登陆注册
15325500000060

第60章 THE SCHOOL-HOUSE SCHEME(2)

It was not easy to sit still under his imputations; especially as Icould plainly see that some of the other members of the council leant towards his way of thinking.Nor will I deny that, in preferring the more moderate design, I had a contemplation of my own advantage in the matter of the dyke; for I do not think it any shame to a public man to serve his own interests by those of the community, when he can righteously do so.

It was a thing never questionable, that the school-house required the inclosure of a wall, and the outside of that wall was of a natural necessity constrained to be a wing of inclosure to the ground beyond.Therefore, I see not how a corrupt motive ought to have been imputed to me, merely because I had a piece of ground that marched with the spot whereon it was intended to construct the new building; which spot, I should remark, belonged to the town before Ibought mine.However, Mr Plan so worked upon this material, that, what with one thing and what with another, he got the council persuaded to give up the moderate plan, and to consent to sell the ground where it had been proposed to build the new school, and to apply the proceeds towards the means of erecting a fine academy on the Green.

It was not easy to thole to be so thwarted, especially for such an extravagant problem, by one so new to our councils and deliberations.I never was more fashed in my life; for having hitherto, in all my plans for the improvement of the town, not only succeeded, but given satisfaction, I was vexed to see the council run away with such a speculative vagary.No doubt, the popular fantasy anent education and academies, had quite as muckle to do in the matter as Mr Plan's fozey rhetoric, but what availed that to me, at seeing a reasonable undertaking reviled and set aside, and grievous debts about to be laid on the community for a bubble as unsubstantial as that of the Ayr Bank.Besides, it was giving the upper hand in the council to Mr Plan, to which, as a new man, he had no right.I said but little, for I saw it would be of no use; I, however, took a canny opportunity of remarking to old Mr Dinledoup, the English teacher, that this castle-building scheme of an academy would cause great changes probably in the masters; and as, no doubt, it would oblige us to adopt the new methods of teaching, I would like to have a private inkling of what salary he would expect on being superannuated.

The worthy man was hale and hearty, not exceeding three score and seven, and had never dreamt of being superannuated.He was, besides, a prideful body, and, like all of his calling, thought not a little of himself.The surprise, therefore, with which he heard me was just wonderful.For a space of time he stood still and uttered nothing; then he took his snuff-box out of the flap pocket of his waistcoat, where he usually carried it, and, giving three distinct and very comical raps, drew his mouth into a purse."Mr Pawkie," at last he said; "Mr Pawkie, there will be news in the world before I consent to be superannuated."This was what I expected, and I replied, "Then, why do not you and Mr Scudmyloof, of the grammar school, represent to the magistrates that the present school-house may, with a small repair, serve for many years." And so I sowed an effectual seed of opposition to Mr Plan, in a quarter he never dreamt of; the two dominies, in the dread of undergoing some transmogrification, laid their heads together, and went round among the parents of the children, and decried the academy project, and the cess that the cost of it would bring upon the town; by which a public opinion was begotten and brought to a bearing, that the magistrates could not resist; so the old school-house was repaired, and Mr Plan's scheme, as well as the other, given up.In this, it is true, if I had not the satisfaction to get a dyke to the backside of my property, I had the pleasure to know that my interloping adversary was disappointed; the which was a sort of compensation.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 了解环境:环境现状介绍

    了解环境:环境现状介绍

    保护和改善生产环境与生态环境、防治污染和其他公害,是我国的一项基本国策。经过长期努力,我国的环境保护工作取得了举世瞩目的成就。当人类社会跨入二十一世纪的时候,我国进入全面建设小康社会、加快推进社会主义现代化的新的发展阶段。党的十六大提出,要大力实施可持续发展战略,实现经济发展和人口、资源、环境相协调。中国是一个人多、地少、水缺的发展中国家,以占世界7%的耕地和8%的淡水资源养育了占世界22%的人口,为世界文明和人类进步作出了巨大贡献。中央高度重视环境保护工作,走可持续发展的道路。各级党委、人大和政府都认识到环境保护工作的极端重要性,自觉地把环境保护工作摆上了重要议事日程,不断加大环境治理力度。
  • 素雪清尘

