“If I can get a school to keep,” was the reply.

“That’s the business I came about.  We want a schoolmaster for the Ledge Hill School.  How would you like to try it?”

“The Ledge Hill School!” repeated James, in some dismay.  “Why, all the boys know me there.”

“Of course they do.  Then they won’t need to be introduced.”

“Will they obey me?  That’s what I was thinking of.  There are some pretty hard cases in that school.”

“That’s where you are right.”

“I wouldn’t like to try it and fail,” said James, doubtfully.

“You won’t if you’ll follow my advice,” said the committee-man.

“What’s that?”

“Thrash the first boy that gives you any trouble.  Don’t half do it; but give him a sound flogging, so that he will understand who’s master.  You’re strong enough; you can do it.”

James extended his muscular arm with a smile.  He knew he was strong.  He was a large boy, and his training had been such as to develop his muscles.

“You know the boys that will go to school.  Is there any one that can master you?” asked his visitor.

“No, I don’t think there is,” answered James, with a smile.

“Then you’ll do.  Let ’em know you are not afraid of them the first day.  That’s the best advice I can give you.”

“I shouldn’t like to get into a fight with a pupil,” said James, slowly.

“You’ll have to run the risk of it unless you teach a girls’ school.  I guess you wouldn’t have any trouble there.”

“Not of that kind, probably.  What wages do you pay?”

“Twelve dollars a month and board.  Of course, you’ll board round.”

Twelve dollars a month would not be considered very high wages now, but to James it was a consideration.  He had earned as much in other ways, but he was quite anxious to try his luck as a teacher.  That might be his future vocation, not teaching a district school, of course, but this would be the first round of the ladder that might lead to a college professorship.  The first step is the most difficult, but it must be taken, and the Ledge Hill School, difficult as it probably would be, was to be the first step for the future President of Hiram College.

All these considerations James rapidly revolved in his mind, and then he came to a decision.

“When does the school commence?” he asked.

“Next Monday.”

“I accept your offer.  I’ll be on hand in time.”

* * * * *

The news quickly reached the Ledge Hill district that “Jim Garfield,” as he was popularly called, was to be their next teacher.

“Have you heard about the new master?” asked Tom Bassett, one of the hard cases, of a friend.

“No.  Who is it?”

“Jim Garfield.”

The other whistled.

“You don’t mean it?”

“Yes, I do.”

“How did you hear?”