Dab Kinzer - A Story of a Growing Boy by William O. Stoddard
page 263 of 302 (87%)
page 263 of 302 (87%)
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most northerly row of trees.
As to the "great room" itself, there had been much trouble about the name of it. Dr. Brandegee called it "the lecture-room," and he did a great deal towards making it so. There were those who tried to say "chapel" when they spoke of it; but so many others refused to know what place they were speaking of, that they had to give it up. "Hall" would not fit, because it was square; and the boys generally rejected the doctor's name because of unpleasant-ideas connected with the word "lecture." So it came to be "the great room," and no more; and a great thing it was for Dick Lee to find himself sitting on one of the front seats of it, with his friends all in line at his right, waiting their turn with him to be "classified," and sent about their business. Dr. Brandegee made wonderfully rapid work of it; and his several assistants seemed to know exactly what to do. "The fact is," said Ford, the first chance he had to speak to Dab, "I've been studying that man. He's taught school before." "Guess he knows how, too. And I ain't afraid about Dick Lee, now I've seen the rest. He can go right ahead of some of them." "They'll bounce him if he does. Tell you what, Dab, if you and I want to be popular here, we'd better wear our old clothes every day but Sunday." "And miss about half the questions that come to us. Dick won't be sharp enough for that." "He says he's going to write a letter home tonight. Made him turn pale |
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