I like my new teacher too,since this morning.While we were comingin,and when he was already seated,some of his scholars of last year every now and then peeped in at the door to salute him；they would present themselves and greet him：

“Good morning,Signor Teacher！”“Good morning,Signor Perboni！”

Some came in,touched his hand,and ran away.It was plain that they liked him,and would have been glad to return to him.He responded“Good morning”and shook the hands which were held out to him,but he looked at no one：at every greeting his smile remained serious,with that deep wrinkle on his brow,with his face turned towards the window,and staring at the roof of the house opposite；and instead of being cheered by these greetings,he seemed to suffer from them.Then he looked at us closely,one after the other.While he was dictating,he got down and walked among the benches.Catching sight of a boy whose face was all red with little pimples,he stopped dictating,took the lad's face between his hands and examined it；then he asked him what was the　matter with him,and laid his hand on his forehead to feel if it were hot.Meanwhile,a boy behind him got up on the bench,and began to play the marionette.The teacher turned round suddenly；the boy sat down at one dash,and remained there,with head hanging,in dread of being punished.The master placed one hand on his head and said to him：

“Don't do so again.”Nothing more.

Then he returned to his table and finished the dictation.When he was done,he looked at us a moment in silence；then he said,very,very slowly,with his big but kind voice：“Listen.We have a year to pass together；let us see that we pass it well.Study and be good.I have no family；you are my family.Last year I had mother；she is dead.I am left alone.I have no one but you in all the world；I have no other affection,no other thought than you：you must be my sons.I wish you well,and you must like me too.I do not wish to be obliged to punish any one.Show me that you are boys of heart：our school shall be a family,and you shall be my comfort and my pride.I do not ask you to give me a promise；I am sure that in your hearts you have already answered‘yes'，and I thank you.”

Just then the beadle came in to announce the close of school.We all left our seats as quietly as could be.The boy who had stood up on the bench went up to the master,and said to him,in a trembling voice：

“Forgive me,Signor Master.”

The master kissed him on the brow,and said，“Go,my son.”