siventy bairns went to his school at Carnavruick when I wes a loon.
He'd been to Ameriky, ye ken, sir, and I doot he'd brought back wi' him
a bit o' the Yankee tongue. Faix! He had a lively tongue! He niver
wanted his answer when he had to come oot wi' it."

Farquharson's "Academy" was his little living-room--not over-spacious
for such an assembly; but in those days no parental government
legislated for so many cubic feet of space for each child, and they
seemed to keep in health and strength in spite of that fact. The
school assembled in what we may term the winter months only, which in
Scotland may be reckoned as nearly two-thirds of the year. The
remaining months were occupied in farming work both by master and
scholars.

During the term (as we may call it) the procedure was as follows:
Farquharson was accustomed to rise about four o'clock and to work for
two or three hours at threshing corn. After an early breakfast he made
preparations for his scholastic duties by clearing out of the way all
unnecessary furniture--though there was little that was
superfluous--and placing the long planks supported by big stones which
served for forms. As some children were sure to be occupied with class
work during the whole time, fewer seats were needed than would have
been necessary otherwise. The schoolmaster's old mother, Margot, kept
her own chair by the fire, where she kept an eye on the pot of soup and
occupied herself with knitting. The one small table served as master's
desk and as writing-table for those pupils who had advanced
sufficiently in the art to be allowed to use a copy-book instead of a
slate--but they were few.

The scholars arrived about eight o'clock. It was required of each, as