However , I understand that there are some pupils who have n't shown up yet , and who , according to all reports , have not yet had the old Adam totally drilled out of them . They may make things more interesting . Also a few more compositions , such as John Reid 's , would furnish some spice to professional life . '' Eric 's laughter wakened the echoes as he swung into the road down the long sloping hill . He had given his fourth grade pupils their own choice of subjects in the composition class that morning , and John Reid , a sober , matter-of-fact little urchin , with not the slightest embryonic development of a sense of humour , had , acting upon the whispered suggestion of a roguish desk-mate , elected to write upon `` Courting . '' His opening sentence made Eric 's face twitch mutinously whenever he recalled it during the day . `` Courting is a very pleasant thing which a great many people go too far with . '' The distant hills and wooded uplands were tremulous and aerial in delicate spring-time gauzes of pearl and purple . The young , green-leafed maples crowded thickly to the very edge of the road on either side , but beyond them were emerald fields basking in sunshine , over which cloud shadows rolled , broadened , and vanished . Far below the fields a calm ocean slept bluely , and sighed in its sleep , with the murmur that rings for ever in the ear of those whose good fortune it is to have been born within the sound of it . Now and then Eric met some callow , check-shirted , bare-legged lad on horseback , or a shrewd-faced farmer in a cart , who nodded and called out cheerily , `` Howdy , Master ? '' A young girl , with a rosy , oval face , dimpled cheeks , and pretty dark eyes filled with shy coquetry , passed him , looking as if she would not be at all averse to a better acquaintance with the new teacher . Half way down the hill Eric met a shambling , old gray horse drawing an express wagon which had seen better days . The driver was a woman : she appeared to be one of those drab-tinted individuals who can never have felt a rosy emotion in all their lives . She stopped her horse , and beckoned Eric over to her with the knobby handle of a faded and bony umbrella . `` Reckon you 're the new Master , ai n't you ? '' she asked . Eric admitted that he was . `` Well , I 'm glad to see you , '' she said , offering him a hand in a much darned cotton glove that had once been black . `` I was right sorry to see Mr. West go , for he was a right good teacher , and as harmless , inoffensive a creetur as ever lived .
But I always told him every time I laid eyes XXXXX him that he was in consumption , if ever a man was .
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