It was early September when the school got a new teacher. She was Tilly Taylor and was known as a good teacher.
On her first working day she said to the children, “I am Miss Taylor, your new teacher. I hope that we will have a very pleasant and learning full year.”
Mitch said nothing but had his reasons. Since he had attended school he had already had a dozen of teachers.
“We are going to start with the lessons, but first I want to know where you exactly are and which level you have indivuality”, Tilly said.
She handed out the papers and the children began to write very quickly. Mitch was the only one who took the longest time. When the children were playing in their break was the young Cartwright only halfway the test.
Tilly walked to him and said, “Mitch, how far are you? The others are already finished with the test.”
“Halfway”, Mitch said and went along with the test.
“I have already heard that you can’t keep up with the class so I put you a class back. Give me the test”, Tilly said.
Mitch put his pen down and gave the paper to the teacher.
“Miss Taylor, I just have very much difficulty with reading and writing. I can’t help it, can I?”, Mitch asked indignant.
“You just are too lazy to learn it. I will talk to your parents about you after school”, Tilly said.
“Then you must first go to the Ponderosa because there is daddy and then to heaven because that is where mummy is”, the young Cartwright answered.
The teacher looked at him being deeply shocked and said, “That is no way to talk about a dear who has passed away! Out of my class. I do not want to see you anymore today!”
“Grandpa says that also about mummy because Grandma is there too”, Mitch reacted firm.
He got up and left the school.
At the schoolyard Matthew asked, “Mitch, where are you going?”
“That woman doesn’t want me in her class anymore. I go home nicely and tell everything to daddy. I see you”, the young Cartwright answered.
He walked to his pony and mounted on. In an easy pace Mitch rode back home. He had a lot to think about. He knew that Adam wouldn’t be pleased anyway when he would hear that Mitch was sent out class again.
At the yard Ben was busy working at the corral. He saw to his big amazing his grandson coming and walked towards him.
“Mitch, what is the matter? Mustn’t you go to school?”, the rancher asked amazed.
Mitch stopped Whitey and dismounted. He looked away from his Grandpa and kept silent. Ben understood by this behavior that there has happened something between Mitch and the new teacher.
“Will you help me with the horses?”, Ben asked.
Mitch nodded. He brought his books and lunch inside and came the outside again.
“Grandpa, when does daddy come home again?”, Mitch asked suddenly.
“The day after tomorrow. Why?”, Ben asked amazed.
“The new teacher wants to see him. That woman has put me a class back because I can’t keep up with the rest. Will daddy be angry with me?”, Mitch asked on his turn.
“I don’t think so but he will be at the teacher”, was Ben’s reply.
“She wants to see my parents and then I said that daddy lives here and mummy in heaven. She got a bit very angry and said that I may not talk about the ones who passed away. But you do that also because Grandma is there too?”, Mitch asked confused.
Ben walked with his grandson to the porch and sat down.
He pulled the boy to him and said: “That is true. But I know for sure that if Grandma was still alive that she would love you very much.”
Mitch only knew Elizabeth from pictures and stories which Ben and Adam told him often.
“Do I look like grandma?”, Mitch asked out of pure curiosity.
“You have her eyes, attractively, hair and her build”, Ben said.
“But the gender of daddy”, his grandson said dry.
The rancher laughed and said a moment later, “It is about time that we get to work. Come fellow.”
They got up and walked to the corral.
“You are going to clean the saddles. The stuff and the cloths for it are in the shed. I look after the horses”, Ben said.
Mitch fetched the things and went to clean the saddles in the sun. Ben looked at his only and hard working grandson once in a while and noticed that Mitch became more and more a cowboy instead of a city boy.
At four o’clock Tilly ran into deputy Clem Foster.
“Deputy, can you tell me where I can find the Ponderosa? I want to talk to the parents of Mitch Cartwright”, she said to Clem.
“You must ride on straight ahead. At your right hand you see at a certain moment a big brown house. That is where the Cartwrights live”, the deputy explained.
“My gratefully thanks”, Tilly said.
Clem nodded smiling and rode towards the town.
The teacher rode upon the yard and attracted all the attention. Hoss, Little Joe and Candy saw her coming and knew right away that there was trouble on its way again.
Tilly stopped her carriage and asked the boys, “Who of you is the father of Mitch Cartwright?”
“None of us because Adam, the father of Mitch, is away for a couple of days”, Little Joe said.
“I must say that he is being very irresponsible. His son doesn’t do a damn thing at school and he goes away himself”, Tilly foamed.
