Mother was prevented from answering by the appearance of the said Mr. John Morgeson, who darkened the threshold of the kitchen door, but advanced no further.  I looked at him with curiosity; if he were mad, he might be interesting.  He was a large, portly man, over sixty, with splendid black hair slightly grizzled, a prominent nose, and fair complexion.  I did not like him, and determined not to speak to him.

“Say good-morning, Cassandra,” said mother, in a low voice.

“No,” I answered loudly, “I am not fond of my grandfather.”

Mrs. Saunders mopped her face again, grinning with delight behind her handkerchief.

“Debby, my wife, wants you, Mis Saunders, after you have made Mary’s soap,” he said.

“Surely,” she answered.

“Where is the black horse to-day?” he asked mother.

“Locke has gone to Milford with him.”

“I wanted the black horse to-day,” he said, turning away.

“He’s a mighty grand man, he is,” commented Mrs. Saunders.  “I am pesky glad, Mis Morgeson, that you have never put foot in his house.  I ’plaud your sperit!”

“School-time, Cassy,” said mother.  “Will you have some gingerbread to carry?  Tell me when you come home what you have read in the New Testament.”

“My boy does read beautiful,” said Mrs. Saunders.  “Where’s the potash, Mis Morgeson?”

I heard the bell toll as I loitered along the roadside, pulling a dandelion here and there, for it was in the month of May, and throwing it in the rut for the next wheel to crush.  When I reached the schoolhouse I saw through the open door that the New Testament exercise was over.  The teacher, Mrs. Desire Cushman, a tall, slender woman, in a flounced calico dress, was walking up and down the room; a class of boys and girls stood in a zigzag line before her, swaying to and fro, and drawling the multiplication table.  She was yawning as I entered, which exercise forbade her speaking, and I took my seat without a reprimand.  The flies were just coming; I watched their sticky legs as they feebly crawled over my old unpainted notched desk, and crumbled my gingerbread for them; but they seemed to have no appetite.  Some of the younger children were drowsy already, lulled by the hum of the whisperers.  Feeling very dull, I asked permission to go to the water-pail for a drink; let the tin cup fall into the water so that the floor might be splashed; made faces at the good scholars, and did what I could to make the time pass agreeably.  At noon mother sent my dinner, with the request that I should stay till night, on account of my being in the way while the household was in the crisis of soap-making and whitewashing.  I was exasperated, but I stayed.  In the afternoon the minister came with two strangers to visit the school.  I went through my lessons with dignified inaccuracy, and was commended.  Going back, I happened to step on a loose board under my seat.  I determined to punish Mrs. Desire for