that he or she is a person of sober life and conversation and well qualified to keep such school.   Penalty forty shillings.'
   "But there had been 'school dames' before this to instruct the children during the summer in reading, sewing and knitting.   In 1800, Feb. 28, an act was passed 'That the Selectmen were authorized to issue warrants for district meetings; the voters authorized to choose a clerk, raise money for the erection and repairs of school-houses,' etc.   In 1817 school districts were made corporations in name, and empowered 'to hold in fee simple or otherwise real and personal estate for the use of schools.'   And in 1827 districts were first authorized to 'choose school agents,' to whom were confided the care of the houses and the important trust of selecting and hiring teachers.
   "But previous, on March 4, 1826, an act was approved 'That each town in this Commonwealth shall at its annual March or April Meeting choose a Committee of not less than five person, who shall have the general charge and supervision of all the schools in town.'   And that year Marshfield chose her first school board, consisting of Martin Parris, Azel Ames, Elijah Leonard, Charles Macomber and Thomas Conant.
   "The schoolhouse where our grandfathers went to school was on the 'Common,' near the site of Dr. Paine's tomb.   And surely it was a rustic school room.   From the door of that house they watched one September day in 1774 'substantial yeomanry' of Pembroke, Scituate, Hanover and Marshfield march by on their way to rout, and punish a public officer who had not proved faithful to the 'welfare of the Commonwealth and Posteretie.'   But in December, 1774, they watched a more terrible sight, when Gen. Balfour, followed by his fine company of Queen's Guards, marched by, their bayonets glistening in the winter's sunshine, to take up quarters in their town 'to protect every faithful subject to his King so that he dare utter his thoughts, fully