licately fair as any lady's;
his flaxen hair was parted at the left side and brushed away from his
big forehead; his coarse linen was as white as snow, and his coarser
homespun blue cloth jacket and trousers were spotless; his shoes were
also clean.

Altogether, Nora's son was a pleasing lad to look upon as he stood
smilingly but modestly, hat in hand, at the schoolroom door, to which he
had been brought by Jovial.

The pupils were all assembled--the boys gathered around their tutor, on
the right; the girls hovering about their governess on the left.

Mr. and Mrs. Middleton were both present, sitting near a pleasant window
that the mild spring morning had invited them to open. They were both
expecting Ishmael, and both arose to meet him.

Mrs. Middleton silently shook his hand.

Mr. Middleton presented him to the school, saying:

"Young gentlemen, this is your new companion, Master Ishmael Worth, as
worthy a youth as it has ever been my pleasure to know. I hope you will
all make him welcome among you."

There was an instant and mysterious putting together of heads and
buzzing of voices among the pupils.

"Walter, come here," said Mr. Middleton.

A youth of about fifteen years of age arose and approached.

"Ishmael, this is my eldest son, Walter. I hope you two may be good
friends. Walter, take Ishmael to a seat beside you; and when the
recreation hour comes, make him well acquainted with your companions.
Mind, Walter, I commit him to your charge."

Walter Middleton smiled, shook hands with Ishmael, and led him away to
share his own double desk.

Mr. Middleton then called the school to order and opened the exercises
with the reading of the Scripture and prayer.

This over, he came to Ishmael and laid an elementary geography before
him, with the first lesson marked out on it, saying:

"There, my lad; commit this to memory as soon as you can, and then take
your book up for recitation to Mr. Green. He will hear you singly for
some time until you overtake the first class, which I am sure you will
do very soon; it will depend upon yourself how soon."

And with these kind words Mr. Middleton left the room.

How happy was Ishmael! The schoolroom seemed an elysium! It is true that
this was no ordinary schoolroom; but one of the pleasantest places of
the kind to be imagined; and very different from the small, dark, poor
hut. Ishmael was delighted with its snow-white walls, its polished oak
floor, its clear ope