tap, and set it
down.

"That, sir, is to designate attention!" He waved a triumphant hand
toward the spectacle before them.

"Perfect!" murmured the stranger. A look of earnest ecstasy broke out
upon the master's face. He turned at first upon the audience and then
upon the school.

"Chil'run, _chil'run_, he p'onounce you perfect!" He turned again upon
the visitor, threw high his right hand, flirted it violently, and
cried:--

"At random! exclusively at random; state what class! at random!"

"I--I doubt if I under"--

"Name any class, exclusively at random, and you shall see with what
promptness and quietude the chil'run shall take each one their exactly
co'ect places."

"Oh, I understand. You want me to designate"--

"Any class! at yo' caprice."

"Well, if you have--third class in geography."

"Or spelling?" cried Bonaventure, a momentary look of dismay giving
place to fresh enthusiasm.

"Yes--spell--I meant spelling."

"Third spelling!" The tongue of the bell fell with the emphasis, and
as silently as sleep the tiniest seven in the school, four pairs of
pantaloons, three of pantalettes, with seven of little bare feet at
their borders and seven of hands pointed down stiffly at their sides,
came out and stood a-row. The master turned to the visitor.

"Now, commencing wherever, even at the foot if desired! ask, sir, if
you please, any English word of one syllable, of however difficult!"

"No matter how difficult?"

"Well, they are timid, as you see; advance by degrees."

"Very well, then," said the visitor with much kindness of tone; "I
will ask the little boy at this end"--

"At the foot--but--still, 'tis well. Only--ah, Crebiche! every thing
depend! Be prepared, Crebiche!"

"Yes," said the stranger; "I will ask him to spell hoss."

The child drew himself up rigidly, pointed his stiffened fingers down
his thighs, rounded his pretty red mouth, and said slowly, in a low,
melodious, distinct voice:--

"'O-double eth, awth."

Bonaventure leapt from the platform and ran to the child.

"_Ah! mon p'tit garcon_--ah! my lil boy! 'O-double eth, listten, my
chile. O, sir, he did not hear the word precisely. Listten, my chile,
to yo' teacher! remember that his honor and the school's honor is in
yo' spelling!" He drew back a step, poised himself, and gave the word.
It came like an anchor-chain crashing through a hawse-hole.

"Or-r-r-r-rus-seh!" And the child, winking at vacancy in the intensity
of his