympathy at first, for Mr. Lathrop was steadily31 winning the affections of the pupils; but Dick and Fred rebelled at such quiet submission32 to authority, and acted so sullenly33 that they, too, were shut out from the privilege of listening to the next story related by the teacher to the rest of the school. It had been agreed among the three boys that they should refuse to depart when ordered to do so by the instructor6, and that when he made a move toward them, they would assail34 him simultaneously35 and rout36 him "horse, foot and dragoons."
But the business was conducted with such a cyclone37 rush that the plan of campaign was entirely38 overturned. Before the rebels could combine, all three were out doors, so shaken up that they agreed that a new system of resistance would have to be adopted.
And thus it came about that at the noon recess, one day of the following week, the boys of Bushville school gathered in the cool shade of the woods to listen to the plan of the three malcontents for destroying the authority of the school. It was mainly curiosity on the part of the younger portion, who had little sympathy with the motives39 of the leaders and were quite sure they would meet with failure.
"I've made up my mind that I won't stand it," announced Tom, after the situation had been freely discussed; "no boy with any spirit will allow a teacher to run him out of school in the style he served me."
"What then made you let him do it?" asked little freckled-face Will Horton, from where he lay on the ground.
"Didn't I tell you he catched me foul?" demanded Tom, glaring at the urchin40; "if I'd knowed what was coming things would have been different."
"Dick and Fred knowed he was coming for them," added Will, "for he walked clear across the schoolroom."
"You've got too much to say," retorted Dick Culver, angrily; "when we want your advice we'll ask for it."
"Well, boys, you had better make up your minds to behave yourselves and then there won't be any trouble," was the sensible advice of Jimmy Thompson, who had perched himself on a log, and was swinging his bare feet back and forth41; "Mr. Lathrop is the best teacher we ever had and he suits the rest of us first rate."
"Of course he suits all boys that ha'n't any spirit," was the crushing response of the leader, "but I've a plan that'll teach him that me and Dick and Fred ain't that kind of chaps."
"How are you going to help yourself?"
After several mysterious hints and nods of the head, Tom revealed his stupendous scheme for bringing the teacher to terms.
"You know the big hornet's nest over in Bear Hollow?"
Inasmuch as there wasn't a boy in the crowd who hadn't shied stones at the object named (always without hitting it), no further information was necessary.
"Well, I'm going to put that nest in the teacher's desk, and when he comes in, takes his seat and raises the lid, won't there be music?"
The scheme was so prodigious42 that for a full half minute all stared open mouthed at their leader without speaking.
"The teacher never locks his desk at noon, so it will be easy enough to slip it in before he gets back."
"But when he opens the desk and the hornets sail out, what will become of us?" was the pertinent43 inquiry44 of Will Horton.
"Why the minute the things begin to swarm45 out I'll yell, and we'll all rush out doors."
"Won't the teacher do the same thing?"
"But he'll be the last and he'll catch it the worst. He'll be right among the critters, and they'll just go for him, so his head will swell46 up like a bushel basket and we'll have a week's vacation. By that time he'll learn how to treat us fellers."
"I am," was the proud reply; "come on and I'll show you."
As he spoke, Tom sprang to his feet and started on a trot47 toward Bear Hollow, with the others streaming after him.
It cannot be denied that the youth displayed considerable pluck and coolness when he came to the test. There hung the hornet's nest from the lower limb of an oak, so near the ground that it could be easily reached by one of the larger boys. It was gray in color and of enormous size. It resembled in shape an overgrown football or watermelon, pendant by one end. In some portions faint ridges48 were visible, like the prints left by tiny wavelets on the sand. Near the base was a circular opening about as large as an old-fashioned penny. This was the door of the hornets' residence, through which all the occupants came and went.
The boys halted at a safe distance, and even Tom paused a few minutes to make a reconnoissance before going nearer.
"You fellows stay here, and don't any of you throw stones or yell!" he said, in a guarded undertone; "for if them hornets find out what is up, they'll come swarming49 out by the million and sting us all to death."
The promise was readily made, and Tom went forward like a hero, the eyes of all of his playmates fixed50 upon him. It was noticed be carried a large silken handkerchief in his hand—one that he had secured at home for this special purpose.
He advanced stealthily until within some ten feet, when he halted again. With his gaze centered on the gray, oblong object, he saw one of the dark insects suddenly crawl to view through the opening.
"I wonder if he suspects anything," thought Tom, half disposed to turn about and run; "no—he's all right," he added, as the hornet spread his wings, and shot off like a bullet through the air.
Still intently watching the orifice, the boy moved softly forward until directly under the nest. Then, with the deliberation of a veteran, he deftly51 enfolded it with the large silk handkerchief, easily wrenched52 it loose from its support, tied the covering over the top so securely that not an inhabitant of the nest could possibly escape, and rejoined in triumph his companions.
"Now you'll see fun!" he exclaimed, as he led the whole party trooping in the direction of the schoolhouse; "keep mum, and don't tell any of the girls what's up."
It was a grand scheme and it looked as if there could be no hitch53 in it. What compunctions the other boys might have felt against the attempt to cause pain to their teacher were forgotten in the excitement of the coming sport.
The residents of the oblong home must have been surprised, to put it mildly, when they found the house swinging along, in the grasp of some great giant, themselves enveloped54 in gloom, and the only avenue of escape sealed up. They hummed, and buzzed and raised a tempest within, but it was in vain: they were prisoners and must remain such until the ogre chose to release them.
Everything seemed to join to help the young rebel. The girls were playing so far from the school building, that they gave no heed55 to the procession which passed into the structure. One glance told Tom that it was without an occupant, and he strode hastily to the desk, the others pausing near the door, ready to dash out in the event of disaster.
