Ishmael, or In The Depths - Page 250/567

This had been a forenoon of varied pleasures to Ishmael. The gates of

the Temple of Knowledge had been thrown open to him. All three of his

studies had charmed him: the marvelous description of the earth's

surface, the wonderful history of the human race, the curious analysis

of language--each had in its turn delighted him. And now came the

recreation hour to refresh him.

The girls all went to walk on the lawn in front of the house.

The boys all went into the shrubberies in the rear; and the day pupils

began to open their dinner baskets.

Ishmael took a piece of bread from his pocket. That was to be his

dinner.

But presently a servant came out of the house and spoke to Walter

Middleton; and Walter called our boy, saying: "Come, Ishmael; my father has sent for you."

Ishmael put his piece of bread in his pocket and accompanied the youth

into the house and to the dining-room, where a plain, substantial dinner

of roast mutton, vegetables, and pudding was provided for the children

of the family.

"You are to dine with my children every day, Ishmael," said Mr.

Middleton, in those tones of calm authority that admitted of no appeal

from their decision.

Ishmael took the chair that was pointed out to him, and you may be sure

he did full justice to the nourishing food placed before him.

When dinner was over the boys had another hour's recreation in the

grounds, and then they returned to the schoolroom for afternoon

exercises. These were very properly of a lighter nature than those of

the morning--being only penmanship, elocution, and drawing.

At six o'clock the school was dismissed. And Ishmael went home,

enchanted with his new life, but wondering where little Claudia could

be; he had not seen her that day. And thus ended his first day at

school.

When he reached the hut Hannah had supper on the table.

"Well, Ishmael, how did you get on?" she asked.

"Oh, Aunt Hannah, I have had such, a happy day!" exclaimed the boy. And

thereupon he commenced and poured upon her in a torrent of words a

description of the schoolroom, the teachers, the studies, the dinner,

the recreations, and, in short, the history of his whole day's

experiences.

"And so you are charmed?" said Hannah.

"Oh, aunt, so much!" smiled the boy.

"Hope it may last, that's all! for I never yet saw the lad that liked

school after the first novelty wore off," observed the woman.

The next morning Ishmael awoke with the dawn, and sprang from his pallet

in the loft as a lark from its nest in the tree.

He hurried downstairs to help Hannah with the morning work before he

should prepare for school.

He cut wood, and brought water enough to last through the day, and then

ate his frugal breakfast, and set off for school.