Putting these incidents sternly aside, the master addressed himself to the task of setting a few copies for the next day as the voices of his departing flock faded from the porch. Presently a silence fell upon the little school-house. Through the open door a cool, restful breath stole gently as if nature were again stealthily taking possession of her own. A squirrel boldly came across the porch, a few twittering birds charging in stopped, beat the air hesitatingly for a moment with their wings, and fell back with bashfully protesting breasts aslant against the open door and the unlooked-for spectacle of the silent occupant. Then there was another movement of intrusion, but this time human, and the master looked up angrily to behold Uncle Ben.
He entered with a slow exasperating step, lifting his large boots very high and putting them down again softly as if he were afraid of some insecurity in the floor, or figuratively recognized the fact that the pathways of knowledge were thorny and difficult. Reaching the masters desk and the ministering presence above it, he stopped awkwardly, and with the rim of his soft felt hat endeavored to wipe from his face the meek smile it had worn when he entered. It chanced also that he had halted before the minute stool of the infant Filgee, and his large figure instantly assumed such Brobdingnagian proportions in contrast that he became more embarrassed than ever. The master made no attempt to relieve him, but regarded him with cold interrogation.
I reckoned, he began, leaning one hand on the masters desk with affected ease, as he dusted his leg with his hat with the other, I reckonedthat isI allowedI orter saythat Id find ye alone at this time. Ye ginrally are, ye know. Its a nice, soothin, restful, stoodious time, when a man kin, so to speak, run back on his eddication and think of all he ever knowed. Yere jist like me, and ye see I sorter spotted your ways to onct.
Then why did you come here this morning and disturb the school? demanded the master sharply.
Thats so, I sorter slipped up thar, didnt I? said Uncle Ben with a smile of rueful assent. You see I didnt allow to COME IN then, but ony to hang round a leetle and kinder get used to it, and it to me.
Used to what? said the master impatiently, albeit with a slight softening at his intruders penitent expression.
Uncle Ben did not reply immediately, but looked around as if for a seat, tried one or two benches and a desk with his large hand as if testing their security, and finally abandoning the idea as dangerous, seated himself on the raised platform beside the masters chair, having previously dusted it with the flap of his hat. Finding, however, that the attitude was not conducive to explanation, he presently rose again, and picking up one of the school-books from the masters desk eyed it unskilfully upside down, and then said hesitatingly,
I reckon ye aint usin Dobells Rithmetic here?
No, said the master.
Thats bad. Pears to be played outthat Dobell feller. I was brought up on Dobell. And Parsings Grammar? Ye dont seem to be a using Parsings Grammar either?
No, said the master, relenting still more as he glanced at Uncle Bens perplexed face with a faint smile.
And I reckon youd be saying the same of Jones Stronomy and Algebry? Things hev changed. Youve got all the new style here, he continued, with affected carelessness, but studiously avoiding the masters eye. For a man ez wos brought up on Parsings, Dobell, and Jones, thar dont appear to be much show nowadays.
The master did not reply. Observing several shades of color chase each other on Uncle Bens face, he bent his own gravely over his books. The act appeared to relieve his companion, who with his eyes still turned towards the window went on:
Ef youd had them bookswhich you haventI had it in my mind to ask you suthen. I had an idea ofofsort of reviewing my eddication. Kinder going over the old books aginjist to pass the time. Sorter running in yer arter school hours and doin a little practisin, eh? You looking on me as an extry scholarand I payin ye as sichbut keepin it twixt ourselves, you knowjust for a pastime, eh?
As the master smilingly raised his head, he became suddenly and ostentatiously attracted to the window.
Them jay birds out there is mighty peart, coming right up to the school-house! I reckon they think it sort o restful too.
But if you really mean it, couldnt you use these books, Uncle Ben? said the master cheerfully. I dare say theres little differencethe principle is the same, you know.
Uncle Bens face, which had suddenly brightened, as suddenly fell. He took the book from the masters hand without meeting his eyes, held it at arms length, turned it over and then laid it softly down upon the desk as if it were some excessively fragile article. Certingly, he murmured, with assumed reflective ease. Certingly. The principles all there. Nevertheless he was quite breathless and a few beads of perspiration stood out upon his smooth, blank forehead.
And as to writing, for instance, continued the master with increasing heartiness as he took notice of these phenomena, you know ANY copy-book will do.
He handed his pen carelessly to Uncle Ben. The large hand that took it timidly not only trembled but grasped it with such fatal and hopeless unfamiliarity that the master was fain to walk to the window and observe the birds also.
Theyre mighty boldthem jays, said Uncle Ben, laying down the pen with scrupulous exactitude beside the book and gazing at his fingers as if he had achieved a miracle of delicate manipulation. They dont seem to be afeared of nothing, do they?
There was another pause. The master suddenly turned from the window. I tell you what, Uncle Ben, he said with prompt decision and unshaken gravity, the only thing for you to do is to just throw over Dobell and Parsons and Jones and the old quill pen that I see youre accustomed to, and start in fresh as if youd never known them. Forget em all, you know. It will be mighty hard of course to do that, he continued, looking out of the window, but you must do it.
He turned back, the brightness that transfigured Uncle Bens face at that moment brought a slight moisture into his own eyes. The humble seeker of knowledge said hurriedly that he would try.
And begin again at the beginning, continued the master cheerfully. Exactly like one of thosein fact, as if you REALLY were a child again.
Thats so, said Uncle Ben, rubbing his hands delightedly, thats me! Why, thats jest what I was sayin to Roop
Then youve already been talking about it? intercepted the master in some surprise. I thought you wanted it kept secret?
Well, yes, responded Uncle Ben dubiously. But you see I sorter agreed with Roop Filgee that if you took to my ideas and didnt object, Id give him two bits1 every time hed kem here and help me of an arternoon when you was away and kinder stand guard around the school-house, you know, so as to keep the fellows off. And Roops mighty sharp for a boy, ye know.
The master reflected a moment and concluded that Uncle Ben was probably right. Rupert Filgee, who was a handsome boy of fourteen, was also a strongly original character whose youthful cynicism and blunt, honest temper had always attracted him. He was a fair scholar, with a possibility of being a better one, and the proposed arrangement with Uncle Ben would not interfere with the discipline of school hours and might help them both. Nevertheless he asked good-humoredly, But couldnt you do this more securely and easily in your own house? I might lend you the books, you know, and come to you twice a week.