Page:The Cottagers of Glenburnie - Hamilton (1808).djvu/371

 who had attended, said, "Well, madam, now the hurly-burly's done, we may, without fear of interruption, enter on the business of poor Morison, whom I from my heart wish to serve. I have thought of a plan for him; which, if he has no objections to it, will keep him above want. What would you think of his becoming schoolmaster?" "I should think well of it," replied Mrs Mason, "if nothing more were to be required of him than teaching writing, arithmetic, and reading English."

"Nothing more shall be required of him," replied Mr Gourlay. "We have suffered enough from the pedantry of a blockhead, who piqued himself upon hic, hæc, hoc, and who, though he has no more pretensions to being a scholar than my horse, is as proud as he is stupid. Until he came into the office, the school of Glenburnie had always maintained a respectable character; and the instruction which our youth received at it, was, so far as it went, solid and useful. But in