“What do you mean?”, Hoss asked amazed.
“I am Miss Taylor, the teacher of Mitch. This morning I sent him home because he said that his mother is in heaven and now you tell me that his father is away”, the teacher said.
“The mother of Mitch has passed away but his father is away for business”, Candy said.
“I will return later when it suits”, Tilly said.
She turned her carriage and drove away.
At the Ponderosa the visit of Tilly was the talk of the town.
Ben said, “I reckon that Adam won’t take it when he hears that Mitch is sent out of class by Miss Taylor on the first morning.”
“What must I do now?”, Mitch asked worried.
“Until your father is home again you stay at home. There are enough chores to be done for you here at the ranch”, Ben said.
Hoss, Little Joe and Candy looked at each other laughing.
Ben had noticed that and said, “Not the work that those three over there have in mind. I suggest that one of you each spend one whole afternoon helping Mitch with his schoolwork.”
“We love to do that and with love”, Little Joe said.
“It really is not necessary”, the young Cartwright protested.
But Ben said, “Mitch, you have a lot of trouble with it and we love to help you with it.”
“Okay then”, was the comment of Mitch.
“Tomorrow the first thing you do is giving the animals their food. That is from now on your chore”, Ben said.
“Must I feed Uncle Hoss, Uncle Joe and Candy as well then?”, Mitch asked innocent.
“How do you mean?”, the rancher asked not understanding.
“Well, sometimes you say to them that they behave themselves like beasts? According to me animals are the same as beasts”, his grandson explained.
Ben started to laugh but Hoss, Little Joe and Candy of course not.
“No, they can eat by themselves but your question was very funny”, Ben said still laughing a bit.
Hoss said groaning, “That little thing becomes more and more underhand like his father.”
“I am not for nothing Adam’s child”, Mitch reacted quick-witted.
Of course no one had a reaction to it so that the subject of conversation changed.
The next morning Mitch helped along with feeding the animals which he quite liked. After the coffee break Mitch continued his schoolwork which he made outside on the porch. On turns or Hoss or Little Joe or Candy helped him with the schoolwork and explained it when the boy didn’t understand something.
It was a sunny afternoon when Adam came home again. He was in a jolly mood and singing out loud. Hereby it became very soon clear that the family Cartwright was soon complete again. Mitch sat on the porch doing his schoolwork when Cody began to bark enthusiastic. The boy looked up and saw his father coming
He got up and yelled while he ran to his father, “Daddy!”
Adam was just as pleased to see his son again that Sport suddenly began to prance and with his right leg came against the head of Mitch. The boy fell on the ground and Cody was right away at his little boss. Adam calmed down his sorrel, jumped from him and ran to his boy.
“Kid, I am sorry”, Adam said apologizing.
Mitch sat down and said, “Keep that horse away.”
Adam stood up and brought Sport to the pole where he got hitched. After that he cared about Mitch again.
“I am alright”, the boy said brave.
“Mustn’t you go to school anyway? And where is the rest of the family?”. Adam asked amazed.
“Grandpa is inside busy with the administration. But he doesn’t enjoy it very much. Uncle Hoss, Uncle Joe and Candy are with the herd and I am home since a few days. There is a new teacher and she says that I don’t belong in her class”, Mitch told him.
“We are going to cheer up Grandpa”, Adam said smiling.
“Do you mean that you are going to give him more administration work?”, Mitch asked teasing.
“No, I am going to tell him that he may do it from now on because I’m ganna teach you here at home”, his father reacted quick-witted.
“Grandpa won’t be grateful to you”, Mitch said laughing.
Together they walked to the big ranch house and went inside.
It was very clearly that Adam was home again because he came inside with the remark, “Jee, look very good Mitch because you don’t see this very often. Grandpa is busy with his one and only hobby, the administration.’”
“What are you very funny again, Adam Poindexter Cartwright”, Ben reacted directly.
Mitch was rolling on the floor laughing and said, “I knew right away that daddy was home again because he came singing riding upon the yard. When he is singing there is something the matter with him.”
“That is indeed the case. Boy, welcome home and why are you in such a good mood?”, Ben asked.
I am just very glad yo be home again with my lovely son and dog. All business turned out well and I managed to make some profit at the sale of that herd of sheep”, Adam said grinning.
“That is very nice to hear but I assume that Mitch has informed you about the new problems at school?”, Ben asked.
Adam became serious and said, “Indeed.”
“She has even put me a class back”, Mitch said spontaneous.
