James Harris Atkinson

manners - way of carrying oneself

master - do well in; become an expert in

meagerly - sparsely; in this case, had very little furniture

meantime - the time in between (in this case, the time in between when the author left school and when he would be able to go back)

memorize - commit to memory

"method of transportation" - way of getting to and from places

"money crop" - crop grown to sell; source of income

"mountainous section" - area of land or place that has many mountains