Jonas on a Farm in Winter

me. He had remained with his uncle much longer than his father had at first inte

the farmer was sitting by the fire

d by Josey to-morrow; why won't you take a sheet of paper and write for me, a

nd ink, and took his place at a table at the back side

r Br

w, according to your orders. We have been very glad to have him with us, though he hasn't had opportunity to learn much. However, I suppose he'll fetch up again in his

come and pay us a visit this coming summer,-say in

ite my brother's name on the back, and to-morrow

rote upon the back, Joseph Jones, Esq., Brist

Jonas," said he, "I wish I

eighteen years old. She was at this time spinning in a corner o

rite beautifully. I wish you'd

said Jonas, "

u do it?" s

gs," replied Jonas. "You get through your spinning in

ouldn't be enou

an hour every day will amount t

plan; you shall have an evening school, an

we study?" s

d Jonas. "You say you want to learn

earn more arithm

half an hour every evening, beginning at eight o'clock

re were some on a

them to me, and I'll look o

hing then about his plan. He reflected upon the subject until the next day, be

ear Jonas's plan. Amos sat by a table at the back side of the room. The farmer's wife was sitting u

ool, and I am willing to be either teacher or pupil; only, i

entirely; we'll talk over the plans, al

and I'll obey. I'll set copies, or do any thing else you please, only I won't have any responsibility about the arrangements. Or, if you w

la, "what are your

directions. Jonas then consented to take the statio

ks," said he, "and I find we ha

any classes in our s

d cipher, while Isabella writes, and Oliver studies a good long spelling lesson. Then, the s

d Isabella. "I don't like arithme

o obey my order

"I'll try; but I know

lla shall study the spelling lesson, Oliver t

going to have but

on't all write the same evening. So you can wri

t like that. I want every sc

acher," said Jonas,

so, and you be the te

the responsibility of teacher

lla, "I suppose we

iver, "that you ain't willing that we s

aster to spend his time in convincing his scholars that his regulations are good. He mu

grown arbitrary all at onc

an, by arbitrary, determined to have my own way. I won't usurp any powe

did not want to trouble the farmer to look up some paper, and then make a parade of preparing so many writing-books; and then, perhaps, the whole plan might be abandoned, when t

mulated to write with greater attention and care; as each one would wish his or her own page to look as neatly written as the rest. He knew that Isabella, when it came to her turn to write, would naturally, without

oing to be teacher, that they should not be in the habit of expecting him to give reasons

ng me teacher; but, if you put me into th

the farmer's wife: "I am gla

o the writing should be adopted, and that his scholars would obey his directi

ree lessons, and the fourth evening we will have for recitation. I will hea

wife, who, as she sat at the end of the settle towards the fire, had her face some

t is that?

hool rose, and went

point of land,-the one which the boys had had to sail around when they went to mill. Just over this la

he direction of the

ire, I know," said

a fire, certain

wife; "and you must go, b

al miles off

r the pond in twenty minutes.-Here, husband, husband," she continued, ca

nd sat upright in his chair,

"over in the village; hadn't th

erately to the window, looked a mi

hing but

he moon, husband," said she.

rmer, "that's just

time for the moon to rise. It

ging. He seemed very sleepy. He turned over the leaves, and then said, "Moon ri

fe, "and 'tisn't mu

ps our time is a little out." So he returned to the chai

know pretty soon; for, if it is t

ght. It seemed to enlarge a little, and to grow som

again; "and I wish, husband, that you'd let the boys t

y've a mind to take that trouble; but they'll

go," sa

said Jonas;

. You can put in two seats. There are no hills, and Kate will

extraordinary must have taken place, though he could not tell what, came out from his place, l

while Amos and Jonas sat upon another seat, which they had placed in, before. Oliver came running with a bucket, which he put in under the forwa

icy. They found the ice of the pond in the same state. The rain and the thaws had melted the snow, upon the top of the ice, and made it a sheet of water. Then this had frozen again, so that now the surface of the pond was almost every where hard and smooth; and when they came

at speed. It was a mile across to the end of the point of land; but Kate carried them over this space

as, "for it is now full a quarter

r's wife, "I knew it

point with great speed, and brought into view

re!" they a

e direction of the

ouse," said the farmer'

s, "I think it

it flashed up high; and a cloud of illuminated smoke arose from it, and floated off to the northward. The party in the sleigh could soon perceive, also, a num

at it is," s

ys are out skating, and this is a fir

e boys moving abo

y are near the fire, the lig

more and more distinct, and, in fact, the ringing sound of the skates soon became audible. The horse, in the mean time, went on, with great speed, directly towards the fire

long stick in his hand. "Let's go and get some m

. As they swept round by the fire, the light glared brightly upon their faces and forms, but they soon disappeared fr

t, hot fire!

such a large fire on the ice. I d

shore, and threw it out upon the ice, before they put on their skates, and the

near. The dark figures, however, soon began to appear. The foremost was a tall young man, who came forward with great speed, pushing before him a l

rom it. Two large boys came on, bringing a long log between them, one at each end. It looked large, but it was really not very heavy, as it was hollow and decayed. They hove it up, with great effort, upon the fire, and its fall upon the heap threw up a large, bright column of sparks and flame. Another boy had the top

e, after a little time, "we m

the fire, in one gre

f the sleigh. Then they turned their course towards home again. The light of the fire shone upon the distant

seemed to grow smaller and smaller, as they receded; and at length, when Jonas turned around the point of land,