ten minutes to
nine
`` I went into the school house early Monday mornin ' an ' built a good fire in the new stove . When it was safe to leave it I went into the next house an ' watched the scholars arrive . The lady was a widder with one great unruly boy in the school , an ' she was glad to give me a winder to look out of . It was a turrible cold day , an ' when ' t was ten minutes to nine an ' the school room was full I walked in as big as Cuffy . There was five rows of big boys an ' girls in the back , all lookin ' as if they was loaded for bear , an ' they graded down to little ones down in front , all of 'em hitchin ' to an ' fro in their seats an ' snickerin ' . I give 'em a surprise to begin with , for I locked the door when I come in , an ' put the key in my pocket , cool as a cucumber . `` I never said a word , an ' they never moved their eyes away from me .