Adam said, “I will give that woman a right piece of my mind.”
He went away and got Sport. Underway to the school Adam thought, why must now Mitch get troubles at school? We hardly had no troubles. Maybe it’s better if I teach him everything at home.
The school has just gone out when Adam arrived.
“Mr Cartwright, is Mitch at the ranch?”, Matthew asked.
“Yes. Go to see him. Later on I go to your mother to tell you that you eat at our place. I bring you home tonight”, Adam said.
Matthew got his pony and rode to the Ponderosa. Adam dismounted and hitched Sport tight.
“Stay here boy”, he said and stroked him a bit over his forehead.
After that Adam went inside the school. Tilly saw him and was smitten right away. What a handsome guy. I would like to share a cup of tea with him and even more than that too, thought the teacher. Adam walked to the desk of his son and went to sit upon it.
“Why are you sending Mitch out of the class without a reason”, he asked.
Tilly looked up and said, “He says that his mother is in heaven and I said that he may not talk about the past ones. Besides he cannot even make an easy test.”
“He has just very much difficulty with reading and writing”, Adam reacted
“Why are you interfering with Mitch anyway?”, Tilly asked then a bit bossy.
“Because I am his father. May I introduce myself to you, Adam Cartwright”, Adam said calm.
“You seems very intelligent to me. Why is Mitch so dumb then?”, the teacher asked.
“Mitch is really not so dumb. He can only read and write very hard. His mother had trouble with it as well but not as much as Mitch”, Adam said.
“Tell me Mr Cartwright, did you happen to have studied at an university and where was that?”, Tilly asked.
“Indeed I have studied four years at an university in Boston but what has this to do with my son?”, Adam asked amazed.
“I have the opinion that your son really does not belong here. Even though his father had studied at an university”, Tilly said.
“I can make it very difficult for you when you refuse to teach a pupil”, Adam said cool
“Was that a threat?”, Tilly asked cattish.
“No, a warning”, the eldest Cartwright boy where after he left.
Tilly looked at him being insulted and thought I am really not afraid of you, Adam Cartwright!
Adam mounted on Sport and rode to the house of the Walker family where Matthew belonged to.
He saw Laura outside busy with the washing and said, “If you want to know where Matthew is, he is with us at the ranch playing with Mitch. He stays for dinner tonight and I bring him home.”
“That is nice to hear. Matthew says that it is no fun at school anymore since that new teacher there is to teach the children”, Laura said.
“I have just met her but she isn’t my type. She thinks that she is a whole lot just because she studied to be a teacher. If she keeps on making it difficult for Mitch, we will have a lot of adventures then”, Adam reacted.
“Knowing you and your family will cause that a lot of gossip”, Laura remarked laughing.
“How do you mean? My family is always very nice and never fights”, Adam said honest.
Laura coughed a bit notable and said laughing, “Tell that to someone else but not me. You know very well what I mean.”
Adam nodded smiling, turned his horse and rode back home.
In the meantime Tilly was riding again to the Ponderosa to talk to Adam about Mitch. They happen to came there at the same time.
“Mr, Cartwright, I demand your apology about what you said to me in school”, Tilly said.
“I don’t see what I have said that is wrong. Actually you should be apologizing to me and Mitch for rude behavior”, Adam said.
The teacher said, “No, now it becomes even better. You come rushing into my school with a list complaints about how I treat your son while Mitch is the cause of those complaints himself. ”
“Well, from now on you have one student less because Mitch is not going to school as long as you are swaying the scepter. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Walkers take their boy soon out of school too. Good day Miss Taylor ”, Adam said fierce.
“Has someone ever told you that you are arrogant?”, Tilly asked cattish.
“Often enough but those people just hated me and my family”, Adam replied quick-witted. Tilly had become so angry that she almost was beside herself. She turned her carriage and rode away. Adam looked at her and shook his head. He rode upon the yard and saw Mitch and Matthew throwing over together and Cody was trying to catch the ball in which he did not succeed. He stopped the sorrel and slipped out of the saddle.
“Mitch, you are not going to school anymore as long as that woman tries to teach. I teach you here”, Adam said to his son
“I don’t mind”, was the comment of the boy.
“Wow, you get private lessons from your father. I wish that I got them as well”, Matthew reacted.
“If your parents take you also from school because of that strange lady, you come here as well as if I can learn Mitch everything so I can teach you it too”, Adam said.
“I will say it to them”, Matthew said.
