Bert Lloyd's Boyhood: A Story from Nova Scotia Page 17

  CHAPTER XVI.

  THE FIRST DAYS AT DR. JOHNSTON'S.

  It was a fine, bright September morning when Mr. Lloyd, with Bert on oneside of him and Frank on the other--for Frank had come down, so that hemight go with Bert--made his way to Dr. Johnston's school. The schooloccupied a historic old building, whose weather-beaten front faced oneof the principal streets of the city. This building had in times longpast been the abode of the governor of the province, and sadly as it haddegenerated in appearance, it still retained a certain dignity, and airof faded grandeur, that strongly suggested its having once been appliedto a more exalted use than the housing of a hundred boys for certainhours of the day. So spacious was it, that Dr. Johnston found ample roomfor his family in one half, while the other half was devoted to thepurposes of the school. At the rear, a cluster of shabby outbuildingsled to a long narrow yard where tufts of rank, coarse grass, and bunchesof burdocks struggled hard to maintain their existence in spite offearful odds.

  The boys' hearts were throbbing violently as Mr. Lloyd rang the bell.The door was opened readily by a boy, who was glad of the excuse toleave his seat, and he entered the schoolroom, followed by his charges.The room was long, narrow, and low-ceilinged, and was divided into twounequal portions by a great chimney, on either side of which a passagehad been left. At the farther end, occupying the central space betweentwo windows, was the doctor's desk, or throne it might more properly becalled; for never did autocrat wield more unquestioned authority overhis subjects than did Dr. Johnston over the hundred and odd scholars whocomposed his school. In front of him, running down the centre of theroom, and on either hand, following the walls, were long lines of desks,at which sat boys of all sorts, and of all ages, from ten to eighteen.As Mr. Lloyd entered, those nearest the door looked up, and seeing thenew-comers, proceeded to stare at them with a frank curiosity that madeBert feel as though he would like to hide in one of his father'scoat-tail pockets.

  They turned away pretty quickly, however, when Dr. Johnston, leaving hisdesk, came down to meet Mr. Lloyd, and as he passed between the lines,every head was bent as busily over the book or slate before it, asthough its attention had never been distracted.

  Considering that Dr. Johnston was really a small, slight man, it wassurprising what an idea of stately dignity his appearance conveyed. Hecould hardly have impressed Bert with a deeper feeling of respect fromthe outset, if he had been seven feet high, instead of only a littlemore than five. He was a clergyman of the Episcopal Church, and wore atall times a long black gown, reaching nearly to his ankles, which setoff to the best advantage the spare, straight figure, and strong darkface. The habitual expression of that face when in repose was ofthoughtful severity, and yet if one did but scan it closely enough, thestern mouth was seen to have a downward turn at its corners that hintedat a vein of humour lying hid somewhere. The hint was well-sustained,for underneath all his sternness and severity the doctor concealed aplayful humour, that at times came to the surface, and gratefullyrelieved his ordinary grimness.

  As he walked down from his desk to meet Mr. Lloyd, he looked verypleasant indeed; and Bert felt his nervousness a little calmed as,holding out his thin, white and yet muscular hand, Dr. Johnston said,cordially:

  "Good-morning, Mr. Lloyd. I presume these are the two boys you spoke tome about."

  "They are, Dr. Johnston," Mr. Lloyd replied. "I brought them in goodtime so that they might learn as much as possible about the ways of theschool the first day."

  "You did well, Mr. Lloyd. It is important to have a good beginning ineverything that is worth doing," said the doctor; then, turning toBert, he slipped his hand under his chin, and lifting his head so thathe might look him full in the face, added, with a smile, "I need hardlyask which of these boys is yours, for this one betrays his paternity inevery feature."

  "You have hit the mark, doctor," said Mr. Lloyd, smiling in his turn."This is my son Cuthbert, at your service, and this is Frank Bowser, hisinseparable companion."

  "Quite a case of Damon and Pythias, eh?" said the doctor, whose devotionto the classics was such that his one great regret was that he had notlived in the time of Horace.

  "Yes, something of the kind," rejoined Mr. Lloyd; "and I would be veryglad if you could manage to let them sit together so long as they behavethemselves."

