So Ned Sankey went to Hathorn's, and was soon a great favorite there.
Just at first he was regarded as a disobliging fellow because he
adhered strictly to a stipulation which Mr. Hathorn had made, that
he should not bring things in from the town for his school fellows.
Only once a week, on the Saturday half holiday, were the boys allowed
outside the bounds of the wall round the playground, and although
on Wednesday an old woman was allowed to come into those precincts
to sell fruit, cakes, and sweets, many articles were wanted in
the course of the week, and the boys took it much amiss for a time
that Ned refused to act as their messenger; but he was firm in his
refusals. His father had told him not to do so, and his father's
word was law to him; but when the boys saw that in all other respects
he was a thoroughly good fellow, they soon forgave him what they
considered his undue punctiliousness, and he became a prime favorite
in the school.

It is due to Mr. Hathorn to say that no fear of interference
induced him to mitigate his rule to thrash when he considered that
punishment was necessary, and that Ned received his full share of
the general discipline. He was never known to utter a cry under
punishment, for he was, as his school fellows said admiringly, as
hard as nails; and he was, moreover, of a dogged disposition which
would have enabled him, when he had once determined upon a thing,
to carry it through even if it killed him. Mr. Hathorn regarded
this quality as obstinacy, the boys as iron resolution; and while
the former did his best to conquer what he regarded as a fault, the
boys encouraged by their admiration what they viewed as a virtue.

At home Ned never spoke of his punishments; and if his father
observed a sudden movement which told of a hidden pain, and would