Alfred Batchelder, Ephraim Darnley, Absum Glinds, Melzar Tibbetts and my cousin, Halstead, followed Ben, till with incredible suddenness nine of the boys, all almost men-grown, were piled in a squirming heap on the floor! Filled with awe, we smaller boys stole in to our seats, casting frightened glances at the teacher, who stood beaming genially at the heap of boys on the floor.
"Lie still, lie still," he said, as some of the boys at the bottom of the pile struggled to get out.

"Lie still.

I suppose you forgot that it disturbs me to have crowding and loud trampling.

Try and remember that it disturbs me." Turning away, he said, "The girls may now have their recess." To this day I remember just how those terrified girls stole out from the schoolroom.

Not until they had come in from their recess and had taken their seats did Master Brench again turn his attention to the pile of boys.