    素雪清尘

    世间繁华,不过是过眼云烟,她所愿所求,不过是亲人相伴,一世心安,但事事又岂能尽如她所愿?她出生于书香门第,本应是天真烂漫,无忧无虑的相府小姐,但父亲的冷酷无情,娘亲的意外失踪,如今就连哥哥也要抛下她,或许,她注定是所有人的负累。“丫头,灰头土脸的,干啥呢!”她翻墙爬出后院,生出了离家的念头,但脚后跟还没站稳,就被那突如其来的声音吓了一跳。她抬头望去,只见在墙边的梨花树下,静立着一位少年,指尖梨花胜雪,但他嘴角的那丝笑容,却温柔了她今后的岁月。
  • 游戏降临

    游戏降临

    张恒,一个默默无闻的普通人。他在网游界拥有无与伦比的声望,却无改他平凡的命运,直到那一天,游戏降临,所有人变成了玩家,世界重新洗牌,他也拥有了与富二代一样的起跑线。但时也,命也,在杀戮游戏中,与怪物斗争的人类竟走向了灭亡……所有的人类都死于怪物的强攻,作为守护一方的强者,他也献出了自己的生命。不过,他的人生篇章仍未画上句号。或许是不灭的愤怒,使他重生,回到了十年前,游戏降临的开端。而最终重生的他,能否改变前世人类灭亡的命运,拯救身边的人?
  • 星野仙途

    星野仙途

    “风云起,天雷动,十方世界谁称尊?檄令发,斩妖凶,九州沉浮灭魔踪!”一曲辗转流传几个纪元的战歌,揭开了昔日仙魔大战的往事。寻仙路难,三界争锋。红尘滚滚八千丈,不若江湖初见时。俱往矣,数风流人物还看今朝!
  • 极品神医小农民

    极品神医小农民

    一个纯洁的小农民无意间开启祖传医书,获得神农之力,弘扬华夏中医,种植逆天养生菜发家致富,拳打乡村恶霸,脚下都市富二代,坐拥无数美女,爽歪歪。
  • 莫扎特(名人传记丛书)

    莫扎特(名人传记丛书)

    莫扎特是欧洲最伟大的古典主义音乐作曲家之一。他年少时就显示出了非凡的音乐天赋,4岁时开始跟着父亲学习钢琴,5岁时开始学习作曲,6岁时开始在欧洲大陆巡回演出。他留下的作品囊括了当时所有的音乐类型。他的成就在时代的变迁中愈加辉煌灿烂。
  • 傻丫头的妖孽校草

    傻丫头的妖孽校草

    『欢迎大家加入艾霏的读者群,喜欢的可以加哦!新群号:186295009。此文为先甜后虐文,欢迎跳坑。』白初羽一个人在那里自言语:“都怪伊芊芊,不早叫醒我!害我第一天入学就迟到,害我被老师罚写检讨,又要打扫这么大的场地……”一边埋怨着好友,一边拿着扫把出气!“啊!”不知道是疼痛地叫了一声。等白初羽清醒过来,才发现手中的扫把不知在何时飞了。听到吃痛的声音,连忙顺着声跑去:“学长,你没事吧!”用双手扶起被自咂到头的男同学,心里害怕他有个好歹。又问:“你……你,你没,没事吧?要不要我送你去校医那里……”突然抬头一看,见他玩魅诡异的笑容,惊呆了…………
  • 全真武者在都市

    全真武者在都市

    路人甲:“什么,你说的得到“先天功”?小子你金庸大师的小说看多了吧?”主角:“不信,看我金雁功。”就见主角在天空之中,连走三十七步。路人甲:“啊!道长收我为徒吧。”就见主角留下一个潇洒的背影。快步离开。心道:“叫你不相信我,失去了成为高手的机会了吧。哈哈……”一个全真遇仙派的小道士,怎么得到全真教传承。怎么在都市生活闯荡。本书书友群:543656230
  • 神劫之门

    神劫之门

    澜云帝国国祚绵长,立国数千年后已到了风雨飘摇之际,而一个少年人在这风起云涌的乱世继承了前人遗志,誓要打破这虚假的繁荣建立大同之世。
  • 世界文化与自然遗产

    世界文化与自然遗产

    《世界文化与自然遗产》内容简介:世界遗产包含自然遗产和文化遗产,它们或是鬼斧神工的大自然赋予人类的宝贵财富,或是人类自身的杰出创造。了解这些世界遗产对于了解一个国家和地区独特的自然风貌、民族风情、社会历史、建筑艺术、价值观念、文化内涵等具有窥斑知豹的作用。