Twice a Hero by Martha Hines Templeton

Author:Martha Hines Templeton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Juvenile Fiction
Publisher: Elm Hill
Published: 2019-07-30T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

The One Room Schoolhouse

School time came all too soon for Ben. The boys went to school in the one room schoolhouse at Rushing Springs. Three miles was a long way to walk, so the boys rode their horse, Prince. They tied him to a tree, where he could eat grass while they were in school.

Miss Alley rang the big bell outside to let them know it was time for classes to start.

The big news of the summer was about Ben saving Becky from drowning in Rushing Springs. All the boys and girls gathered around Ben. “Ben’s a real hero!” they all chanted. Ben grinned shyly, but he secretly liked being the one who got the attention this time, and not Ray.

There were rows of double desks, and Ben and Ray shared a desk and books. Miss Alley was the only teacher, with eight grades to teach. “This year we will study the grades two, four, six, and eight lessons,” she told the students. “Next year it will be grades one, three, five, and seven.”

The older students often helped the younger ones when Miss Alley was busy with another class. Ben always seemed to be ahead, because he remembered hearing the lessons before.

The desks had little glass inkwells, filled with ink. Each student had a pen to dip in the ink to write with. Lizzie sat in the desk in front of Ben. She had long brown braids. Ben was busy doing his math when he noticed Lizzie’s braids hanging down by the inkwell. He reached over and dipped the tip of one braid into the inkwell, then started snickering. Lizzie whirled around and saw the ink on her hair. She glared at Ben. “Just wait until recess; I’ll get even with you!”

“Ben Walker, come to my desk!” said Miss Alley sternly. She got out her paddle and gave Ben three sharp whacks to his backside, and Lizzie gave Ben a look of satisfaction.

Everyone liked Friday afternoons because they had a spelling bee, or a ciphering match. Ben liked the ciphering matches best because he was very good at math, and nearly always won.

The days passed quickly. In October a new girl, Hannah, came to school. Hannah had long blond hair, put up in two braids, and brown snappy eyes.

“I like Ben’s dimples and sparkly eyes when he laughs,” Hannah whispered to Lizzie.

Ben wasn’t much interested in girls, but he did admit that Hannah was the prettiest girl in school.

“Will you help me with my math?” Hannah asked Ben. She was really pretty good at math, too, but this got Ben’s attention. As time went by, they became good friends.

Miss Alley and the students were getting ready for the big fall event, the ‘Box Supper.’ They decorated the room and took invitations home. Everyone in the community came.

The women and girls each brought a basket with enough food for two people. It was usually fried chicken, potato salad, slaw, and some kind of pie.

The men and boys bid on each box or basket, as Mr.

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