The heavy timber doors swung inward with a soft, smooth creak, shutting out the cool afternoon air of the green. Inside, the main hallway of the new schoolhouse smelled wonderfully of freshly cut pine, iron stove polish, and crisp paper.
Following the muted sound of quiet voices, I walked down the short corridor toward the headmaster’s office. The door stood half-open, casting a warm square of lantern light out into the hall.
Inside, Thomas sat at his large oak desk, a tall stack of slate tablets and parchment sheets spread out before him. Ezra and Martha were gathered around the small table nearby, both holding small charcoal pencils and carefully sorting through pages of neat, handwritten exercises.
I leaned against the doorframe, knocking twice on the wood to announce my presence. "H
