V. A Full-fledged Schoolma’am

           WhenAnnereachedtheschoolthatmorning...forthefirsttimeinherlifeshehadtraversedtheBirchPathdeafandblindtoitsbeauties...allwasquietandstill.Theprecedingteacherhadtrainedthechildrentobeintheirplacesatherarrival,andwhenAnneenteredtheschoolroomshewasconfrontedbyprimrowsof“shiningmorningfaces”andbright,inquisitiveeyes.Shehungupherhatandfacedherpupils,hopingthatshedidnotlookasfrightenedandfoolishasshefeltandthattheywouldnotperceivehowshewastrembling.

           Shehadsatupuntilnearlytwelvetheprecedingnightcomposingaspeechshemeanttomaketoherpupilsuponopeningtheschool.Shehadrevisedandimproveditpainstakingly,andthenshehadlearneditoffbyheart.Itwasaverygoodspeechandhadsomeveryfineideasinit,especiallyaboutmutualhelpandearneststrivingafterknowledge.Theonlytroublewasthatshecouldnotnowrememberawordofit.

           Afterwhatseemedtoherayear...abouttensecondsinreality...shesaidfaintly,“TakeyourTestaments,please,”andsankbreathlesslyintoherchairundercoveroftherustleandclatterofdesklidsthatfollowed.WhilethechildrenreadtheirversesAnnemarshalledhershakywitsintoorderandlookedoverthearrayoflittlepilgrimstotheGrownupLand.

           Mostofthemwere,ofcourse,quitewellknowntoher.Herownclassmateshadpassedoutintheprecedingyearbuttheresthadallgonetoschoolwithher,exceptingtheprimerclassandtennewcomerstoAvonlea.