AT SCHOOL
 
 
 C 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 A YEAR AT SCHOOL 
 
 BY 
 
 TOM BROWN 
 
 LONDON AND NEW YORK 
 GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS
 
 LOXDOK: 
 i'filXTKD BY SlMMOXS & BoTTEIT, 
 
 Shoe Laiie, B.C.
 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 AFTKR THE HOLIDAYS 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 A NEW SCHOLAR 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE DINNER-TIME 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 A SNOW-FIGKT 28 
 
 CHAPTER Y. 
 AFTER THE BATTLE . . . . . . . .38 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 RETRIBUTION 46 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 SPRINGTIME 58 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 KEEPING A BIRTHDAY ....... 67 
 
 483SCG 
 
 LIBRARY
 
 iv Contents. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 THE MIDSUMMER EXAMINATION . ... 78 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 ONE MISSING ........ 89 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 " Gus TO THE RESCUE " 98 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 THE PIC-NIC . 109 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 AN IMPORTANT VISITOR .119 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 A NUTTING EXPEDITION . . . . . . izS 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 THE EMPLOYERS' PRIZE SCHEME ..... 140 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 A LEAVE-TAKING 148 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 SUCCESS AND ENVY . . . . . . .158 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 THE CHRISTMAS EXAMINATION 170 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 THE ANNUAL GATHERING . . . . . 179
 
 A YEAR AT SCHOOL. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 AFTER THE HOLIDAYS. 
 
 jT was a clear, cold, frosty morning, 
 in January, 186 , and the first school 
 day in the new year. It wanted quite 
 half an hour to school time, yet in 
 the large playground of Copsley School 
 was a little group of boys who had come thus 
 early to meet their schoolfellows, and to chat over 
 the fun they had had in the holidays. They looked 
 sturdy, jolly fellows, as they stood there wrapped 
 in their warm overcoats, their faces ruddy with 
 cold, and three or four of them talking all at 
 once, as they described what sports they had had.
 
 A Year at School. 
 
 "Back to school again" is never shouted 
 quite so enthusiastically as " Home for the holi- 
 days," and yet most intelligent boys are glad to 
 get back to school when the time comes for them 
 to do so. When they " break up " they feel as if 
 they could enjoy a perpetual vacation, and for the 
 first week or so, while everyone else is taking 
 holiday, they certainly do enjoy themselves im- 
 mensely. But when father and elder brothers 
 have again to attend closely to business, when 
 mother is fully occupied with household cares, 
 when there are no more little parties, and no 
 more entertainments or friends to visit, the leisure 
 time begins to hang heavily on their hands, and 
 all boys, who are not downright idlers, are glad to 
 get off to school again. Although they do not 
 put it before them in so many words, they soon 
 find that holiday is only pleasant as a change, and 
 they for the first time learn the useful lesson that 
 work is better than play. 
 
 It was so with these boys. Before they left
 
 After the Holidays. 
 
 for the Christmas holidays they had got thoroughly 
 tired of school work. Right away from the Mid- 
 summer vacation they had been hard at work at 
 their lessons; and at last they had begun to 
 consider the schoolroom as a prison, the lessons 
 as penances, and the master as a tyrant. But 
 now, after being away only three weeks, they were 
 quite astonished to find what a pleasure there 
 was in coming back to the familiar old place, 
 and in meeting their master and their fellow- 
 pupils. 
 
 But all this time we have left the little group 
 of early comers chatting and standing out in the 
 cold. Surely they have finished their gossip 
 before now. 
 
 No, they have not. George Benson is just 
 showing his playfellows how narrowly he escaped 
 being thrown by the little pony he had been 
 riding at his uncle's, and with his skate-strap for 
 a rein he is demonstrating how cleverly he pulled 
 the animal round just at the right instant.
 
 A Year at School. 
 
 But it is getting near school time now, and 
 the boys are fast arriving. Presently we hear a 
 great shout of " Hurrah ! hurrah ! here's Gus 
 Brookes;" and a boy, apparently about thirteen 
 years of age, squarely built, and with a roguish, 
 jolly face, enters the playground. 
 
 Gus Brookes was the strongest boy in the 
 school, and the little ones firmly believed that if 
 he once put out his strength the schoolmaster 
 would be powerless in his hands. He was the 
 leader in all the school sports, and although not 
 particularly bright at his lessons, his generous, 
 impulsive good-nature made him a general 
 favourite. 
 
 <c How good you all are," said he. " I should 
 think you are trying to curry favour with the 
 master by coming so early. I wonder how many 
 of you are going to keep on as well as you have 
 begun ? I should have been here as early as any 
 of you though, but I have been skating since 
 six o'clock till breakfast on the mill-pond."
 
 After the Holidays. 
 
 " How does it bear?" was the immediate 
 inquiry of half-a-dozen boys eager for the 
 sport. 
 
 "As safe as houses in some parts/' he replied; 
 adding, with an air of conscious superiority, " but 
 Fd advise anybody who can't swim well to keep 
 away from the weir." 
 
