While the Billy Boils

by Henry Lawson

An Echo from the Old Bark School

It was the first Monday after the holidays. The children had taken their seats in the Old Bark School, and the master called out the roll as usual:―

Dan was a young immigrant, just out from the sod, and rolled his 'r's' like a cock-dove. His brogue was rich enough to make an Irishman laugh.

Bill was 'wagging it.' His own especial chum was of the opinion that Bill was sick. The master's opinion did not coincide, so he penned a note to William's parents, to be delivered, by the model boy of the school.

A solemn hush fell upon the school, and presently Janet Wild threw her arms out on the desk before her, let her face fall on them, and sobbed heart-brokenly. The master saw his mistake too late; he gave his head a little half-affirmative, half-negative movement, in that pathetic old way of his; rested his head on one hand, gazed sadly at the name, and sighed.

But the galoot of the school spoilt the pathos of it all, for, during the awed silence which followed the calling of the girl's name, he suddenly brightened up―the first time he was ever observed to do so during school hours―and said, briskly and cheerfully:

'Dead-sir!'

He hadn't been able to answer a question correctly for several days.

'Children,' said the master gravely and sadly, 'children, this is the first time I ever had to put 'D' to the name of one of my scholars. Poor Mary! she was one of my first pupils―came the first morning the school was opened. Children, I want you to be a little quieter to-day during play-hour, out of respect for the name of your dead schoolmate whom it has pleased the Almighty to take in her youth.'

'Please, sir,' asked the galoot, evidently encouraged by his fancied success, 'please, sir, what does 'D' stand for?'

'Damn you for a hass!' snarled Jim Bullock between his teeth, giving the galoot a vicious dig in the side with his elbow.