My Neighbor's Wood-Shed 207 



ing of all that he said, from week to week, 

 beyond his broken promises. The school 

 committee were not quite fools, but how 

 silly they felt when the truth dawned upon 

 them that this wordy teacher was a rank 

 fraud. For such things to flourish, even in 

 town, is not uncommon. Glare and tinsel 

 catch the gaping crowd, but not forever. 

 Gilt will not bear the handling of pure gold. 

 There is a flush of common sense that illu- 

 mines the intelleftual night of the masses, as 

 the aurora drives the blackness of darkness 

 from the northern sky. Unfortunately, it is 

 so short-lived a light. This school-master 

 had his little day, but could not remain on 

 his petty throne for all time, as he wished. 

 He had little intrinsic value, and the fiat of 

 the committee could not keep him at parity 

 with truth. When the change came there 

 was a general sigh of relief, but no one spoke : 

 all felt how they had helped to hold up the 

 hands of the humbug. How very seldom 

 are we really brave. How well are we 

 aware that one of the unexplained yet very 

 common human phenomena is conceit of so 

 rank a type as to be a perpetual stench in the 

 nostrils of decency, and yet it is long tol- 