  "We'll see, we'll see," was the doctor's non-committal response.

  "Very well, then, doctor," said Mr. Lloyd, turning to leave. "I'll handthem over to you now. I am sure you will make the best of them, and thatI am leaving them in very good hands. Good-bye, boys." And then, bendingdown, he whispered in Bert's ear, "Remember--quit you like men--bestrong," and then left them.

  As Mr. Lloyd disappeared through the door, the air of geniality thedoctor had been wearing during the brief interview vanished from hiscountenance, and it relapsed into its wonted look of resigned severity.

  "Lloyd and Bowser, come with me to my desk," said he, turning his backupon them, and walking down the room. The boys followed very meekly, andon arriving at the desk the doctor entered their names in a huge bookthat lay open before him, using an old-fashioned quill pen thatscratched so harshly as to send a shudder through Bert, who was verysensitive to such things.

  "We will now see about seats for you both," continued the doctor. Then,raising his voice, he called out, "Mr. Snelling, will you please comehere," and from the far end of the room a respectful voice responded"Yes, sir."

  Looking in the direction whence the voice came, Bert saw an odd-lookingman approaching, who, of course, was Mr. Snelling. He was of mediumheight, but quite as slight as the doctor himself. Many years at theschoolmaster's desk had given a stoop to his shoulders and a pallor tohis face, that were in marked contrast to his chief's erect figure andswarthy countenance. But if his face was pale, his hair made a braveattempt to atone for this lack of colour, for it was the richest, mostuncompromising red; and as though he delighted in its warm tints, Mr.Snelling allowed it to grow in uncropped abundance, and his favouritegesture was to thrust his fingers through its tangled mass. Beneath awhite and narrow forehead were two small sharp eyes, that peered outkeenly through a pair of gold-bowed spectacles, and were ever on thewatch to detect the slightest misbehaviour among the urchins gatheredaround him.

  Bert's first impression of Mr. Snelling was not a favourable one, and ashe stood by and heard Dr. Johnston say: "Mr. Snelling, here are two morepupils. This is Lloyd, and this is Bowser. They will go into your roomfor the present. Will you please see that desks are assigned them?"--hethought to himself that in spite of the doctor's grim appearance hewould rather stay in his room than be handed over to Mr. Snelling.

  However, he was not to be consulted in the matter, so he followed in thewake of Mr. Snelling, who, by the way, it should be explained, was theassistant master, having special charge of all the younger scholars, andthe drilling of them in the English branches of learning. The classicsand mathematics the doctor reserved for himself, and a better teacher ofthe former particularly there was not in all Halifax.

  Mr. Snelling's portion of the room differed from the doctor's only inthat it was not so well lighted and the seats were not quite socomfortable. The school being pretty full at the time, the securing ofseats for the two new-comers required some rearranging, in the course ofwhich changes had to be made that evidently did not by any means meetwith the approbation of those who were immediately concerned; andBert's spirits, already at a low ebb, were not much elevated by sundryscowling looks directed at him, and by one red-faced, irritable-lookingchap seizing the opportunity when Mr. Snelling's back was turned toshake his fist at Bert and Frank, and mutter loudly enough for them tohear:

  "I'll punch the heads of you both at recess, see if I don't."

  At length, with some little difficulty, Mr. Snelling got mattersarranged, and the two boys were placed in the farthest corner of theroom, and, to their profound delight, side by side. Their accommodationswere the reverse of luxurious. A wooden bench, destitute of back, andshiny from the f
riction of dear knows how many restless sitters; asloping desk, cut and carved by careless knives, and having underneathan open shelf upon which the books, slate, cap, and lunch might beput--that was the sum total. Yet, after all, what more do schoolboysreally need, or can be safely intrusted with?

  Feeling very strange and nervous, Bert and Frank took their seats, andslipping their caps under the desk--they were both wearing thatserviceable form of headgear known as the Glengarry--they did their bestto seem composed, and to take in their surroundings. The gaunt, unlovelyroom was soon inspected, and from it they turned their attention to itsoccupants. Mr. Snelling has already been described. To the left of hisdesk, and extending row upon row, one behind the other, were desksfilled with boys of different ages and sizes. In front of him was anopen space, in which the classes stood when reciting lessons to him, andacross this space was another line of desks placed close to the wall,which were assigned to the oldest boys in the room.

