Brave and Bold

Brave and Bold, by Horatio
Alger, Jr.

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Title: Brave and Bold
Author: Horatio Alger, Jr.
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BRAVE AND BOLD
Or
THE FORTUNES OF ROBERT RUSHTON
By
HORATIO ALGER JR.
CHAPTER I.
THE YOUNG RIVALS.
The main schoolroom in the Millville Academy was brilliantly lighted,
and the various desks were occupied by boys and girls of different ages
from ten to eighteen, all busily writing under the general direction of
Professor George W. Granville, Instructor in Plain and Ornamental
Penmanship.
Professor Granville, as he styled himself, was a traveling teacher, and

generally had two or three evening schools in progress in different
places at the same time. He was really a very good penman, and in a
course of twelve lessons, for which he charged the very moderate price
of a dollar, not, of course, including stationery, he contrived to impart
considerable instruction, and such pupils as chose to learn were likely
to profit by his instructions. His venture in Millville had been unusually
successful. There were a hundred pupils on his list, and there had been
no disturbance during the course of lessons.
At nine precisely, Professor Granville struck a small bell, and said, in
rather a nasal voice:
"You will now stop writing."
There was a little confusion as the books were closed and the pens were
wiped.
"Ladies and gentlemen," said the professor, placing one arm under his
coat tails and extending the other in an oratorical attitude, "this evening
completes the course of lessons which I have had the honor and
pleasure of giving you. I have endeavored to impart to you an easy and
graceful penmanship, such as may be a recommendation to you in after
life. It gives me pleasure to state that many of you have made great
proficiency, and equaled my highest expectations. There are others,
perhaps, who have not been fully sensible of the privileges which they
enjoyed. I would say to you all that perfection is not yet attained. You
will need practice to reap the full benefit of my instructions. Should my
life be spared, I shall hope next winter to give another course of writing
lessons in this place, and I hope I may then have the pleasure of
meeting you again as pupils. Let me say, in conclusion, that I thank you
for your patronage and for your good behavior during this course of
lessons, and at the same time I bid you good-by."
With the closing words, Professor Granville made a low bow, and
placed his hand on his heart, as he had done probably fifty times before,
on delivering the same speech, which was the stereotyped form in
which he closed his evening schools.

There was a thumping of feet, mingled with a clapping of hands, as the
professor closed his speech, and a moment later a boy of sixteen,
occupying one of the front seats, rose, and, advancing with easy
self-possession, drew from his pocket a gold pencil case, containing a
pencil and pen, and spoke as follows:
"Professor Granville, the members of your writing class, desirous of
testifying their appreciation of your services as teacher, have
contributed to buy this gold pencil case, which, in their name, I have
great pleasure in presenting to you. Will you receive it with our best
wishes for your continued success as a teacher of penmanship?"
With these words, he handed the pencil to the professor and returned to
his seat.
The applause that ensued was terriffic, causing the dust to rise from the
floor where it had