Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 4.

My first teacher in the High School was Mr. Daniel H. Forbes, a very earnest and faithful instructor. He was succeeded by Mr. Isaac Ames, a graduate of Dartmouth, afterwards Judge of Probate of Suffolk County. He was a man of broad culture and high aims, and his bright personality at once impressed itself upon the school. To come under the influence of a mind of original power, and of a nature ardent, generous, and manly, is to young people the best part of a liberal education, and such was the good fortune of those who attended the High School during the incumbency of Mr. Ames.

The course of study in the old High School was of a mixed character. It was almost altogether an English course. We took up arithmetic, geography, bookkeeping, algebra, plain geometry, ancient history, moral, intellectual, and natural philosophy, botany, chemistry, and Latin—all of course in a rudimentary way, but intelligently, and to good results. It was, so far as it went, a sound school. No Greek was taught until near the close of Mr. Ames' term of service, and no modern language.

With Mr. Ames' retirement closed my connection with the High School. I left it to attend the private school of Mr. Day, kept in the larger building which used to occupy the site upon which the residence of Mr. Joseph Manning, on Forest street, now stands. Mr. Day was the successor of Mr. John Angier, long and favorably known as the principal of a boarding-school which obtained a high repute under his management, and which was at one time attended by George W. Curtis and by pupils from other States, and from the West Indies.

I might go on interminably, but I spare you. The story is long when one abandons himself to memory. I