第12部分(第5/8 頁)

g　lightly　and　rapidly　along　our　drooping　line；　her　plaid　cloak；　which　the　frosty　wind　fluttered；　gathered　close　about　her；　and　encouraging　us；　by　precept　and　example；　to　keep　up　our　spirits；　and　march　forward；　as　she　said；　“like　stalwart　soldiers。”　The　other　teachers；　poor　things；　were　generally　themselves　too　much　dejected　to　attempt　the　task　of　cheering　others。

How　we　longed　for　the　light　and　heat　of　a　blazing　fire　when　we　got　back！　But；　to　the　little　ones　at　least；　this　was　denied：　each　hearth　in　the　schoolroom　was　immediately　surrounded　by　a　double　row　of　great　girls；　and　behind　them　the　younger　children　crouched　in　groups；　wrapping　their　starved　arms　in　their　pinafores。

A　little　solace　came　at　tea…time；　in　the　shape　of　a　double　ration　of　bread—a　whole；　instead　of　a　half；　slice—with　the　delicious　addition　of　a　thin　scrape　of　butter：　it　was　the　hebdomadal　treat　to　which　we　all　looked　forward　from　Sabbath　to　Sabbath。　I　generally　contrived　to　reserve　a　moiety　of　this　bounteous　repast　for　myself；　but　the　remainder　I　was　invariably　obliged　to　part　with。

The　Sunday　evening　was　spent　in　repeating；　by　heart；　the　Church　Catechism；　and　the　fifth；　sixth；　and　seventh　chapters　of　St。　Matthew；　and　in　listening　to　a　long　sermon；　read　by　Miss　Miller；　whose　irrepressible　yawns　attested　her　weariness。　A　frequent　interlude　of　these　performances　was　the　enactment　of　the　part　of　Eutychus　by　some　half…dozen　of　little　girls；　who；　overpowered　with　sleep；　would　fall　down；　if