Any one who saw Ned when he left us would almost have failed to
recognize him as the same boy who entered the school two years previous.
Mr. S. was his friend as well as his teacher; and during the second year
of his stay took a deep interest in him; he had thoroughly studied his
disposition, and learned to bear with his faults, and under his
judicious management Ned began really to make good progress in study. We
had all become attached to him, and were all sorry when he left us. He
was much elated with the prospect of his journey to the West; and talked
much of the wonders he expected to behold on his way thither. He came
one day at the noon-hour to collect his books and bid us good-bye, his
father having come to take him home for a short time before setting out
on their journey. The boys were all on the play ground when he entered
the school-room to bid his teacher good-bye. When he came out he looked
very sober, and there was a suspicious moisture in his eyes which very
much resembled tears. Instead of the usual noisy mirth on the play
ground there was almost complete silence, while Ned shook hands with us
one by one, saying, "he would tell us all the wonders of the Western
world when he came back.
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