 Immediately upon this another burst of cheer- 
 ing told of the arrival of another popular pupil, 
 and a glance at him showed that his popularity 
 must arise from far different causes from those 
 which made Gus Brookes a favourite. This boy, 
 who was greeted as Alec Gordon, was a slight- 
 made, pale-faced lad, with thin features, and clear, 
 piercing grey eyes. He was wrapped in a great- 
 coat, and had a warm woollen comforter round his 
 neck; but for all that he was shivering with 
 cold. 
 
 Alec Gordon was the cleverest boy in the 
 school, and although he was not strong enough 
 to join in any of the boisterous sports, his gentle
 
 6 A Year at School. 
 
 demeanour and kindness made him a favourite with 
 most of the scholars. 
 
 Almost close upon his heels there came a 
 smart lad, dressed in a well-fitting suit, wearing 
 a bright-coloured scarf, and fine cloth gloves. 
 
 " Oh my !" said Gus Brookes, " ain't Charlie 
 Davis coming out a swell. I should think they'll 
 put his portrait in the fashion plates soon." 
 
 " Twig his purple gloves and his new ' tile/ ;; 
 said Bob Johnson. 
 
 "Good morning, Mr. Davis," said Sam 
 Townley, assuming a lackadaisical air, "may I 
 inquire if you feel tolerable well after the excite- 
 ments of your holidays ?" 
 
 "Don't be a donkey," said Charlie, who, 
 though rather fond of dress, was by no means 
 so foolish as people sometimes thought him. 
 
 " Have any of you fellows got heating appa- 
 ratus concealed under your coats r" asked Alec 
 Gordon. " To see how comfortable you look, one- 
 might be inclined to think you could draw warmth
 
 the Holidays. 
 
 out of frost, while I am shivering enough to shake 
 to pieces. Come, let's have "a game. Here, Pll 
 be tick ! Look out ! There you are, Gus you 
 have it." 
 
 If a bombshell had fallen in the centre of the 
 group they could not have scattered much more 
 quickly than they did when Alec Gordon cried 
 {< tick," and started the game. In an instant they 
 were off in all directions, running hither and 
 thither as one after another became the " ticker/' 
 until at nine o'clock the schoolmaster stepped into 
 the playground and blew his whistle. 
 
 Copsley School was situated in the centre of a 
 large manufacturing district in the Midland Coun- 
 ties. Although a cheap school, it was famed 
 throughout the neighbourhood for the thorough, 
 practical, middle-class education imparted; and^ 
 as a consequence, many of the r pupils came from 
 a distance, and brought their dinners with 
 them. 
 
 Mr. Stanton, the master, was tall and dark
 
 8 A Year at School. 
 
 gentlemanly in manners, a good scholar, and a 
 truly good man. He was assisted in the manage- 
 ment of his two hundred pupils by four junior 
 masters, and also by a few of the elder boys, who 
 occasionally acted as monitors to the younger 
 children. 
 
 As was the invariable custom at Copsley 
 School, as soon as the master's whistle was blown 
 all play was stopped, and the scholars, running 
 from every nook and corner of the playground, 
 and tumbling out of the schoolroom, fell into line 
 with the precision of soldiers, each class having a 
 particular spot to stand on. Having thus formed 
 themselves in a long line, curving round the whole 
 of one side of the playground, they saluted their 
 master with a bow, went through a little drilling ; 
 and then marched single file into the schoolroom, 
 singing some marching tune, and as they came to 
 their particular places they filed off, one class at a 
 time. 
 
 The school was opened as usual with singing
 
 AJter the Holidays. 
 
 and prayer, but instead of proceeding with the les- 
 sons as on an ordinary school-day, the master told 
 the lads to sit down for a little while, as he wanted 
 to speak to them. He began by wishing them 
 each and all a "Happy New Year." 
 
 " Thank you, sir the same to you," responded 
 a chorus of merry voices, and the lads gave vent 
 to their exuberant spirits by giving " three cheers 
 for the master." 
 
 " Now, my boys," said Mr. Stanton, " it is of 
 little use to wish each other a ' Happy New 
 Year' unless we determine to make it a happy 
 one. I hope you have all come back to school 
 with an earnest purpose to do yourselves and me 
 credit. You will not be able to come to school 
 much longer. Many of you will soon be called 
 upon to earn your living. I trust you will there- 
 fore improve the little time you have to the best 
 advantage. Let us all make a fresh start. I can 
 sincerely say that I forgive everyone of you any 
 anxiety or trouble you' may have caused me in the
 
 io A Year at School. 
 
 past year. We now stand fair and square for the 
 new one. If you only try your best, you may 
 make this the happiest and most prosperous year 
 of your school life. And now let us commence 
 work/' 
 
 With that the different classes passed off to 
 their proper places, and commenced their various 
 studies.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 A NEW SCHOLAR. 
 
 FEAR there was not much work done 
 on that first morning after the holi- 
 days. Neither men nor boys can 
 settle down very readily after a time 
 of relaxation. 
 And then there were so many things to at- 
 tract the attention of the boys. There had been 
 various little repairs done which required to be 
 noticed. 
 
