You need a rest after the grind of examinations before settling down to business . And mind you do n't get into any mischief , young sir . '' `` Not much likelihood of that in a place like Lindsay , I fancy , '' laughed Eric . `` Probably the devil finds as much mischief for idle hands in Lindsay as anywhere else . The worst tragedy I ever heard of happened on a backwoods farm , fifteen miles from a railroad and five from a store . However , I expect your mother 's son to behave himself in the fear of God and man . In all likelihood the worst thing that will happen to you over there will be that some misguided woman will put you to sleep in a spare room bed . And if that does happen may the Lord have mercy on your soul ! '' CHAPTER III . THE MASTER OF LINDSAY SCHOOL One evening , a month later , Eric Marshall came out of the old , white-washed schoolhouse at Lindsay , and locked the door -- which was carved over with initials innumerable , and built of double plank in order that it might withstand all the assaults and batteries to which it might be subjected . Eric 's pupils had gone home an hour before , but he had stayed to solve some algebra problems , and correct some Latin exercises for his advanced students . The sun was slanting in warm yellow lines through the thick grove of maples to the west of the building , and the dim green air beneath them burst into golden bloom . A couple of sheep were nibbling the lush grass in a far corner of the play-ground ; a cow-bell , somewhere in the maple woods , tinkled faintly and musically , on the still crystal air , which , in spite of its blandness , still retained a touch of the wholesome austerity and poignancy of a Canadian spring . The whole world seemed to have fallen , for the time being , into a pleasant untroubled dream . The scene was very peaceful and pastoral -- almost too much so , the young man thought , with a shrug of his shoulders , as he stood in the worn steps and gazed about him . How was he going to put in a whole month here , he wondered , with a little smile at his own expense . `` Father would chuckle if he knew I was sick of it already , '' he thought , as he walked across the play-ground to the long red road that ran past the school . `` Well , one week is ended , at any rate . I 've earned my own living for five whole days , and that is something I could never say before in all my twenty-four years of existence . It is an exhilarating thought .
But teaching the XXXXX district school is distinctly NOT exhilarating -- at least in such a well-behaved school as this , where the pupils are so painfully good that I have n't even the traditional excitement of thrashing obstreperous bad boys .
Canadian Eric Father Lindsay Marshall cow-bell days hour week years