Oscar, although not the most prompt and punctual of scholars, used occasionally to go to school in season to have a little fun with his mates, before the exercises commenced.  One day, entering the school-room a little before the time, he put on an old coat which his teacher wore in-doors, stuck a quill behind his ear, and made a pair of spectacles from some pasteboard, which he perched upon his nose.  Arranged, in this fantastical manner, he seated himself with great dignity in the teacher’s chair, and began to “play school-master,” to the amusement of several other boys.  It so happened that the teacher arrived earlier than usual that day, and he was not a little amused, as he suddenly entered the room, and witnessed the farce that was going on.  Oscar jumped from his seat, but the master made him take it again, and remain in it just as he caught him, with his great-coat, pasteboard spectacles and quill, until all the scholars had assembled, and it was time to commence the studies of the day.  This afforded fine sport to the other boys, but Oscar did not much relish the fun, and he never attempted to amuse himself in that way again.

[Illustration:  Playing Schoolmaster]

I am sorry that this harmless piece of roguery is not the most serious charge that candor obliges me to bring against Oscar.  But to tell the truth, he was not noted either for his studious habits or his correct deportment; and there was very little prospect that he would be considered a candidate for the “Franklin medals,” which were to be distributed to the most deserving members of his class, when they graduated, the ensuing July.  And yet Oscar was naturally a bright and intelligent boy.  He was quick to learn, when he applied himself; but he was indolent, and did not like to take the trouble of studying his lessons.  Whenever he could be made to take hold of a lesson in earnest, he soon mastered it; but the consciousness of this power often led him to put off his lessons to the last minute, and then perhaps something would happen to prevent his preparing himself at all.

A day or two after the “kitchen scene” described in the preceding chapter, Oscar was sitting at his desk in the school-room, with an open book before him, but with his eyes idly staring at a blackboard affixed to one of the walls.  The teacher watched him a moment, and then spoke to him.

“Oscar,” he said, “what do you find so very fascinating about that blackboard?  You have been looking at it very intently for several minutes—­what do you see that interests you so!”

Oscar hung his head, but made no reply.

“Are you ready to recite your geography lesson?” continued the master.

“No, sir.”

“Why do you not study it, then’”

“I don’t feel like studying,” replied Oscar.

“Very well,” said the teacher, quite pleasantly; “if you don’t feel like it, you need n’t study.  You may come here.”