History Of The "Old High School" 1828-1840
by Charles Wells Chapin




fore the close of this term to show that tittering boy behind you how to do his work.' Well, I came to life again and worked. Towards the last of the term the boy who laughed at my misfortune asked the teacher to solve a problem for him, and he told him to go to R______. He went and the problem was solved. I have seen many teachers at their work since those days, but have never seen one who worked harder or accomplished more than did the teachers of the old High School. And I believe that with all the advantages of the present graded schools boys are no better fitted to fight the battles of life than were the boys of the old High School. I am a resident of Saginaw, Mich., and here I have a family and home. I hereby invite any and all of the 'old boys' to call and see me and shake hands with me. We are about to drop out of line, all of us. Let us do so in good order, and

            "'Like one that wraps the drapery of his couch
            About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams.'"

        One of the scholars, now an esteemed missionary in the East, writes from Constantinople, Turkey: "Mr. Hebard was a fine scholar, very gentle and amiable in his character and conduct towards the scholars, who consequently became very much attached to him, so that at the close of his term of service, in token of their esteem, they presented him with a set of books of the value of nearly fifty dollars. Though Mr. Hebard's personal character attached members of the school to him, there were rogues among them as always, some of whom, notwithstanding the general favor with which he was regarded, dug, a pit in the path by which he must approach the school, and, concealing it, watched for his expected fall into it. He fell, but wisely taking no notice of the incident, put the rogues to shame before the school. The roguery was not repeated. The High School gathered its pupils from different part's of the town (which at that time included the present limits of Chicopee) and in those early days, in the winter season the out of school hours were

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