There is also told an interesting story of an ox named Old Butler. One day Greenleaf went out with some salt for the oxen. He was climbing up the side of a steep hill when Old Butler, on top, saw him, and came plunging down. The hill was so steep that the ox could not stop, and in a moment he would have crushed the young master; but gathering himself together at the right moment, the creature by a great effort leaped straight out into the air over the head of the boy. It was the wonderful intelligence of this ox that saved young Greenleaf’s life. Another amusing story is also told of this ox. Once a Quaker meeting was being held in the kitchen. Unexpectedly the ox stuck his head in at the window. While a sweet-voiced sister was speaking he listened quietly; but when a loud-voiced brother began to speak, he drew out his head, flung up his tail, and went off bellowing. This the children thought very funny and a good joke on the brother. CHAPTER V SCHOOL DAYS Brisk wielder of the birch and rule, The master of the district school Held at the fire his favored place. Its warm glow lit a laughing face, Fresh-hued and fair, where scarce appeared The uncertain prophecy of beard. He teased the mitten-blinded cat, Played cross-pins on my uncle’s hat, Sang songs, and told us what befalls In classic Dartmouth’s college halls. ... A careless boy that night he seemed; But at his desk he had the look And air of one who wisely schemed, And hostage from the future took In trained thought and lore of book. Large-brained, clear-eyed—of such as he Shall Freedom’s young apostles be. —_Snow-Bound._ Until he was nineteen Whittier went only to the district school, and he used to say that in all that time only two of the teachers were worth anything at all. Both of these were Dartmouth students, and are fairly well described in the above quotation from “Snow-Bound.” One was Joshua Coffin, Whittier’s first teacher. He came back again some years later, and often spent his evenings at the Whittier homestead. In later years he was the poet’s friend and helper in the antislavery cause. Little Greenleaf started to school when he was very small, and before he had learned his letters. Among his poems is a sweet little one, entitled “In School Days.” He begins by describing the schoolhouse: Within, the master’s desk is seen, Deep scarred by raps official; The warping floor, the battered seats, The jack-knife’s carved initial. You must read for yourself the story of the little boy and the little girl, and how the latter said: “I’m sorry that I spelt the word: I hate to go above you, Because,”—the brown eyes lower fell,— “Because, you see, I love you!”