It was not that the boys worked fewer hours than before, but that
they worked more intelligently, and therefore more pleasantly to
themselves. The boys--and there were some--who imagined that
under this new method of teaching they could be idle, very soon
found out their mistake, and discovered that in his way Mr. Porson
was just as strict as his predecessor. He never lost his temper; but
his cold displeasure was harder to bear than Mr. Hathorn's wrath;
nor were punishments wanting. Although the cane was idle, those
who would not work were kept in the schoolroom during play hours;
and in cases where this was found to be ineffectual Mr. Porson
coldly said:
"Your parents pay me to teach you, and if you do not choose to be
taught I have only to write home to them and request them to take
you away. If you are one of those boys who will only learn from
fear of the cane you had better go to some school where the cane
is used."
This threat, which would have been ineffective in Mr. Hathorn's time
never failed to have an effect now; for even Mather, the idlest
and worst boy there, was able to appreciate the difference between
the present regime and the last. In a marvelously short time Mr.
Porson seemed to have gauged the abilities of each of the boys, and
while he expected much from those who were able' to master easily
their tasks, he was content with less from the duller intellects,
providing they had done their best.
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