The Hoosier Schoolmaster · Chapter
III: Mirandy, Hank, and Shocky explained
Ralph Hartsook, the new schoolmaster, finds himself the object of Mirandy Means's unwanted affection, which she expresses through ogling and simpering.
What happens
Ralph Hartsook, the new schoolmaster, finds himself the object of Mirandy Means's unwanted affection, which she expresses through ogling and simpering. Mrs. Means hints at a match between Ralph and Mirandy, extolling the value of her land, but Ralph is repulsed. Meanwhile, Hank Banta, a spiteful student, plots to humiliate Ralph by loosening a floorboard in the schoolhouse. Warned by the loyal Shocky, Ralph turns the trick against Hank, who falls into the cold water beneath the school. Ralph publicly condemns the prank, quoting Scripture, and earns Bud Means's respect for his clever management.
Themes in this chapter
Education and Discipline
Ralph uses a clever trick to discipline Hank Banta, turning the boy's own prank against him and using Scripture to moralize.
Love and Marriage
Mirandy's infatuation with Ralph and Mrs. Means's hints about marriage highlight the social dynamics of courtship and property.
Community and Gossip
The schoolhouse is a microcosm of the community, where students' actions and the teacher's responses are observed and discussed.
Characters to notice
- Ralph Hartsook
The new schoolmaster, who is dismayed by Mirandy's affection and Hank's trickery, but cleverly turns the prank against Hank.
- Mirandy Means
Falls in love with Ralph after he shows his 'bulldog' character, and expresses her feelings through ogling and simpering.
- Hank Banta
The meanest boy in school, who plots to dunk Ralph in the pond under the schoolhouse but falls in himself.
- Shocky
A faithful and affectionate orphan boy who warns Ralph of Hank's plot, showing his loyalty.
- Bud Means
Observes Ralph's handling of the situation and compliments his cleverness, showing respect for his brains.
- Jack Means
Mrs. Means's husband, who is mentioned as having made his fortune from Congress land.
Key passages
“Mirandy had nothing but contempt for the new master until he developed the bulldog in his character. Mirandy fell in love with the bulldog.”
Mirandy only respected the new teacher after he showed his firmness, and then she fell in love with his strength.
This shows Mirandy's attraction to dominance, a trait Ralph has just displayed.
“She walked by him from school. She cast at him what are commonly called sheep’s-eyes. Ralph thought them more like calf’s eyes.”
She walked beside him and gave him what people call 'sheep's eyes,' though Ralph thought they looked more like a calf's.
This illustrates Mirandy's clumsy attempts at flirtation, which Ralph finds unappealing.
““You see as how, Mr. Hartsook, the man what gits my Mirandy’ll do well. Flat Crick land’s wuth nigh upon a hundred a’ acre.””
Mrs. Means hints that whoever marries Mirandy will be well-off, since the Flat Creek land is worth nearly a hundred dollars an acre.
This reveals the economic motivations behind marriage in the community.
“He said that it was as much thieving to get your fun at the expense of another as to steal his money.”
He said that playing a trick on someone for fun was just as bad as stealing their money.
Ralph uses this moral lesson to condemn Hank's prank and teach the students about fairness.
““Thunder and lightning! what a manager you air, Mr. Hartsook!””
Bud exclaims in admiration, saying Ralph is a great manager.
Bud's comment shows his respect for Ralph's clever handling of the situation.
