"Yes--sir--I suppose so," said the Deacon, slowly and hesitatingly.
"Then you may say to the committee that I will do what I can to make the singing acceptable as a part of the service," Paul replied.
There was a hearty shaking of hands with Paul, by all the choir, at the rehearsal on Sat.u.r.day night. They were glad to meet him once more, and when they looked upon his frank, open countenance, those who for a moment had distrusted him felt that they had done him a great wrong. And on Sunday morning how sweet the music! It thrilled the hearts of the people, and they too were ashamed when they reflected that they had condemned Paul without cause. They were glad he was in his place once more. Mr. Surplice in his prayer gave thanks that the peace and harmony of the congregation was restored, and that the wicked one had not been permitted to rule. When he said that, Mr. Cannel wondered if he had reference to Deacon Hardhack. Everybody rejoiced that the matter was settled,--even Miss Dobb, who did not care to have all the old things brought up.
When the service was over, when Paul sat once more by his mother"s side in their humble home, before the old fireplace, when he listened to her words, reminding him of all G.o.d"s goodness,--how He had carried him through the trial,--Paul could not keep back his tears, and he resolved that he would always put his trust in G.o.d.
CHAPTER VIII.
KEEPING SCHOOL.
The teacher of the New Hope school, engaged for the winter, proved to be a poor stick. He allowed the scholars to throw spit-b.a.l.l.s, snap apple-seeds, eat mola.s.ses candy, pull each other"s hair, and have fine frolics. Paul wished very much to attend school, to study Latin, and fit himself for College; but when he saw how forceless a fellow Mr. Supple was, he concluded that it would be lost time to attend such a school. He knew that knowledge is power, and he longed to obtain a thorough education. Sometimes, when he thought how much Judge Adams knew, and when he read books written by learned men, he felt that he knew next to nothing. But whenever he felt like giving up the contest with adverse circ.u.mstances, a walk in the fresh, cool, bracing air, or a night"s sleep, revived his flagging spirit. The thought often came, "What would Daphne or Azalia say if they knew how chicken-hearted I am?" So his pride gave him strength. Though he did not attend school, he made rapid progress studying at home.
Matters came to a crisis in the school, for one day the big boys--Bob Swift among others--carried Mr. Supple out of the school-house, dug a hole in a snow-drift, and stuck him into it with his head down and his heels up. Then they took possession of the school-house and played tag over the benches for the rest of the day. Mr. Supple did not attempt to enter the school-house again, but picked up his hat, went to his boarding-house, packed his trunk, and left town.
After a week"s vacation, Mr. Cannel, who was the school-agent, obtained another teacher,--a thin, pale-faced, quick-tempered young man,--Mr.
Thrasher. "I"ll bring them to their trumps," he said, when Mr. Cannel engaged him.
"I intend to have order in this school. I shall lick the first boy who throws a spit-ball, or who does anything contrary to the rules of the school," said Mr. Thrasher, flourishing a raw hide, on the first morning. He read a long list of rules, numbered from one up to eighteen.
Before he finished his rules, a little boy laughed, and caught a whipping. Before noon half a dozen were hauled up. There was a council of war at noon among the big boys, who, having had their own way, were determined to keep it. They agreed to give Mr. Thrasher a pitched battle. They had it in the afternoon; a half-dozen pounced upon the master at once, and after a short struggle put him out doors. They gave a grand hurrah, and pelted him with s...o...b..a.l.l.s, and drove him up the street.
There was great commotion in the town. Those who loved law and order were alarmed for the welfare of their children.
"We must have a master who can rule them, or they will grow up to be lawless citizens," said Judge Adams.
Mr. Cannel could find no one who was willing to teach the school.
"I don"t see why anybody who is competent to teach should be afraid to undertake the task," said Paul to Mr. Chrome, one day, as they talked the matter over.
Mr. Chrome met Mr. Cannel that evening on the street. "If there is anybody who is competent to keep the school, it is Paul Parker," said Mr. Chrome, who had exalted ideas of Paul"s ability to overcome difficulties.
