the dear old schoolhouse had been swept away in the destructive flood that followed but ten minutes after the escape of the little schoolmistress with her pupils.
intense gratitude for the happy deliverance of the children spread through the neighbourhood. a public meeting was called, where the thanks of the community were conveyed by a dignified and most complimentary spokesman, to the blushing confusion of tora and the astonishment of nils that he was said to have behaved so remarkably well on the memorable occasion. of course, the newspapers throughout the country celebrated the praises of the little schoolmistress, and to the meeting in her honour came her friends from far and near. "brother karl" and his devoted gunner made a point of being present, and[pg 51] tora's buzzing benefactor beamed on the occasion, as if the credit were all his own.
that there must be a new schoolhouse was a self-evident fact. it was built as promptly as possible. the admirable building, with all its modern aids and appurtenances, was not placed on the old site, but crowned the summit of a green hill, where nothing more dangerous than a pouring rain could be expected to disturb its peace and safety.
when the first term in the new and most desirable quarters commenced, it was with a stranger as the teacher. our little schoolmistress was to spend the winter in the home where she had been so tenderly cared for during the long time of bodily prostration which followed the overstraining of her nervous system at the time of her escape with the children under her care.
busy with spinning-wheel and loom and sewing-machine, and with her diligent efforts to prepare nils to enter with honour a higher school than that over which she had presided, the winter passed pleasantly away. nils's examination surpassed the utmost expectations of his teacher. his sweet, grateful humility in the midst of honour was as touching as his humble submission to the great mis[pg 52]fortune which had threatened to overshadow his whole life.
the little schoolmistress took, with the opening spring, the place of a private teacher—a position that she had been strongly urged to fill. her first scholar was a tall fellow, who was sure he could learn from her in the higher branches much that was important for him to understand.
the second pupil, who came in later on, was a little chap. he did not understand swedish, nor did he know much in any direction, it was said. but how could he expect a fair estimation of his abilities, when the judges were not at home in his language, nor he in theirs? he, however, improved rapidly, and was soon not only able to speak swedish, but comprehended many matters so well that he was a great help to the younger pupils who came in by degrees to be taught. he was too, in a way, a teacher for the schoolmistress herself, and had his credentials from the very highest authority.
the class increased as years went on, and was ever a delightful source of interest to the happy instructress. the children did not call her "teacher," or "mistress," or even "miss tora;" they said simply "mother," which she thought the sweetest name in the world.[pg 53]
as to the first, the tall scholar, who was what nils had promised to be, her permanent pupil, he was not always as obedient and submissive as he might have been. even when he sat opposite to her at the dinner-table, in the presence of stranger guests, he would sometimes, contrary to her express command, tell the story of the great april thaw, and the escape of the little schoolmistress with her pupils. of course he was rebuked for his misdemeanour; but he only protested against her strict government, and declared that she could never get over "the schoolma'am." yet he acknowledged she was always teaching him something worth knowing through what she was—the very best woman and the very best christian he had ever had the pleasure of knowing.
this was, it must be confessed, an inexcusably obstreperous scholar; but tora would not have exchanged her husband, her gunner, the fast friend of her promising "brother karl," for the meekest or the wisest man in the world.
