Return to article by James Harris Atkinson

S

sacrificing - giving up something for the sake of someone else

salvaged - saved from being lost or destroyed

satisfactorily - well

sawmill - a place where machines saw logs into lumber

scholars - people who have a great deal of knowledge

schoolhouse - small, often wooden, building where early schools met

schooling - formal education; formal learning; learning that takes place in a school setting

session - meeting; a time or period when students attend classes at a school

slate - miniature chalkboard; what people used for notebooks

"slave labor" - in this case, did everything by the book and according to the rules, so as not to get into trouble

"sleeping cars" - cars on trains in which there are beds

slender - thin

"soft-spoken" - having a gentle or light (and not harsh or sharp) voice

sophomore - second year

"snap" courses - easy classes; classes that do not require much effort, thought, or work to get a good grade in

"spiced with humor" - he added some element of humor to his lectures (which made them more interesting)

standoffish - withdrawn; cold; not intimate

stately - grand and graceful in appearance or manner; dignified; majestic

stature - build; height

stock - cattle, sheep, and other animals raised on a farm; livestock

supplement - something added to complete or improve another thing