Swami's new school

Homework given to students in the Board High School was very heavy as compared to that given in the Albert Mission School. Because of it, Sweminathsn sometimes thought that he should not have left his old school. The teachers at the former were pitiless beings. Besides the heavy homework, there was a compulsory drill three evenings n week, scout classes and games. A single absence meant cane cuts. The Headmaster of the Board School was a hateful creature. But the Head of the Mission School had looked graceful.

All this left little scope for tune in Swaminathan’s life. He had to rise early in the morning and hurried through his homework to reach the school as the first. bell rang. But he would usually get late.

He hated the ringing sound of the school bell. At school he had to be glued to his seat til] four- tln‘rty in the evening except a break of one hour in the afternoon. He would sit in the second row under the teacher’s nose. When the fourthirty bell rang, Swaminathan would stretch his aching lingers. He did not express any joy at the last bell. Helndto go to the drill ground to do drill for forty-five minutes thereafter. The Drill teacher was also pitiless“. He used to make the students swing on the horizontal and parallel bars. He never cared for their safety.

After the drill. Swaminathan would run home. He would drink coffee and rush off to the cricket field which was far away. He covered the distance halfrunning. half walking When he reached there. the sun was about to at All othar players would wait for Swammathan. They would have no interest in the game by that time. When Swaminathan reached the playing gmund. Rajam would ask the reason for getting late. Swaminathan blamed the drill class. It was the reason why he had not played even four times since the new bats and balls had arrived. 

All the boys felt. too bred to play at that time of the day. However, the younger boy was persuaded to bowl for a while and Swaminathan batted. 

Playing by Swaminathun went on till it became too dark to see anything. The ball would be lost in the darkness. When it was found after much efforts, the captain forbade further playing. Stumps would. than. be drawn at the day. Swaminathan would, . mouth with and Mani. They would discuss the day‘s game, the players‘ improvements, drawbacks. w till a peon came to inform. Rajam that his tutor had come.