The friends went to play along while Adam did some chores before dinner. After dinner Adam brought Matthew home like promised.
Once at home Matthew asked his parents, “Dad, mom, Mitch may not go to school anymore of Mr Cartwright. Miss Taylor and he ran into each other twice today and both times they were at odds between them. Mr Cartwright is now going to teach Mitch everything himself. If I get troubles with that woman I may get lessons from him as well. May I?”
“You go to school like always but if Miss Taylor makes it difficult for you or even expels you from school you get lessons too at the Ponderosa”, Dan said, the father of Matthew.
“I must not think about the fact that Adam must teach Mitch and Matthew. I feel already sorry for Adam”, Laura said laughing.
“Mom, what did you think of me and Mitch?”, her son reacted.
Matthew behaved himself very normal at school until the teacher let him stay late.
“Matthew Walker, you are going the wrong way of life to stay friends with that Mitch Cartwright. That kid is no good for anything. His grandpa runs a ranch and thinks that he is really something. I am so very pleased that farm boy is no longer at my school that I forbid you to play with him. Do you understand me?”, Tilly asked stately.
“Why may I not play with Mitch anymore? Because his family has a ranch? My parents don’t object to it. By the way, you can’t tell me what to do with I may play and with who not. May I tell you another thing?”, Matthew asked.
Tilly looked at him and asked, “What is that then?”
“My dad happens to work in a mine which borders the Ponderosa”, the young Walker said with pride.
“Get lost now because I do not want you in my class either”, the teacher snapped.
Matthew grabbed his things and ran away.
Arrived at home Matthew said, “Mom, I may not even play with Mitch anymore of that woman. She determines who I play with.”
Laura said, “Where does that woman interfere with? I go and talk to her right away!”
She got the carriage and rode with Matthew to the school. There was the teacher still at work. She saw the carriage coming and thought there comes another interfering mother complaining!
Laura stopped the carriage and said, “Why are you telling my son with whom he may play and with who not? That is not your chore at all!”
“I know what is good for a schoolchild!”, Tilly snapped.
Laura looked at her and said cool, “I may hope that more parents take their children from school so that you are out of work. There aren’t so many children here in Virginia City.”
She turned the carriage and rode away from the school.
“Are we going to the Cartwrights?”, Matthew asked.
His mother nodded.
Adam was with Mitch throwing over to each other at the yard when they saw the carriage coming.
“Daddy, we are having company”, Mitch said directly.
“I see it kid. And I think that I already know what it is about”, his father answered.
He held the ball tight and walked to the carriage.
“Hello Laura”, Adam said.
“Hello Adam. Now that woman has done it completely. She forbids Matthew to play with Mitch as long as he is at her school. I gave her a good piece of my mind and now I would like to ask you if you want to teach Matthew as well?”, she asked.
“Of course I will and do that. Bring him here and then one of us brings him home in the evening”, Adam said.
“Dan comes here by on his way home so he can pick up Matthew right away”, Laura said.
Adam nodded and said, “That is okay. Matthew, I see you on Monday.”
The young Walker laughed and winked at Mitch and got one in return.
Adam didn’t know what he got himself into when he decided to teach Mitch and Matthew at the ranch. The friends often thought the same thing sand had the same sense of humor. Adam took the boys outside because it was still very warm. Cody was lying at the porch eating a bone which he got every Monday morning.
“Boys, we start with calculate. When a rancher has 50 cows and he buys on a cattle-market another 40. How many cows does he have in total?”, Adam asked.
“A very big herd”, Mitch said dry.
Matthew was lying on the floor laughing and Adam could appreciate the answer as well.
“Fifty and forty is…..?”, Adam asked seriously again.
He wrote it down and showed it to the boys.
Mitch made the sum and said, “Ninety.”
“Correct. But now he sells 25. What is the difference?”, Adam asked.
“Then he only has 65”, Matthew said.
“I don’t understand that rancher”, Mitch said.
“What do you not understand?”, Adam asked amazed.
“First that rancher has 50 cows and he buys another 40 so he has 90 and then he sells another 25. then is your herd much smaller? What a stupid rancher”, Mitch explained.
Matthew began to laugh again and Adam didn’t know what to reply in return.
“Go nicely back to bed and dream well Mitch”, Adam said after a while.
“That cannot be”, the young Cartwright said.
“And why can that not be?”, his father wanted to know.
“Because I am wide awake”, was the dry answer.
Adam sighted deeply and decided to continue with the lesson. Although they laughed a lot the boys learned more than when they were attending the normal school.