But every one said he was stupid and
dull, and this stupidity and dullness grew upon him. He would sit
without speaking a word, sometimes, for hours; then my father would bid
him rise and do some piece of work, maybe, about the farm. And he would
take three or four tellings before he would go. When we were sent to
school, it was all the same. He could never be made to remember his
lessons; the school-master grew weary of scolding and flogging, and at
last advised my father just to take him away, and set him to some farm-
work that might not be above his comprehension. I think he was more
gloomy and stupid than ever after this, yet he was not a cross lad; he
was patient and good-natured, and would try to do a kind turn for any
one, even if they had been scolding or cuffing him not a minute before.
But very often his attempts at kindness ended in some mischief to the
very people he was trying to serve, owing to his awkward, ungainly ways.
I suppose I was a clever lad; at any rate, I always got plenty of praise;
and was, as we called it, the cock of the school.
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