h as Mr.
Haley built up here."

There were plenty of other people in Polktown who spoke almost as
emphatically against the present state of the school and in Nelson's
favor. Three months or so of bad management had told greatly in the
discipline and in the work of the pupils.

A few who would graduate from the upper grade were badly prepared, and
would have to make up some of their missed studies during the Summer if
they were to be accepted as pupils in their proper grade at the
Middletown Academy.

Mr. Haley's record up to the very day he had withdrawn from his
position of teacher was as good as any teacher in the State. Indeed,
several teachers from surrounding districts had met with him in
Polktown once a month and had taken work and instructions from him.
The State Board of Education and the supervisors had appreciated
Nelson's work. Mr. Adams had been the only substitute they could give
Polktown at such short notice. He was supposed to have had the same
training, as Mr. Haley; but--"different men, different minds."

"Ye'd oughter come over to our graduation exercises, Janice," said
Marty, with a grin. "We're goin' to do ourselves proud. Hi tunket!
that Adams is so green that I wonder Walky's old Josephus ain't bit him
yet, thinkin' he was a wisp of grass."

"Now Marty!" said his mother, admonishingly.

"Fact," said her son. "Adams wants me to speak a piece on that great
day. I told him I couldn't--m' lip's cracked!" and Marty giggled.
"But Sally Prentiss is going to recite 'A Psalm of Life,' and Peke
Ringgold is going to tell us all about 'Bozzar--Bozzar--is'--as though
we hadn't been made acquainted with him ever since Hector was a pup.
And Hector's a big dog now!"

"You're one smart young feller, now, ain't ye?" said his father, for
this information was given out by Marty at the supper table one evening
just before the "great day," as he called the last session of school
for that year.

"I b'lieve I'm smart enough to know when to go in and keep dry,"
returned his son, flippantly. "But I've my doubts about Mr. Adams--for
a fac'."

"Nev' mind," grunted his father. "There'll be a change before next
Fall."

"There'd better be--or I don't go back for my last year at school.
Now, you can bet on that!" cried Marty, belligerently. "Hi tunket!
I'd jest as soon be taught by an old maid after all as Adams."

Differently expressed, the whole town seemed of a mind regarding the
school and the failu