The Adventures of Thomas Aircastle.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue III, 19 January 1901, Page 142

The Adventures of Thomas Aircastle.

THOMAS PLAYS SCHOOL TEACHER. Thomas, because of the magie power of a bit of glass given him by a gnome, had in outward appearance changed places with Professor James McDuff, his teacher, while the poor Professor, appearing as Thomas, had been sent to l>ed without any tea by the irate Mr Aircastle. Young Thomas, as the Professor, enjoyed a most delightful supper of cold ham. marmalade, salad, coffee and cake, served by the housekeeper, Mrs Squiers. who remarked she had never known that learned man to “eat so hearty before,” and gently advised him to take a little ginger before retiring. Scornfully that gentleman declined. He spent a delightful evening rummaging through the Professor's papers, and, I am sorry to say, in carefully memorising a list of questions in geography which were to be given in examination the following week. Presently Mrs Squiers came into the sltudy with the Professor’s slippers and his favourite pipe, and Thomas, nothing loath, accepted both. A search through the bookshelves brought to light a very exciting novel by one Charles Dickens. entitled “Great Expectations.” Thomas hadn't read very far when his hair began to stand on end, and he got up and carefully drew down all the shades. Presently a pet cat stalked into the room and .unexpectedly jumped upon Thomas’ shoulder, which nearly scared that youth out of his seven senses. He heard Mrs Squiers locking up the house and then go laboriously up the creaky stairs. The place grew silent as a tomb, and the fake professor decided he would be more at ease in bed with the door bolted and the shutters fastened than downstairs. Soon he was snugly stowed away between snowy sheets. but sleep did not come to him. What with his overindulgence in the novel, the pipe and the cold aam. he was as unhappy a. chap as you could find. He longed for the touch of his mother’s cool hand on his hot forehead and the welcome sting of a mustard plaster. Certainly it was a pale and dejected looking professor who sat down to a breakfast of tea and toast the next morning, and the soul of Thomas within cried out that being a man and a school professor wasn’t such unalloyed bliss after all. His interest in life was revived, however, by the fresh air and the thought of playing the school teacher for once. Just as the opening bell sounded his father marched into the schoolroom and up to the rostrum, dragging the unfortunate Professor v>y the coat collar. "Here he is. Professor.” cried Mr Aircastle. “I caught him smoking a cigar this morning just after breakfast. and as I haven’t time to stop and chastise him I will leave him in your charge.” Thomas put on as stern and disapproving an air as he could muster and remarked: “Sir, you surprise me; I am much grieved to learn of your son’s reprehensible behaviour,” which was the exact form of expression often used by Professor McDuff. Now, Thoma . though rather mischievous, was really a kindhearted boy, and he con'd see that poor James McDuff was a very miserable creature indeed.

It suddenly occurred to him that he might kill two birds with one stone. He would be easy on the real Professor and at the same time make a reputation as a scholar for himself. The schoolroom was unusually still as Mr Aircastle departed, leaving Thomas and Mr McDuff face to face. “I am very sorry, Thomas.” began the real Thomas, shaking > judicial finger at the poor, toriorn Professor, who sat dazed and stupefied, still unable to comprehend tbe wonderful transformation. “I am sorry to hear of your naughty, very naughty behaviour. At the same time I realise that boys will be boys, ahem!” Here came a pause while the school buzzed at these gracious words and then burst into tumultuous applause. The speaker bowed affably in acknowledgment. “If you make successful recitations to-day I will not punish you at all!” There was a shout of laughter at this, for Thomas had never been known to make a good recitation. 1 he real Thomas, however, had reason to believe that to-day. at least, his understudy would astonish the school. And so he did. The real McDuff forgot his troubles for the time being and became again the boyish book-

worm who revels in high marks and his teacher's approbation. For once Johnny Diggs, the star student and an awful prig, was far outdone by the new Thomas, who could answer everything. Just by way of flourish the real Thomas asked the other Thomas a lot of questions which were far in advance of the class work. With flushed face and shining eyes and all a tremble with the excitement and wondering murmurs of the students, he answered promptly, and. of course, always correctly, though that didn’t make any difference, because none of the scholars, least of all the false Professor. could have told a wrong from a right answer. At recess the false Tommy lost his head and began to strut about a bit, whereupon the bully of the school taunted him and called him “a greasy grind” and other similar names. Then McDuff. who was accustomed to chastising the boys, rorgot he was now but a boy in size and sailed into Bill the bully with great fierceness. At this moment the real Thomas entered the yard with stately tread. At once a cry arose of “Cheese it, the Professor!” But that individual surprised the group by announcing that he would referee the fight and see that there was fair play. Then and there the boys gave three cheers for the hitherto unpopular professor, and a ring was formed about the pugnacious ones and the fight, went on. It was a stubborn contest, but fifteen minutes later the bully was vanquished amid genera] rejoicing. That afternoon the false

Professor McDuff invited the false Thomas to take tea with him, and so completely had the real Janies become the bov again, glowing with pride in his victories as a scholar and a fighter. that he actually thanked the other for being invited to dine at his own house. After tea the real Thomas fished out the bit of glass, wished himself a boy again, and each immediately resumed his rightful shape. “Oh. dear!” murmured Professor McDuff. “I am almost sorry I am the teacher again. I was just beginning to enjoy myself as a hoy. At least this novel experience has taught me a lesson. T have learned how to sympathise with a boy’s feelings." “And you, sir,” replied Thomas, “have given me a fine reputation, which I shall try to live up to.” And he did. THE END.