AN EPISODE OF THE BACK WOODS.

Wairoa Bell, Volume IV, Issue 158, 12 August 1892, Page 8

AN EPISODE OF THE BACK WOODS.

Our’s is a half-time school. Owing to certain circumstances, which it is needless to dwell upon, our school had been closed for about six or eight months and the youngsters were fast forgetting the little they had learned. Great was the joy of the parents therefore, and still greater the grief of their progeny, when information was received by the Chairman of oar School Committee that the school would be reopened after the Michaelmas holidays, in other words, about three months. The Chairman and I were requested to do the amiable and introduce the new master on his first appearance in order to make things a bit smooth for all parties. (>n the day appointed some eighteen or twenty anxious-looking juveniles put in an appearance, doubtless much agaiust their will, and presently the new master was seen riding towards us. I may mention incidently that to do honour to the occasion both the Chairman and myself had exchanged our faiaroas for tweeds and were decked out in all other respects more befitting a church Sunday than a Thursday. Mr y , the new master, was a tall man, very tall, but he would have topped Chang, the Chinese giant, had not nature turned up about a yard of his legs to make feet. After the usual salutations we all adjourned into the school, where, notwithstanding the confusion at first, we managed to arrange things pretty well ship-shape, and got together a class of the elder children for Mr T to put through their facings. Picking up the first book lie placed his hand on and carelessly opening it, Mr S— came on the name of Oliver Cromwell.

4 What can you tell me of Oliver Cromwell ? ’ to the first youth. 4 He’s dead, sir,’ 4 Quite right ; anything more ? ’ 4 He was brown with black points, sir.’

Mr S ; meditatively, 4 Yes, I believe he was a dark man with some very black points in his character. Do you know anything further about him P ’ 4 No, sir, ’cept father’s got a draught colt by him.’ A look of bewilderment spread over our master’s countenance, so I explained to him that the boy was thinking that he was enquiring about a draught stallion that was at one time a local celebrity,

Hastily turning over the leaves his. eye caught the name of the Duke of Wellington, and be asked the second youth in the class what he knew nbout him. Without any hesitation he answered, 4 He took first prize at the last show, and was second for the champion.’ 4 Merciful goodness ! boy, what are you talking about ? Don't you know that he has been dead these years ?’

4 Why he’s alive now and sister milks his mother every day.’ I was once again obliged to explain, adding that after the long spell of holidays it was only natural that the boy’s minds should be running on what they ,vere daily accustomed to. After a pause and with some trepidation he turned to a sharplooking youngster and enquired, 4 Do you know anything of Victoria ?’

With a brightened glance as if to sav, 4 I’m all there,’ the boy blurted out, 4 She was a bay filly as belonged to the Stud Company.’ The Chairman and I were now both helpless, I could see a clammy porspiiation breaking out over poor Mr S— ’s face, his stick-up collar too was visibly getting limp, he turned an agonised look at both of us, but seeing that no help was to be expected trum us lie p M u ■' & couple of minutes in order to pull himself together, and then in an almost inaudible whisper lie asked whether any boy could tell who Solomon was ? _ j knew what was coining so shaped (or the door, but before I fairly got. outside I heard the answer 4 Why that’s our pet ram.’