Farther on, in a convenient spot at the junction of three roads, under the shelter of a hill, stood the schoolhouse--serene as if it had grown there; while Zeph Higgins and his son Abner were just coming forward on the road toward Hiel, Zeph triumphantly whipping his oxen and shouting the word of command in an elevated voice. Hiel drew to one side, and gave a long whistle. "Je-_ru_-salem," he exclaimed, "ef you hain't ben and done it!" Zeph lifted his head with an air of as much satisfaction as his hard features could assume, and, nodding his head in the direction of the schoolhouse, said: "Yis--there 'tis!" Hiel laid his head back, and burst into a loud, prolonged laugh, in which he was joined by Abner and the boys. "Don't see nothin' to laugh at," said Zeph, with grim satisfaction. "Fact is, I can't hev these 'ere quarrels--and I won't hev 'em. That air's the place for that school'us', and it's _got_ to stand there, and that's the eend on't. Come, boys, hurry home; mother's beans will be a-gettin cold. Gee--g'lang!" and the black whip cracked over the back of the ox-team. Hiel was a made man. He had in possession an astounding piece of intelligence, that nobody knew but himself, and he meant to make the most of it. He hurried first to Deacon Peasley's store, where quite a number were sitting round the stove with their Saturday night purchases. In burst Hiel: "Wal, that air North Poganuc school'us' is _moved_, and settled down under the hills by the cross-road." The circle looked for a moment perfectly astounded and stupefied. "You don't say so!" "Dew tell!" "Don't believe ye." "Wal, ye kin all go and see. I came by, jest half an hour ago, and see it with my own eyes, and Zeph Higgins and his boys a-drivin' off with their sleds and oxen. I tell ye that air thing is jest _done_. I'm a-goin' to tell Dr. Cushing's folks." Poganuc People had something to talk about now, in good earnest. Hiel stopped his stage at the parson's door, and Dr. Cushing, expecting some bundle from Boston, came out to the gate. "Doctor, thought I'd jest stop and tell ye that the North Poganuc school'us' hez ben moved to the cross-roads, down under the hill--thought ye'd like to hear it." The Doctor's exclamation and uplifted hands brought to the door Mrs. Cushing and Dolly and the two boys, with Nabby. Hiel was in his glory, and recounted all the circumstances with great prolixity, the Doctor and Mrs. Cushing and all his audience laughing at his vigorous narrative. "Yis," said Hiel, "he said he wa'n't a-goin' to hev no more quarrelin' about it; everybody knew the school'us' ought to be there, and there 'twas. It was all wedged up tight and stiddy, and the stove in it, and the pipe stickin' out o' the winder, all nateral as could be, and he jest goin' off home, as ef nothin' hed happened." "Well, if that ain't jest like father!" exclaimed Nabby, with an air of pride. "If he wants a thing done he will do it."