Page:Tea, a poem.pdf/18

18 of the neighbourhood, with all his worldly effects tied up in a cotton handkerchief. That all this might not be too onerous on the purses of his rustic patrons, who are apt to consider the costs of schooling a grevious burden, and shoolmasters as mere drones, he had various ways of rendering himself both useful and agreeable. He assisted the farmers occasionally in the lighter labours of their farms; helped to make hay; mended the fences; took the horses to water; drove the cows from pasture; and cut wood for the winter fire. He laid asside too all the dominant dignity and absolute sway with which he lorded it in his little empire, the school, and became wonderful gentile and ingratiating. He found favour in the eyes of the mothers, by petting the children, particuarly the youngest; and like the lion bold, which whilom so magnimously the lamb did hold, he would sit with a child on one knee, and rock a cradle for whole hours together.

In addition to his other vocations, he was the siniging master of the neighbourhood, and picked up many bright shillings by instrusting the young folks in psalmody. It was a matter of no little vanity to him on Sundays, to take his station in front of