"I believe you," Mr. Cannel replied, and started at once to see Paul.
"I will think of it, and let you know in the morning whether I will teach or not," was Paul"s reply, after hearing what Mr. Cannel had to say.
He talked the matter over with his mother.
"It is a great undertaking, Paul; I cannot advise you," she said.
When he offered his evening prayer, he asked that G.o.d would direct him.
He thought upon the subject during the night. Could he carry it through?
The scholars all knew him,--had been to school with him,--were his old friends and playmates. Bob Swift was a ringleader; and outside, not in the school, was Philip, who would make all the trouble he could. There was Miss Dobb, who would like to have picked him to pieces. There were others who would rejoice to see him fail. But would it not be glorious to succeed,--to triumph over Miss Dobb? But that was an unworthy motive, and he put the thought out of his mind. He resolved to undertake the task, and try to do good,--to guide and mould the minds of the scholars,--those who were to be men and women, who were to act an important part in life, and who were to live not only here, but in another world,--who, he hoped, would be companions of the angels. Would it not be worth while to aid in overcoming evil, in establishing law and order,--to inculcate a love of virtue, truth, and honor?
It would require nerve, energy, patience, and wisdom. "I"ll try it," he said to himself, after looking at all sides.
When it was known that Paul was going to try his hand at school-keeping the big boys chuckled. "We"ll sweeten him," said Bob, rubbing his hands, and antic.i.p.ating the glorious fun they would have.
Conscious that he had a task before him which would try him severely, Paul yet went bravely to his work, locking the door as he entered the school-room, and putting the key in his pocket. The big boys looked at each other, somewhat amazed, each anxious to see what the others thought of it. He walked deliberately to his desk. "It is always best to begin an undertaking rightly," said Paul, standing erect and looking calmly round the room. "There is no better way than to ask our Heavenly Father to direct us, and so we will all repeat the Lord"s Prayer," he said and waited till the room was so still that the scholars could almost hear the beating of their hearts. The stillness filled them with awe. After prayer he addressed them,--not alluding to anything which had taken place, but simply saying that he had been employed to teach them, and should do what he could to make the school-room a pleasant place to all.
He expected that they would obey whatever rules were necessary for the good of the school, but did not threaten them with punishment.
It was so unlike what they had expected that the big boys did not know what to make of it, or how to take it. Bob could not decide whether it was best to begin a war, or wait till something happened, and then have a grand battle. So the forenoon pa.s.sed without any disturbance.
Philip saw Bob at noon. "You are a coward, Bob, or you would have pitched Paul heels over head out of the door. I would if I were there, and so would you if you had as much gumption as an old setting hen. I thought you were going to "sweeten him,"" he said, with a sneer.
"So I am," said Bob, nettled at the taunt, and resolving to drive Paul out in the afternoon.
When Paul entered the school-room after dinner, he saw at a glance that there was mischief ahead. The whole school was on tip-toe. He locked the door, and again put the key in his pocket. Bob was standing in the middle of the floor with his hat on.
"Take off your hat, Master Swift, and go to your seat," said Paul.
"I sha"n"t do it," said Bob,--who the next instant went spinning round the room, tumbling over a chair, falling upon the floor, finding himself picked up and thrown against a desk, then having his heels tripped up, and then set to whirling so fast that the room seemed all windows. He was cuffed backward and forward, to the right and the left, pitched headlong, and jerked back again so suddenly, that he lost his breath. He was like a little child in the hands of a giant. He was utterly powerless. One of the other boys sprang to help him, but was met by a blow between his eyes which knocked him to the floor. A second started, but when he saw what had happened he sat down. Bob"s brain was in a whirl. His ears were tingling. He saw stars, and it seemed as if all his hair had been torn out by the roots. He heard Paul say, once more, calmly, as at first, "Take your seat, Master Swift." He hesitated a moment, but when, through the blinking stars, he saw how cool and decided Paul was, standing there as if nothing had happened,--when he saw the boy who had started to aid him sprawling on the floor, and the others who had promised to help put Paul out of doors sitting in their seats,--he knew that it was of no use to resist. He took his seat and sat all the afternoon wondering at Paul"s strength. Paul was surprised to find himself so powerful and athletic; but then he remembered that he had right on his side, which always helps a man.
