Harry led in the classics and Dick in the mathematics.
Bob Turner, the free colored man, who was janitor of the academy, brought in the morning mail, a dozen letters and three or four newspapers, gave it to Dr.Russell and withdrew on silent feet.
The Doctor was principal of Pendleton Academy, and he always presided over the room in which sat the larger boys, nearly fifty in number.
His desk and chair were on a low dais and he sat facing the pupils.
He was a large man, with a ruddy face, and thick hair as white as the snow that was falling outside.

He had been a teacher fifty years, and three generations in Pendleton owed to him most of the learning that is obtained from books.

He opened his letters one by one, and read them slowly.
Harry moved far away into the German forest with old Tacitus.

He was proud of his Latin and he did not mean to lose his place as first in the class.

The other boys also were absorbed in their books.