MEMORIES OF THE 



I will not stop to follow the different grades through which I 

 went. The classes were something like this: English reader 

 class, which only admitted the best readers and elocutionists; 

 first reader, second reader and third reader; the spelling-book 

 with its a-b, abs, and short sentences for the little ones. Then 

 there were first, second and third classes in geography, spelling, 

 arithmetic and grammar. The ambition and rivalry to get from 

 a lower to a higher class was active. Each pupil who was large 

 enough had his writing-book in which the teacher set copies. 



The terms were short — about thirteen weeks, I think — and 

 most of the scholars, in the winter schools at least, realized the 

 importance of thorough application. Spelling and evening 

 grammar schools were common, and both branches were taught 

 in that district more thoroughly and satisfactorily than I have 

 ever seen in any other school of whatever name or degree. 



Mr. William Barton lived in the district and was for a long 

 time the town superintendent; he also taught the school several 

 winters. His health was not good and he was not a strong 

 man, but as a country school-teacher there were few like him. 

 Where he got it no one knew, as his education was only that of 

 the common school and the old academy, but he was one of the 

 best grammarians and teachers of grammar, spelling, elocution 

 and rhetoric in the county of Jefferson. It seemed to come 

 natural to him, although country born and bred. He was also 

 a first-class teacher of arithmetic, geography, astronomy, natural 

 philosophy and algebra. As a teacher he was the very reverse 

 of Henry Hull, and the only criticism made upon him w^as that 

 *'he did not have good government." He seldom, if ever, 

 whipped, and when he did, hurt no one — a kind, good-hearted 

 gentleman, who always did right and expected others to do 

 the same. Under his tutelage those scholars who desired to 



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