TYPE AND ITS LUMINAIRE

Chapter 1

Send your bread on the waters, for after many days you will find it again.

(ECKLEZ 11:1)

It was a beautiful July morning. The great hall of the Sunday school seemed fuller and busier than usual.

Children of all ages, from small ones to almost adult girls and young men, occupied all the benches. They had all just sung the hymn: "From afar the country shines to us." The headmaster, slowly moving between the rows, marked the groups of students and teachers and handed the lists to the teachers gathered aside.

At the entrance to the hall, a long bench occupied by several dirty, ragged, barefoot boys involuntarily attracted attention. The teacher's seat was empty, and the expression on the students' faces clearly proved that they had come here with the firm intention of having as much fun as possible. How much liveliness, cunning and playfulness there was in these little listeners!

By their tattered jackets, disheveled hair, and cunning eyes, one could immediately recognize them as a "group of vagabonds." This nickname was the best fit for them. It was even strange to see them in this hall, where the sun's rays illuminated the neatly and neatly dressed girls and boys with snow-white collars and coquettishly tied bows.

A cheerful mood reigned on the bench of the ragged boys: the boys whistled, pulled each other's hair, and fidgeted incessantly, not knowing peace.

The director stopped in front of them and said affably:

- Hello, friends! I am very glad that there are so many of you today! Where is your teacher?

"It's gone," said one.

"Gone to California!" Another interrupted.

"She's scared of us," the third decided.

–Unsurprisingly! Last Sunday Tip had kicked the ruffle of her dress. He's in trouble!

A loud burst of laughter followed this remark. The boys of the next group turned around to see what was going on there. And Tip put his hands in his hair, sharing the general gaiety...

"I'll bring you another teacher with whom you'll probably be pleased, and I hope you'll all try to be polite to her."