The desk was unlocked and Tom raised the lid. The nest was laid on its side, in the middle, but it was so big that he had to displace several books to make room for it. Then the knots were untied56, the handkerchief flirted57 free, the lid lowered, and the deed was done.
Tom joined his companions with a radiant face. "Not a word," he cautioned, "be extra good this afternoon; even I'll try to behave myself for once, but we won't have to wait long."
"S'posin' them hornets lift the lid of the desk and come out before the teacher gets here?" suggested Will Horton.
"What are you talking about?" was the scornful question of Dick Culver; "how can a hornet raise the lid of a desk?"
"I don't mean that one will do it, but, if they all join together and put their shoulders to it, they'll lift more than you think."
But this contingency58 was too vague to be feared. A quarter of an hour later, Mr. Lathrop entered the building with his brisk step, bidding such children as he met a pleasant good afternoon, and hanging his hat on the peg59 in the wall behind his desk, rang the bell for the children to assemble, and took his seat in his chair on the platform.
The observant instructor quickly saw that something unusual was in the wind. There was a score of signs that he detected in the course of a few minutes, but he could have no idea what it all meant. He was on the alert, however, and did not remain long in suspense60.
The first hint was the sound of loud and angry buzzing within his desk. While wondering what it meant, and in doubt whether to investigate, he observed a hornet emerging through the key-hole. Before it could shake itself free, he shoved him back with his key, which was inserted and turned about, so effectually blocking the opening, that the insects were held secure.
The teacher read the whole story, and it needed only a brief study of Tom Britt's actions to make sure that he was the guilty one.
Much to the disappointment of the boys, Mr. Lathrop seemed to find no occasion for opening his desk. It remained closed through the whole afternoon and, when the moment for dismissal arrived, the only one to remain was Tom Britt, who, while conducting himself fairly well, had made a bad failure with every recitation. His mind seemed to be too pre-occupied with some other matter to absorb book knowledge.
The boys loitered around the playground, waiting to see the end of it all. Tom sat with his hands supporting his head, and his elbow on the desk, morose61, sullen and disappointed.
"I wonder if he suspects anything," he muttered; "I don't see how he can, for nobody told him. It's queer he has never opened his desk all the afternoon. I never knew him to do anything like that before—Gracious alive!"
Just then Tom felt as if some one had jabbed a burning needle into his neck. Almost at the same instant came a similar dagger62 thrust on the top of his head, where he always wore his hair short. Uttering a gasp63 of affright, he leaped from his seat, with a score of fierce hornets buzzing about his ears. The terrified glance around the room showed that the teacher had slipped noiselessly out of the door, but, before doing so, he had raised the lid of his desk to its fullest extent.
The next moment Tom bounded through the door, striking at the insects that were doing painful execution about the exposed parts of his body. It was not until after a long run that he was entirely freed of them and was able to take an inventory64 of his wounds.
It was a lesson the lad never forgot. In the final contest between him and his teacher, he was conquered and he admitted it. Mr. Lathrop made a study of his character, and having proven himself physically65 his master, set out to acquire the moral conquest that was needed to complete the work. It need hardly be added that he succeeded, for he was a thoughtful, conscientious66 instructor of youth, who loved his work, and who toiled67 as one who knows that he must render an account of his stewardship68 to Him who is not only loving and merciful, but just.
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1
recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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2
revelled
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| v.作乐( revel的过去式和过去分词 )；狂欢；着迷；陶醉 | |
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3
impromptu
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| adj.即席的，即兴的；adv.即兴的(地)，无准备的(地) | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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instructors
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| 指导者，教师( instructor的名词复数 ) | |
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instructor
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| n.指导者，教员，教练 | |
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7
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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8
sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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9
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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10
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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11
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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12
gad
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| n.闲逛；v.闲逛 | |
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13
gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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14
anecdote
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| n.轶事，趣闻，短故事 | |
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15
meshes
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| 网孔( mesh的名词复数 )； 网状物； 陷阱； 困境 | |
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transgressed
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| v.超越( transgress的过去式和过去分词 )；越过；违反；违背 | |
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17
yarn
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| n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事 | |
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18
tardy
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| adj.缓慢的，迟缓的 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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20
daze
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| v.(使)茫然，(使)发昏 | |
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21
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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awed
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| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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26
elongated
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| v.延长，加长( elongate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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28
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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29
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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30
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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31
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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32
submission
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| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
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sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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34
assail
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| v.猛烈攻击，抨击，痛斥 | |
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simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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rout
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| n.溃退，溃败；v.击溃，打垮 | |
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cyclone
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| n.旋风，龙卷风 | |
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38
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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39
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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40
urchin
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| n.顽童；海胆 | |
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41
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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42
prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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43
pertinent
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| adj.恰当的；贴切的；中肯的；有关的；相干的 | |
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44
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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45
swarm
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| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
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46
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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47
trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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48
ridges
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| n.脊( ridge的名词复数 )；山脊；脊状突起；大气层的)高压脊 | |
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49
swarming
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| 密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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50
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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51
deftly
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| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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52
wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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53
hitch
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| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
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54
enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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56
untied
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| 松开，解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 )； 解除，使自由； 解决 | |
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57
flirted
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| v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
contingency
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| n.意外事件，可能性 | |
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59
peg
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| n.木栓，木钉；vt.用木钉钉，用短桩固定 | |
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60
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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61
morose
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| adj.脾气坏的，不高兴的 | |
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62
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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63
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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64
inventory
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| n.详细目录，存货清单 | |
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65
physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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66
conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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67
toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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68
stewardship
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| n. n. 管理工作；管事人的职位及职责 | |
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