The victory was won. The school felt that he was their master. Yet he had a pleasant smile. When they were tired of study he said, "I see that you are getting dull and need stirring up." Then he told them a story which set them all laughing, and so made them forget that they were tired and sleepy.
At night he had a talk with Bob all alone, telling him that he ought to be a good boy for his poor old mother"s sake. That touched Bob in a tender place, for he loved his mother, and was a good-hearted fellow, but had allowed Philip to twist him round his little finger.
"For her sake, Bob, I want you to be good; I will help you all I can,"
said Paul. It was spoken so kindly and frankly that Bob knew Paul meant it. "Cut loose from those who advise you to do wrong, and tell them that you are going to do right," said Paul, as they parted for the night.
"I will," said Bob, who, as he thought it all over that night, and recalled the kind words, felt that Paul would be his best friend if he did right.
"I must get Azalia and Daphne to help me make a man of Bob," said Paul to himself,--"they can do what I can"t."
He called upon Azalia. There was a bright fire on the hearth in the sitting-room, but the smile on her face, he thought, was more pleasant to see.
"I am glad you have conquered," she said.
"I don"t know that I have done so, yet; when I can feel that they all love me, then I may begin to think that it is a victory. I have had a talk with Bob. He is a good fellow, but under bad influences. I want you to help me. If we can make him respect himself, we shall make a man of him."
"I will do what I can," said Azalia.
When Paul went away she sat down by the window and watched him till he was out of sight. "How thoughtful he is for the welfare of others!" was the thought which pa.s.sed through her mind. Then she gazed upon the red and purple clouds with gold and silver linings, and upon the clear sunset sky beyond, till the twilight faded away, and the stars came out in the heavens. Paul"s words were ringing in her ears,--"I want you to help me." Yes, she would help him, for he was trying to make the world better.
CHAPTER IX.
RALLYING ROUND THE FLAG.
There came a gloomy day to the people of New Hope,--that gloomiest of the year, of all the years,--that on which they received the astounding intelligence that Fort Sumter had been attacked by the people of South Carolina, and that Major Anderson commanding it, with his little company, had been compelled to surrender. News so startling brought all the people into the streets. They a.s.sembled around the telegraph office, where Mr. Magnet read the despatch; how the attack had been made at daybreak on Friday, the 12th of April, all the batteries which General Beauregard had erected opening fire upon the half-starved garrison; how shot and sh.e.l.l were rained upon the fort, from Moultrie, from the guns on Morris Island, and from the floating battery which the Rebels had built; how Major Anderson coolly ate his breakfast; how Captain Doubleday fired the first gun in reply; how the cannonade went on all day, the great guns roaring and jumping; how the fight commenced again next morning; how the barracks were set on fire by the sh.e.l.ls from the Rebel guns; how manfully the garrison fought against the flames, rolling kegs of powder into the sea to prevent their exploding; how the soldiers were scorched by the heat and almost suffocated by the smoke; how the flag-staff was shot away; how the flag was nailed to the broken mast; how the brave little band held out till their powder was almost exhausted, and till there was nothing to eat but raw salt pork; how at last, after thirty-six hours" fighting, Major Anderson surrendered the fort, saluting his flag as he hauled it down, carrying it away with him, being permitted to sail with his company to New York; and how the President had called for seventy-five thousand men to suppress the rebellion. The people held their breath while Mr. Magnet was reading, and when he had finished looked at one another in mournful silence. The flag of their country was trailed in the dust, and dishonored in the sight of the nations. They could not have felt worse if they had lost a dear friend by death.
"The country is gone, gone, gone," said Judge Adams, wiping the tears from his eyes.