Marcus; or, The Boy-Tamer

The stage coming—A sharp pair of eyes—Rover’s 19 greeting—The two passengers—Warm greetings—Oscar—Ronald’s opinion of him—His judgment corrected—The farm—Capt. Page’s last voyag...

The lion of the day—Oscar’s plans—A few days’ 32 leisure—The flock of sheep—Other attractions—Willing idleness—The agreement in relation to Oscar—An inducement to industry—Oscar...

Kate and the boys—Indian ink prickings—Ear 43 boring—Smartings—Exhibiting the marks—Doing as other boys do—The beauty of Indian ink art—A relic of heathenism—Why the ancients ma...

An abandoned project—A party for Prescott’s 55 Peak—Anecdotes of Rover—Other knowing dogs—Ronald’s story—Was it a lie?—A cast-off snake’s skin—Black snakes—The pond—Mysterious o...

A welcome announcement—Marcus as teacher—Favors 75 solicited—Demonstrations of joy—A sudden change—Ronald’s explanation—The blotted writing-book—Punishment—Resistance and escape...

How Oscar discharged his duties—His lessons—Unanswered 92 letters—A bad way—The day devoted to letter-writing—“Yes” and “No”—Why Marcus spoke of the subject—Wandering thoughts—A...

The letter-box—The first mail—The invitation—A storm 110 predicted—The water boils away—The prediction fulfilled—Sorry mishaps—Fretfulness—Selfishness—The rain not needless—Quan...

Marcus’s theory of government—How it worked with 131 Oscar—Apprehended failure—A consultation—A forbidden intimacy—Tobacco—The letter—Ten arguments against tobacco, and one for...

The “Letter-writing Society”—A letter from Oscar to 151 Marcus—An explanation—A secret trouble—A good purpose—Marcus to Oscar—The explanation examined—The blame not wholly remov...

Ellen Blake—A place wanted—A suggestion—Mrs. Page 163 decides to take Ellen—The school prizes—Another blotted writing-book—Lewis Daniels—His singular conduct—The teacher’s suspi...

A disappointment—Amusements—The new 174 play—“Conglomeration”—A queer medley of words—The sentences read—Rare sport—The “Hay-Mow Debating Society”—Questions discussed—A riddle—A...

How the newspaper originated—Its name—How it was 193 managed—The first number—Disappointed correspondents—A surprise number—How it was got up—A transcript of the third number—Li...

The new satchel—Otis homesick—Ronald’s impatience—The 201 academy commences—Incidents of the first day—Oscar a monitor—Why Otis and Ronald were not seated together—Lewis Daniels...

Harrison Clark—A threat—His career—Assault upon his 222 teacher—Trial and sentence—One good trait—Harrison’s mother—His conduct towards Marcus—Kindness repelled—Coughing—Objecti...

A neglected farm—Out of fuel—Going to the woods—The 242 pipe and jug—Parting admonitions—A scene in the woods—Going home—Effects of the cider—Green wood and the rheumatism—The c...

A merry Christmas—Who got the start?—Presents for 263 Oscar—Letters—Loss of the brig “Susan”—Jerry missing—The Christmas festival—Declamations and dialogues—Tableaux and music—T...

Mr. Hapley signs the pledge—Empties his liquors—A 280 desperate struggle—Opinions of the neighbors—Mr. Todd’s prediction—How it was treated—What Mr. Todd was supposed to be afte...

Rivalry among the academy students—The motto on the 294 blackboard—Praiseworthy motives—The student’s true motive—Ronald’s request—The plan for a dialogue—How Marcus proposed to...

Oscar’s disappointment—No letter from home—An agreeable 308 surprise—A successful examination—The exhibition—The prizes—The surprise party—Presentation to Mr. Upton—The “Academy...

“THERE’S the stage, mother! It’s coming round the Bend,—don’t you hear it? Hark! how near it sounds! I shall see it in a minute. There it is, now! And there’s somebody on the to...

THE new-comer, Oscar, was very naturally the recipient of much attention, for a few days after his arrival. The advent of such a big boy in the family was an event of no triflin...

“YOU silly boys! what are you doing?” exclaimed Kate, one afternoon, as she found her brother and Ronald seated on a log behind the barn, busily engaged in pricking Indian ink i...

OSCAR, from the day of his arrival in Highburg, had expressed a desire to ascend some one of the lofty mountain peaks in the neighborhood; and Marcus had made a sort of half pro...

THERE were loud demonstrations of joy among the juvenile members of the household, one morning, when Marcus handed a letter to Kate, for Mr. Upton, the principal of the academy,...

SEVERAL weeks had elapsed, since Oscar’s regular daily tasks were set, and he continued to discharge his duties in a satisfactory manner. The wood-pile grew a little, weekly, un...

AFTER the children had gone to school, the next day, Marcus made a letter-box, and fastened it against the wall, in the entry. While he was at work upon it, a young lady from an...

IT was a cherished opinion with Marcus, that the best government for a child is that which teaches him to govern himself. He had derived this notion from his mother and aunt, bo...

THE “Excelsior Letter-writing Society” had now been in operation several weeks, and had thus far proved a popular and useful institution. The letter-box was regularly patronized...

MRS. PAGE and Marcus were riding in the outskirts of the town, one afternoon, when they stopped a few moments at the door of an acquaintance—a lady named Blake. She was a widow,...

THE fall term of the academy closed a few days after the district school, and Oscar, also, was released from his lessons, so that all the young folks were now having a short vac...

AND what about the newspaper? Well, it was a famous thing, for a time, and made a great stir in the family. The idea originated with Kate, who thought it would be rare sport to...

SO impatient was Ronald to enter upon his academic career, that he had his school books and his slate all ready for a start, Saturday afternoon. On going up to his chamber, late...

THERE was one boy in the academy who still caused Marcus no little anxiety. His name was Harrison Clark, and he was about fourteen years old, and large for his age. This was his...

MR. HAPLEY, the father of Jessie and Sam, and the near neighbor of the Pages, seemed to be growing more slack than ever, this winter. Fields of corn-stalks were still standing o...

“I DON’T care, I got the start of all of you,” said Ronald, as the family were discussing over the breakfast table, Christmas morning, the question who was the first to wish the...

THE first act of Mr. Hapley, after Benny was laid in the frozen ground, was one that gave new hope to the sorrowing household. At his request, the clergyman of the village had p...

THE winter term of the academy was now drawing towards an end, and preparations were already commenced for the closing examination and exhibition. Thus far the term had been a v...

“WHAT is the matter, Oscar? you look quite sober,” said Mrs. Page, one afternoon, as Oscar came into the kitchen, on his return from school, and began to take off his boots.