to shut his eyes and go to sleep. And
was this a time to be poring over musty books in a dark room, slighted by
the very sun itself? Monstrous!

The lessons over, writing time began. This was a more quiet time; for the
master would come and look over the writer's shoulder, and mildly tell him
to observe how such a letter was turned up, in such a copy on the wall,
which had been written by their sick companion, and bid him take it as a
model. Then he would stop and tell them what the sick child had said last
night, and how he had longed to be among them once again; and such was the
poor schoolmaster's gentle and affectionate manner, that the boys seemed
quite remorseful that they had worried him so much, and were absolutely
quiet; eating no apples, cutting no names, and making no grimaces for full
two minutes afterward.

"I think, boys," said the schoolmaster, when the clock struck twelve,
"that I shall give you an extra half holiday this afternoon." At this
intelligence, the boys, led on and headed by the tall boy, raised a great
shout, in the midst of which the master was seen to speak, but could not
be heard. As he held up his hand, however, in token of his wish that they
should be silent, they were considerate enough to leave off, as soon as the
longest-winded among them were quite out of breath. "You must promise
me, first," said the schoolmaster, "that you'll not be noisy, or at least,
if you are, that you'll go away first, out of the village, I mean. I'm
sure you would n't disturb your old playmate and companion."

There was a general murmur (and perhaps a very sincere one, for they were
but boys) in the negative; and the tall boy, perhaps as sincerely as any
of them, called those about him to witness, that he had only shouted in a
whisper. "Then pray do n't forget, there's my dear scholars," said the
schoolmaster, "what I have asked you, and do it as a favor to me. Be as
happy as you can, and do n't be unmindful that you are blessed with
health. Good-by, all."

"Thank 'ee, sir," and "Good-by, sir," were said a great many times in a
great variety of voices, and the boys went out very slowly and softly. But
there was the sun shining and there were birds singing, as the sun only
shines and the birds only sing on holidays and half holidays; there were
the trees waving to all free boys to climb, and nestle among their leafy
branches; the hay, entreating them to come and scatter it to the pure air;
the green corn, g