of my readers. He was not deeply learned, but his education was
sufficient to meet the limited requirements of a country school.

This was the summer term, and it is the usual custom in New England
that the summer schools should be taught by females. But in this
particular school the experiment had been tried, and didn't work. It
was found that the scholars were too unruly to be kept in subjection
by a woman, and the school committee had therefore engaged Mr.
Burbank, though, by so doing, the school term was shortened, as he
asked fifty per cent. higher wages than a female teacher would
have done. However, it was better to have a short school than an
unruly school, and so the district acquiesced.

Eight weeks had not yet passed since the term commenced, and yet
this was the last day but one. To-morrow would be examination day.
To this Mr. Burbank made reference in a few remarks which he made
at the commencement of the exercises.

He was rather a tall, spare man, and had a habit of brushing his
hair upward, thus making the most of a moderate forehead. Probably
he thought it made him look more intellectual.

"Boys and girls," he said, "to-morrow is our examination day. I've
tried to bring you along as far as possible toward the temple of
learning, but some of you have held back, and have not done as well
as I should like--John Plympton, if you don't stop whispering I'll
keep you after school--I want you all to remember that knowledge
is better than land or gold. What would you think of a man who was
worth a great fortune, and couldn't spell his name?--Mary Jones,
can't you sit still till I get through?--It will be well for you