  Not a familiar or friendly face could the new-comers find, but instead,they saw many that seemed to take pleasure in making them feel, ifpossible, still more ill at ease, by fixing upon them a cold,indifferent stare, or even an ugly grimace. The only ray of light wasthat which came from the sweet countenance of a blue-eyed, fair-hairedboy, who, catching Bert's eye, nodded pleasantly at him, as though tosay, "I'm glad you've come; make yourself at home." And Bert resolvedthat he would make his acquaintance at the very first opportunity.

  Having nothing to do but watch the other boys as they studied andrecited, the morning dragged along very slowly for Bert and Frank, andthey were immensely relieved when the noon recess was announced, and thewhole school poured tumultuously out into either the yard or the street,according to their preference. The majority of the boys went into thestreet, and the two friends followed them, feeling not a little anxiousas to what sort of treatment they might expect at the hands of their newcompanions. As it proved, however, they had nothing to fear, for it wasan unwritten law of the Johnston school, that new boys should be leftin peace for the first day; and accordingly Frank and Bert werepermitted to stand about and watch the others enjoying themselveswithout interruption. No one asked them to join in the games, although,no doubt, had they done so of their own accord, no one would haveobjected. After they had been there a few minutes, Bert heard a softvoice behind him saying:

  "It's horrid to be a new boy, isn't it? When I was a new boy I felt sofrightened. Do you feel frightened?" And turning round he saw beside himthe blue-eyed, fair-haired boy whose pleasant face had attracted hisattention in the school.

  "I don't think I feel just frightened," he answered, with a smile. "ButI can't say I feel very much at home yet."

  "Oh, my! But it will be very much worse to-morrow," said the newacquaintance.

  "And why will it be worse?" inquired Bert, eagerly.

  "Because they'll hoist you," said the other, with a nervous glancearound, as though he feared being overheard.

  "Does it hurt dreadfully to be hoisted?" asked Bert, while Frank drewnear, awaiting the reply with intense interest.

  "Oh, yes; it does hurt dreadfully! But"--with a more cheerful air--"youget over it after a little while, you know."

  "Well, then, I guess I can stand it. If you got over it all right, socan I," spoke up Bert, manfully; then, turning to Frank, "And you can,too, can't you, Shorty?"

  Frank shook his head doubtfully. "I _can_ all right enough, but I don'tknow that I _will_. I've a mind to give them a fight for it, anyhow."

  "Not a bit of use," said the blue-eyed boy, whose name, by the way, ashe presently told the others, was Ernest Linton. "Not a bit of use.They'll only beat you the harder if you fight."

  "We'll see," said Frank, with a determined air. "We'll see when the timecomes."

  Bert and Frank found Ernest a very bright and useful friend, and theyhad so many questions to ask him that they were very sorry when theringing of a bell summoned them back to their seats, where they werekept until three o'clock in the afternoon, when school was over for theday.

  At home that evening Bert recounted his experiences to three veryattentive listeners, and his face grew very grave when he came to tellwhat Ernest had said about the "hoisting." Having never witnessed aperformance of this peculiar rite by which for many years it had beenthe custom of the school to initiate new members, Bert had no very clearideas about it, and, of course, thought it all the more dreadful on thataccount. But his father cheered him a great deal by the view he took ofit.

  "See, now, Bert," said he. "It's just this way. Every boy in Dr.Johnston's school has been hoisted, and none of them, I suppose, are anythe worse for it. Neither will you be. Take my advice and don't resist.Let the boys have it all their own way, and they'll like you all thebetter, and let you off all the easier."

  "Very well, father, I'll do just as you say," responded Bert. "And whenI come home to-morrow afternoon I'll tell you all about it." And feelingin much better spirits than he had been in all day, Bert went off tobed, and to sleep, as only a tired schoolboy in sturdy health cansleep.