Schools of the Three ''R's'' 205 



A CLASS INCIDENT 



John Greenleaf Wliittier, the Quaker poet, who 

 has left behind many exquisitely beautiful poems, 

 never penned anything more sweetly pathetic than 

 his verses descriptive of a class incident, com- 

 memorative of his own schoolboy days. I quote 

 the poem in part: 



"Long years ago a winter sun 

 Shone over it at setting; 

 Lit up its western window panes 

 And low eaves' icy fretting. 



* **It touched the tangled golden curls, 



And brown eyes full of grieving 

 Of one who still her steps delayed 

 When all the school were leaving. 



*'For near her stood the little boy 

 Her childish favour singled; 

 His cap pulled low upon a face 

 Where pride and shame were mingled. 



* 'Pushing with restless feet the snow 

 To right and left he lingered, 

 As restlessly her tiny hands 

 The blue-checked apron fingered. 



**He saw her lift her eyes ; he felt 

 The soft hand's light caressing, 

 And heard the tremble of a voice 

 As if a fault confessing. 



*' 'I'm sorry that I spelt the word; 

 I hate to go above you, 



