When the teacher—­a certain Ebenezer Stone, a man of thirty or upward—­entered, Andy went up to him and asked permission to attend school a part of the time.  As there had been such cases in former terms, no objection was offered by the teacher, and Andy went back to his seat, a regularly admitted member of the school.

It was found necessary to put him in a low class to begin with.  He was naturally bright, but, as we know, his opportunities of learning had been very limited, and he could not be expected to know much.  But Andy was old enough now to understand the worth of knowledge, and he devoted himself so earnestly to study that in the course of three weeks he was promoted to a higher class.  This, however, is anticipating.

When recess came, the scholars poured out upon the playround.  Charles Fleming and Godfrey Preston happened to pass out side by side.

“I see you’ve taken that Irish boy to sit with you,” he said.

“You mean Andy Burke?  Yes, I invited him to be my desk-fellow.”

“I congratulate you on your high-toned and aristocratic associate,” observed Godfrey, sarcastically.

“Thank you.  I am glad to have him with me.”

“I wouldn’t condescend to take him into my seat.”

“Nor do I. There isn’t any condescension about it.”

“He works for a living.”

“So does my father, and so does yours.  Are you going to cut your father’s acquaintance for that reason?”

“My father could live without work.”

“He doesn’t choose to, and that’s where he shows his good sense.”

“It’s a different kind of work from sawing and splitting wood, and such low labor.”

“It strikes me, Godfrey, that you ought to have been born somewhere else than in America.  In this country labor is considered honorable.  You ought to be living under a monarchy.”

“I don’t believe in associating with inferiors.”

“I don’t look upon Andy Burke as my inferior,” said Charlie.  “He is poor, to be sure, but he is a good fellow, and helps support his mother and sister, as I would do in his place.”

“Charlie Fleming,” was heard from the playground, “come and choose up for baseball.”

Without waiting for an answer, Charlie ran to the field alongside the schoolhouse, where the game was to take place.

CHAPTER XI A GAME OF BALL

“Come here,” said Conrad Fletcher; “come here, Charlie, and choose up for a game.  We must make haste, or recess will be over.”

“All right, Conrad.”

The first choice devolved upon Conrad.  He chose Ephraim Pinkham, noted as a catcher.

“I take Elmer Rhodes,” said Charlie.

“John Parker,” said Conrad.

“Henry Strauss.”

“Godfrey Preston,” was Conrad’s next choice.

“Can you play, Andy?” asked Charlie.

“Yes,” said Andy.