He could play with the boys beyond the garden
gate, and if detected, to be sure he was obliged to spend a quiet hour
in the pleasant parlor. But this was not intolerable as long as he could
expect a paper of sugar-plums, a cake, or at least something amply to
compensate him for the loss of a game at marbles."
5. COMPLAINTS or LONG LESSONS.--A college officer assigned lessons which
the idle and ignorant members of the class thought too long. They
murmured for a time, and at last openly complained. The other members of
the class could say nothing in behalf of the professor, awed by the
greatest of all fears to a collegian, the fear of being called a
"_fisher_" or a "_blueskin_" The professor paid no attention to the
petitions and complaints which were poured in upon him, and which,
though originated by the idle, all were compelled to vote for. He
coldly, and with uncompromising dignity, went on; the excitement in the
class increased, and what is called a college rebellion, with all its
disastrous consequences to the infatuated rebels, ensued.
Another professor had the dexterity to manage the case in a different
way. After hearing that there was dissatisfaction, he brought up the
subject as follows:
"I understand, gentlemen, that you consider your lessons too long.
Perhaps I have overrated the abilities of the class, but I have not
intended to assign you more than you can accomplish. I feel no other
interest in the subject than the pride and pleasure it would give me to
have my class stand high, in respect to the amount of ground it has gone
over, when you come to examination.
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