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Charlemont; Or, the Pride of the Village. a Tale of Kentucky by William Gilmore Simms
page 151 of 518 (29%)
visit of William Hinkley was not paid to the solitude. A venerable
man, of large frame, and benignant aspect, sat beneath an aged
tree, paternal in its appearance like himself. This person might be
between fifty and sixty years of age. His hair, though very thick
and vigorous, was as white as driven snow. But there were few wrinkles
on his face, and his complexion was the clear red and white of a
healthy and sanguine temperament. His brow was large and lofty. It
had many more wrinkles than his face. There were two large horizontal
seams upon it that denoted the exercise of a very busy thought.
But the expression of his eye was that of the most unembarrassed
benevolence and peace. It was subdued and sometimes sad, but then
it had the sweetest, playfullest twinkle in the world. His mouth,
which was small and beautifully formed, wore a similar expression.
In short he was what we would call a handsome old gentleman, whose
appearance did not offend taste, and whose kind looks invited
confidence. Nor would we mistake his character.

This person was the Mr. Calvert, the schoolmaster of the village,
of whom Mrs. Hinkley spoke to Alfred Stevens in discussing
the condition of her son. His tasks were over for the day. The
light-hearted rabble whom he taught, released from his dominion which
was not severe, were, by this time, scampering over the hills, as
far from their usual place of restraint as the moderate strength of
their legs could carry them. Though let loose, boys are not apt to
feel their liberty in its prime and freshness, immediately in the
neighborhood of the schoolhouse. The old gentleman left to himself,
sat out in the open air, beneath a massive oak, the paternal stretching
of whose venerable arms not unfrequently led to the employment of
the shade below for carrying on the operations of the schoolhouse.
There, squat on their haunches, the sturdy boys--germs of the finest
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