The Young Rebels by Morgan Llywelyn

Author:Morgan Llywelyn [Morgan Llywelyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781847173874
Publisher: The O'Brien Press
Published: 2012-08-29T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

SUMMER 1915

The Ardmháistir showed me the letter he wrote to my father. It said in part, ‘Your son is an exceptional young man. He is intelligent, honest, and has a fine character. You must be proud of him.

‘We at St Enda’s are proud of him too. That is why we should like to offer him a place here at the school during the summer. Our staff is much reduced during the holiday months and John Joe would be a welcome addition. My mother tells me he has been a great help to her in the past, and I am eager to make things as easy as possible for her now.

‘If you will give your permission for your son to stay here we shall be most grateful. We are not in a position to offer him a regular salary, but shall pay him in kind. He will receive additional tutoring to enhance his education and prepare him to take a foremost place in a free society.

‘As you must appreciate, since you entrusted the boy to us, we disagree with an educational system which prepares young people to be manageable slaves. The students of St Enda’s are taught those noble and goodly things that will make them strong and proud and valiant. I believe John Joe will be an outstanding example of the success of our methods, and a great credit to you.’

I looked up from the letter in amazement. ‘I don’t see how my father can argue with that,’ I told Mr Pearse. ‘Yet everything you said is true.’

‘Of course it is, John Joe. Except, perhaps, that part about your father being proud of you. But he should be, which is the point.’

How I would love to be a fly on the wall when my father read the letter. I shall never know what he said or how he felt – but by return of post he gave his permission.

If only I knew how to use words as well as Mr Pearse does. At least I have the whole summer to learn!

The St Enda’s Fianna company will continue to drill here through the summer, so I shall be seeing my classmates on a regular basis. In addition, the Fianna girls will come out here to practice being auxiliaries.

Knowing Madame, I wonder she doesn’t give them all guns and teach them how to shoot. Perhaps she will.

This summer I’ll be able to tend my vegetable plot right through the season, instead of leaving it up to Michael MacRory. Each of us boys is responsible for his own little bit of soil and we get to choose what we want to grow. Last year I raised a crop of runner beans, the only vegetable I really like aside from potatoes. But I planted too many and we had to eat them almost every day.

I’m not as fond of runner beans any more.

This year I’m growing Brussels sprouts. I’m not sure why, unless it’s because I don’t like them very much. Maybe if I get to know them better I will.

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