By
HORATIO ALGER JR.
The main schoolroom in the Millville Academy was brilliantly lighted,and the various desks were occupied by boys and girls of different agesfrom ten to eighteen, all busily writing under the general direction ofProfessor George W. Granville, Instructor in Plain and OrnamentalPenmanship.
Professor Granville, as he styled himself, was a traveling teacher, andgenerally had two or three evening schools in progress in differentplaces at the same time. He was really a very good penman, and in acourse of twelve lessons, for which he charged the very moderate priceof a dollar, not, of course, including stationery, he contrived toimpart considerable instruction, and such pupils as chose to learn werelikely to profit by his instructions. His venture in Millville had beenunusually successful. There were a hundred pupils on his list, and therehad been no disturbance during the course of lessons.
At nine precisely, Professor Granville struck a small bell, and said, inrather a nasal voice:
"You will now stop writing."
There was a little confusion as the books were closed and the pens werewiped.
"Ladies and gentlemen," said the professor, placing one arm under hiscoat tails and extending the other in an oratorical attitude, "thisevening completes the course of lessons which I have had the honor andpleasure of giving you. I have endeavored to impart to you an easy andgraceful penmanship, such as may be a recommendation to you in afterlife. It gives me pleasure to state that many of you have made greatproficiency, and equaled my highest expectations. There are others,perhaps, who have not been full