“I want a school,” was James’s indirect reply. He knew the character of the school—that it was rough and boisterous—and he hesitated.

“Reg’lar set of barbarians, you know, Jim, down there,” the man continued.

“Yes; I know it is a hard school to teach. Do you think I can manage it? All the scholars know me.” This reply of James showed what thoughts were passing through his mind. The committee-man replied:

“They all know you, of course, and they know that you can lick the whole of them without any trouble, if you set about it; and you are just the chap to run the school. The boys have driven out the master for two winters now; and I want somebody to control the school this winter, if he don’t do a thing but stand over them with a cane. A thrashing all around would do them an immense amount of good. Now, what do you say? Give you twelve dollars a month and board.”

This pourtrayal of the character of the school rather discouraged James than otherwise; but his mother spoke, by way of helping him out of the difficulty:

“This is an unexpected call to James, and he’d better consider it to-day, and let you know his decision tonight.”

“I will do that,” said James.

“That will answer; but I hope you won’t fail me,” the man responded, and drove off.

“Go over and consult your Uncle Amos after breakfast,” advised his mother. “It is a very difficult school to undertake for the first one.”

“I should prefer to teach among strangers, at least my first school,” responded James. “Do you think this is the ‘something better’ Providence had in store for me?”

“Perhaps so. If you should be successful in this school, your reputation as a teacher would be established; you would have no more trouble in finding schools to keep.”

“I see that; and still, if I had a chance to take a school among strangers, I should decline this one,” said James.

“Perhaps that is the very reason you did not find a school. Providence means you shall take this one. I really think, James, that this is the correct view of the case.”

James could not suppress a laugh over this turn of affairs; nor could he fail to respect his mother’s moral philosophy. He really began to think that Providence was forcing him to take this school, and he mentally decided to take it before he saw Uncle Amos.

“Tough school,” remarked Uncle Amos, when James sought his advice. “Those rough fellows have had their way so long in school that it will be a hard matter to bring them into subjection. How do you feel about it yourself?”

“I would prefer to teach where the scholars are not acquainted with me,” replied James.

“That might make a difference with some teachers, James; but the boys have nothing against you. Perhaps they will behave better because they know you so well. I think they respect you, and that will be a great help.”

“Then you think I had better teach the school?” remarked James, understanding the drift of his uncle’s remarks to mean that.