A typical country school in Estonia towards the end of the 19th century, mainly attended by the children of peasants.
It is the story of the lives of a group of children throughout their school year, from autumn to spring.
The main characters are Arno, Toots, Kiir and Teele.
When Arno and his father arrived at the schoolhouse, classes had already begun.
Soon a boy, called Toots, whispered to him:
Toots asks: “What did the schoolmaster say?”
“Nothing much” replied Arno.
Toots asks again: “Did he say that you are not allowed to read Indian stories in school?”
Arno: “No.”
Toots: “Have you read The Forests of America? That sure was a brave man“
Arno: “Who was he?”
Toots: “The Lion of Kentucky.”
Kiir sadly said: “My boots’ buttons are missing.”
Toots said, “Maybe rats took them. They took our cabbage-chopper too.”
The teacher said firmly, “Rats can’t move big things like that.”
The teacher added, “Where were your boots last night?”
Kiir sobbed, “By the bed.”
It had been Toots’s first night and he made lots of pranks for other boys.
A search was made under the beds.
One of the boys exclaimed:
“A button!”
All of the buttons were found but the thief remained unknown.
Toots joked, “See, I told you it was rats!”
It is one of those days when things tend to go wrong. There is another school with German students on the church estate. One of the Germans says:
“So, the clodhoppers are going home.”
Tõnisson throws a stone. The boy tries to hit Tõnisson, but he doesn’t back down. Toots runs out with a poker, shouting, “Go, Men of Kentucky! Down with the redskins!”
After school, Tõnisson had to memorise verses for punishment.
The pastor asked Tõnisson and Arno about a raft. Arno lied and said they went home together.
Later Arno found out Lible, the church bell ringer, was blamed for the raft.
Arno asked Tõnisson, “Tell me, Tõnisson, did you sink the raft?”
Tõnisson replied, “How could I have done it?”
Arno: “Then why did you ask me to tell them that we left the schoolhouse together?”
Tõnisson finally told the truth: “That raft…. I did sink it. Why did they have to come and fight in our schoolyard!”
Toots brought a puppy to school.
The teacher said: “What do you think awaits you?”
Toots gave a sad smile and looked towards the corner.
“I’m not going to do that. You must promise me that you will behave today.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Take your things and leave them at home tomorrow. Never mind if you can’t do all your homework.”
“If I can’t solve both of the math problems, I’ll do one.”
Toots stuffed his things into his pockets and left.
Mr. Kiir wanted a name for his newborn son. Toots had a name but wanted apples for it.
“I’ve brought you the best I could find.”
“The first name is the real one. The other one is good as well.”
“Just give me the names.”
Toots: “The first is Columbus and the other is Chrisostomus.”
Kiir tried hard to remember it, repeating to himself: Chrisostomus, Chrisostomus.
As the school year ended, the teacher bid farewell to his students, reflecting on the bond he shared with them. Despite the challenges they faced, they remained dear to his heart.
