“You see,” explained Bobby, as the children turned down the street that led past the schoolhouse, “primary school isn’t so awfully important. That’s why the grammar and high school got the new building; I heard old Hornbeck say so.”

“You shouldn’t call him old Hornbeck,” said Meg reprovingly. “Mother says it isn’t respectful.”

Bobby didn’t answer, for they had reached the primary school building and he was busy counting windows to find Miss Mason’s room. The Oak Hill primary grades occupied an old building on a corner lot, while the grammar and high schools were housed in a handsome modern building a few blocks away, with a playground and even an extra lot for the school gardens. But the primary children really had a better time by themselves, and were certainly spared a great amount of teasing. 27

“–––Five, six,” finished Bobby. “There––see the sixth window on the second floor? That’s our room, Meg.”

Meg gazed interestedly at the window that looked exactly like all the other windows and yet was different to her because it was a part of the schoolroom she had never seen.

“Is Miss Mason cross, Bobby?” she asked timidly.

“Not always,” said Bobby encouragingly. “Course if you whisper or giggle, or chew chewing gum–––My! how she does hate chewing gum,” he added. “But most times she is nice. And you ought to hear her read stories!”

Miss Mason taught two sections of the first and second years, and so it happened that Meg would be in the same room with Bobby, although this was her first year at school and his second. Last year Meg had gone to a small private kindergarten, but she was very eager to go to what she called a “real school.”

“I think it’s mean we can’t go,” complained Twaddles, scuffing his feet moodily as Bobby 28 and Meg went on ahead. “We wouldn’t hurt their old school!”

“Maybe they’ll be sorry,” said Dot. “Some day they’ll want us to go to school and we won’t!”

Lunch was ready when the four little Blossoms reached home, and after lunch more dresses were waiting for Meg to try on. Miss Florence came and sewed another day, and then, finally, the first morning of the school term arrived.

“I hear this is a very important day,” announced Father Blossom smilingly at breakfast. “Don’t tell me it is a birthday, and I’ve forgotten all about it!”

Meg dimpled.

“’Tisn’t a birthday, Daddy,” she declared.

Father Blossom pretended to be very much worried.

“I know it isn’t Christmas,” he said anxiously, “because it isn’t cold enough. And it can’t be the Fourth of July. What day is it, Meg?”

“The first day of school!” pronounced Meg triumphantly. “And I’m going. See, I have 29 on a new dress, and here’s my pencil case, and my hat has new elastic–––”

“Well! well! well!” exclaimed Father Blossom, “is it possible? My eldest daughter old enough to go to school! I suppose in another year or so the twins will be clamoring for pencil cases and we won’t have any children who have time to play.”

“I could go to school now,” scolded Twaddles, “only everybody says I’m too young.”

“Never mind,” said Father Blossom comfortably. “You’ve years of school ahead of you, Son. Does Mother have to go this morning?”

“No indeed,” answered Mother Blossom cheerfully. “I’ve already seen Miss Mason about Meg, and as she is going to be in the same room with Bobby, he will look after her. And if you don’t want to be late the first morning, children, I think you should start in a few minutes.”

The whole family followed Meg and Bobby to the door to see them off, and even Norah left her morning work to wave good-by to them. Philip and Annabel Lee and Sam were standing 30 in the garage door to see them go, and altogether the two scholars felt rather important.

“There’s Fred Baldwin,” said Bobby, spying a boy just ahead of them. “He’s in my grade. Hey, Fred!”

The boy turned and waited for them to come up with him.

“Hello,” he said shyly, “going to school, Bobby?”

“Sure,” replied Bobby. “Here is my sister Meg.”

Fred and Meg said “Hello,” and the three walked along rapidly toward the schoolhouse.

“Did you have Miss Mason last year?” Fred asked.

“Yes. You had Miss Watts, didn’t you?” said Bobby. “Is she cross?”

“Awful,” confided Fred sadly. “I’ll bet I stayed in three nights a week regular.”

His dancing black eyes seemed to say that he had had a good time in school, no matter if he had been kept in; indeed Fred was a mischievous-looking child, and his own mother was inclined 31 to think, as she often told him, that Miss Watts probably could tell another story.

“I have to take Meg up and let her get her seat,” announced Bobby when they reached the school yard. “You coming?”

Fred thought he would stay down and see some of the boys.

“I don’t care where I sit,” he explained. “And if you go in late most all the front seats have been given out. I’d rather sit in the back of the room.”

So you see Fred did have a choice, though he said, and probably honestly thought, he did not.

Meg followed Bobby upstairs and into a large square room half filled with chattering children. A gray-haired lady was speaking to the young woman who stood near a desk on a small platform.

“That’s Miss Wright, the vice-principal,” whispered Bobby, indicating the gray-haired woman. “Mr. Carter, over at the grammar school, is the real principal. If you’re real bad, Miss Wright sends for him. But she opens assembly and like-a-that.” 32

Presently Miss Wright went out, and Bobby led Meg up to the teacher.

“This is my sister Meg,” he said politely. “She hasn’t any seat yet.”

“How do you do, Margaret?” said Miss Mason, smiling. “Your name is really Margaret, isn’t it? I like to use my pupils’ full names. I’m sorry your sister can’t sit with you, Robert, but I can’t mix the grades. You may have any seat on this aisle, Margaret.”

Poor Meg found it most confusing to be called Margaret, and was almost startled to hear Bobby addressed as “Robert.” Father Blossom occasionally called him that, but only when he meant to scold him. But Meg sensibly supposed that when one went to school there were a number of new things to get used to, and it seemed that names were to be among them.

She chose a seat half-way down the aisle and in a direct row with Bobby’s, which was on the other side of the room. And by the time she had made her choice and put away her pencil box, Miss Mason announced that it was five minutes of nine and that no child should leave the room. 33

Clang! A harsh gong rang through the halls. Clang! Clang!

The noise in the school yard ceased with a suddenness that was surprising. The gong rang again and a trampling and scuffling through the halls announced that the boys and girls were marching up to their classrooms. Miss Mason took her place at the door, and as a long line marched into her room she directed them where to sit. Meg wondered what she was to do with her hat.

“Beginning with the first aisle, the girls may go to the cloak room and hang up their hats,” announced Miss Mason, just as if Meg had spoken aloud. “Then after all the girls have returned, the boys may go, aisle by aisle. And I want no whispering or unnecessary delay.”

Before the last of the boys had found a hook for his cap, clang! went the gong again and a piano some distance away sounded a lively march.

“Stand!” said Miss Mason. “Margaret, you may lead the line. Come here.” Meg stood quietly. 34

“Margaret Blossom!” and this time Miss Mason’s voice sounded impatient. “Is the child dreaming? You’re holding back the whole room.”

Meg blushed and came forward hastily. To tell the truth, she had not realized that Miss Mason was speaking to her––the unfamiliar “Margaret” bewildered her.

“Take your place here,” commanded Miss Mason, pushing her gently into a place in the doorway. “And when you see the last child leave that room opposite, wheel in after her and follow to the auditorium.”

Meg looked around for Bobby. He was near the end of the long line that had formed around the sides of the room, and when he caught his sister’s eye he grinned and nodded encouragingly to her.

“You’ll do all right,” he seemed to say.