A Season of Harvest by Lauraine Snelling

Author:Lauraine Snelling
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Fiction;Christian fiction;Novels;FIC042030;FIC014000;FIC027360
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2023-11-17T00:00:00+00:00

17

Sam glanced at the schoolroom clock and, as if on cue, his heart started thumping again. Would it do that at eight o’clock in the morning every day for the foreseeable future, even on Sundays?

Shaking his head at himself, Sam grabbed the brass bell off his desk and strode to the schoolhouse door. In the doorway, however, he gripped the bell without ringing it, scanning the schoolyard of students. Most didn’t see him standing there, their games of ball and crack-the-whip continuing unabated.

Sam sucked a lungful of air. Help me, Lord. “Students! Time for class.”

Only a few stopped and looked up. Robbie Brownsville ran over to the steps.

“Aren’t you going to ring the bell, Mr. Gubberud?”

He’d hoped to speak with the students first, but it seemed that wasn’t working. “I suppose so. But we aren’t going to go into the classroom just yet.” He gave the bell a firm clang.

That did it. The children abandoned their games and charged toward the steps.

Tucking the bell under the stub of his missing arm, Sam held up his one hand firmly. The students skidded to a halt, glancing among themselves and up at their teacher.

“Before we go in, I’d like to establish a few rules. Or did Miss Linden and Miss Nielsen let you stampede inside like a herd of cattle?”

Heads dropped, feet scuffed.

“I thought not. And it is my mistake for allowing it yesterday, but we will mend matters now. When I ring the bell, you will line up at the steps single file, younger ones in the front, older in the back. I will wait till everyone is quiet and then, only then, will we march inside in a proper manner. I don’t want any shouting, pushing, or trampling when entering my classroom. Is that clear?”

He looked out over the crowd of nodding heads and sobered faces.

Good. Sam drew a breath and allowed a smile. “Let’s try this, then. You may line up now.” He retrieved the bell from under his arm and rang it once more.

With comparatively little shoving and scuffling, the students formed a line.

Sam scanned it and nodded. “Well done. Now you may enter. Ah-ah!” The older ones in the back surged forward, threatening to topple the little ones. “Slowly. Keep an eye on those in front of you and keep pace with them. Soldiers marching into battle must do the same thing.” As he well knew.

The children filed in, not without whispers and giggles, but Sam let that pass. Once everyone sat in their seats, eyes more or less on him, he strode to the front of the schoolroom and smiled out over the students.

“Thank you. That was much better. Now, shall we open our day with prayer?” Another thing he’d failed to incorporate yesterday—no wonder he’d had a rather abysmal start.

The rows of students bowed their heads, and Sam followed.

“Heavenly Father, thank you that we can gather together to learn in this school today. Thank you for each student here, and for the privilege of teaching them.

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