There were all sorts, from boys of fifteen and sixteen that wanted to learn the Multiplication table, down to little bits of girls that did not know A, B, and C.Rough heads, with thoughts as matted as their hair; lank heads, that reminded one irresistibly of _blocks;_ and one fiery red shock, all of whose ideas seemed to be standing on end and ready to fly away, so little hold had they upon either knowledge, wit, or experience.

And every one of these wanted different handling, and every one called for diligent study and patient painstaking.

There were often fine parts to be found under that rough and untrained state of nature; there were blocks that could be waked into life by a little skill and kind management and a good deal of time; and even the fly-away shock could be brought down to order and reason by a long course of patience and firmness.

But the younger heads that had no thoughts at all, -- the minds that were blank of intelligence, -- the eyes that opened but to stare at the new teacher! What amount of culture, what distance of days and months, would bring something out of nothing! It was hard, hard work.

There was nobody to help the new teacher; he wrought alone; that the teacher always did.