The Middle Five · Chapter
IX: William T. Sherman explained
A new boy, Little Tail, visits the school and decides to stay.
What happens
A new boy, Little Tail, visits the school and decides to stay. He disrupts class by shooting a popgun at Graybeard. Later, William T. Sherman saves a boy named Job from drowning, but is punished for swearing after imitating the Agency teamster. The chapter explores the boys' reactions to these events and their attempts to understand concepts like swearing and lordship.
Themes in this chapter
Education and Discipline
Graybeard's punishment of William T. Sherman for swearing and the boys' fear of the discipline room highlight the strict educational environment.
Childhood and Play
The boys' play, including the popgun incident and the rescue at the swimming hole, shows their childhood experiences.
Cultural Identity and Assimilation
Little Tail's arrival and the boys' confusion about swearing and lordship illustrate the tension between Native culture and missionary teachings.
Characters to notice
- Little Tail
A new boy who visits the school, shoots a popgun at Graybeard, and decides to stay.
- William T. Sherman
Saves Job from drowning, is punished for swearing, and becomes a hero to the girls.
- Graybeard
The teacher who is hit by Little Tail's popgun and later punishes William T. Sherman for swearing.
- Job
A boy who nearly drowns and is rescued by William T. Sherman.
- Brush
Advises William T. Sherman on how to answer Graybeard's questions about swearing.
- Me
The narrator, who observes the events and participates in the boys' discussions.
Key passages
“He answered the questions in monosyllables; but he showed objection to any near approach, by freeing his bare arms from his little buffalo robe and pointing a wooden popgun at the eye of the boy who was inclined to be too familiar.”
Little Tail spoke little and threatened anyone who got too close with his popgun.
Describes Little Tail's defensive behavior upon arrival.
“Bang! went the weapon; the bullet, instead of hitting the object aimed at, struck Graybeard in the face, and made him throw his head back.”
Little Tail's popgun misfired and hit Graybeard in the face.
The popgun incident disrupts the classroom.
“William T. Sherman sprang from his imaginary wagon, swam swiftly to the boy, caught him by the hair as he was going down for the last time, and brought him to the surface.”
William T. Sherman jumped into the water and saved Job from drowning.
William T. Sherman's heroic rescue of Job.
“He made me sit down and say a commandment one hundred times.”
William T. Sherman was punished by having to repeat a commandment 100 times.
William T. Sherman describes his punishment for swearing.