While glancing about the room in an undecided way she detected Ben Hadley slyly preparing to insert a pin into the anatomy of the boy next him. This gave her an idea.
“Ben Hadley, please come to the desk,” she said quietly.
Ben started guiltily. He decided that the school teacher had seen him, and was about to call him to account. His face wore a half defiant look as he marched up to the desk, the observed of all observers. All the scholars were on the qui vive to learn the policy of the new administration. This summons seemed rather a bold move, for Ben was generally regarded as the head of the opposition. Not from malice, but from roguery, he gave successive teachers more trouble than any other scholar. Had the new school mistress found this out, and was she about to arraign the rebel as her first act of power? Such was Ben’s suspicion, as, with his head erect, he marched up to the teacher’s desk.
To his surprise Miss Frost met him with a friendly smile.
“Ben,” said she pleasantly, “you are one of the oldest scholars, and the only one whom I know. Are you willing to help me organize the school?”
Ben was, astonished. That such a proposal should be made to him, the arch rebel, was most unexpected.
“Guess she don’t know me,” he thought. But yet he felt flattered; evidently he was a person of some consequence in the eyes of the new teacher.
“I’ll help you all I can, Miss Frost,” he said heartily.
“Thank you, Ben, I felt sure you would,” said Mabel, with quiet confidence. “I suppose the first thing will be to take the names of the scholars.”
“Yes, Miss Frost; and then you sort ’em into classes.”
“To be sure. How many classes are there generally?”
“Well, there are three classes in reading, and two in arithmetic, and two in geography.”
“That is just the information I want. Now, Ben, I will ask you to go about with me, and tell me the names of the scholars.”
But before entering upon this formality, Mabel, for the first time in her life, made a speech.
“Scholars,” she said, “I am a stranger to you, but I hope you will come to regard me as your friend. I am here to help you acquire an education. I am sure you all wish to learn. There is a great satisfaction in knowledge, and it will help you, both boys and girls, to become useful men and women, and acquit yourselves creditably in any positions which you may be called upon to fill. I am not so well acquainted with the method of carrying on a country grammar school as most of my predecessors, having myself been educated in the city. I have, therefore, asked Ben Hadley to assist me in organizing the school, and preparing for work.”
The scholars received the announcement with surprise. It presented Ben to them in a novel character. They waited with interest to see how he would acquit himself in his new office.
Ben accompanied Miss Frost from desk to desk, and greatly facilitated her task by his suggestions. At length the names of all the scholars were taken.
“Now I must arrange the classes,” said Mabel, with increased confidence. “Have you any advice to give, Ben?”
“You’d better ask the first class to come up,” suggested her young assistant. “Then you’ll know exactly who belong to it.”
“That will be the best plan,” said Mabel; and she followed his advice.
Ben left her side and took his place in the class. He scanned the class, and then said: “Miss Frost, there’s one boy here who belongs in the second class.”
At this revelation a boy standing next but one to Ben showed signs of perturbation.
“Who is it?” asked the teacher.
“John Cotton.”
“Do you belong to this class, John?”
“I ought to; I know enough,” said he sullenly.
“Today you will oblige me by taking your place in the second class. In a few days I can decide whether you are able to go with this class.”
John retired, discontented, but hopeful.
“I shall be glad when any of you are fit for promotion,” proceeded Mabel. “At first it will be best for the classes to remain as they were during the last session.”