 Gus Brookes found that the old desk where he 
 and five other boys sat for the writing lesson, and 
 which had been shaky for some time past, had been 
 replaced by a new one, which in its whiteness was 
 quite a contrast to the others, black with ink-
 
 12 A Year at School. 
 
 stains. But Gus liked his old desk much better than 
 the new one. Although it had had more ink on 
 it than any desk in the school,, it was endeared to 
 him by old associations, and some of them of a 
 rather peculiar character. He could doubtless have 
 told how many lines he had to write for each par- 
 ticular time he had upset his ink-pot by his carer 
 lessness. And then it was ornamented with his 
 initials in letters of all sizes and shapes, and had 
 a wonderful portrait cut in it of one of the as- 
 sistant teachers whom Gus greatly disliked, and 
 whom he had nicknamed " Boney," because he 
 thought he saw some resemblance in his features 
 to those of Napoleon Bonaparte. Another reason 
 for the dislike Gus had for his new desk was, if he 
 upset his ink now it would show alarmingly plain, 
 whereas if he did so on his old one, and could 
 manage to dry it up quickly with his slate sponge, 
 he might have defied a London detective to say 
 whether or not there had been any new stain. 
 He silently resolved to reproduce the initials and
 
 A New Scholar. 13 
 
 the portrait, and wished oh ! how earnestly ! 
 that some other lad would stain his part of the 
 desk in his absence. 
 
 Then all the hat-pegs which had been broken 
 by being used as gymnastic apparatus had been 
 replaced by new ones. All the broken windows 
 were repaired. The mouse-hole under the book- 
 cupboard (for watching which, poor Bob Johnson 
 had had to write many an extra page of Natural 
 History) was stopped up. The old map of 
 Europe, which had got quite indistinct from fre- 
 quent use, was replaced by a bright new one, 
 which, to the terror of the boys, seemed to have 
 nearly twice as many towns, rivers, and moun- 
 tains delineated on its brightly varnished surface. 
 And worst of all, the master brandished a new 
 cane, strong and supple; and from the way in 
 which it twisted about in his hands, it seemed in 
 a hurry to be seasoned on the back of some luck- 
 less lad. 
 
 And after these new things had been noticed,
 
 14 A Year at School. 
 
 and silently commented on, the old ones had to 
 be glanced at and recognized. 
 
 George Benson found on his desk a rather 
 rude engraving of his uncle's little pony, which he 
 had cut in on his return from his visit at Mid- 
 summer. He now surveyed it with a critical eye, 
 and got his knife out, so that when the master 
 looked another way he might make such improve- 
 ments in the design as were suggested by his more 
 recent remembrance of that animal. 
 
 There were the same old books piled up in the 
 cupboards ; the same regiment of ink-bottles 
 under the master's desk ; the same moral maxims 
 in unreadable ornamental letters round the walls; 
 the same colony of sparrows in the waterspout, 
 occasionally peeping through the upper panes of 
 the windows with an impertinent curiosity that 
 was quite amusing; and many of the same old 
 faces ranged along the desks. 
 
 By the time the lads had completed their 
 survey of the objects surrounding them, a new
 
 A New Scholar. 15 
 
 cause of inattention presented itself a fresh boy 
 entered the school, accompanied by his father. 
 He looked about thirteen years of age, and had an 
 intelligent face, but was much confused by the 
 curious gaze he met, whichever way he looked. 
 He was clean and neat, but his clothes bore 
 evident signs of home production. 
 
 " Good morning, sir," said the man, as the 
 schoolmaster approached ; " my name is Lindsay. 
 I want my son Edward to enter your school." 
 
 " What school has he been to before ?" said 
 the master. 
 
 " To Mr. Jones' school, at Rudham. I am 
 rather proud of it, sir, but Mr. Jones said he 
 could not teach him much more, and advised me 
 to bring him to you." 
 
 On hearing this, Mr. Stanton examined the 
 new pupil in writing, arithmetic, etc., and then said 
 he thought he would do for the second class, and 
 if he worked hard he might soon get into the first. 
 
 (C Are there any boys from our neighbourhood
 
 1 6 A Year at School. 
 
 whom you could recommend as companions for 
 my son to come and go with ?" asked Mr. Lind- 
 say. 
 
 " Let me see/' said Mr. Stanton, " you live at 
 Rudham. Do you know John and William Par- 
 sons ? Their father is one of the foremen at 
 Rudham Mill." 
 
 " I know Mr. Parsons very well/' said Mr. 
 Lindsay, " but not the boys." 
 
 ff They are very steady lads, and the younger 
 one will be in the same class. Young Brookes 
 goes pretty nearly the same way home; but, 
 although not a bad boy, he is hardly steady 
 enough/' 
 
 William Parsons was then called, introduced to 
 Edward Lindsay and his father, and then sent to 
 his place with the new boy for a companion. 
 
 "What a shy youngster !" said Gus Brookes; 
 (( he looks as timid as if we were going to eat 
 him." 
 
 " Shouldn't you like to beg the pattern of his
 
 A New Scholar. 17 
 
 coat ?" asked Charlie Davis of his neighbour. " I 
 wonder who is his tailor ?" 
 
 "Can't you see/' said Bob Johnson, " his 
 grandfather left him that suit of clothes inhis will, 
 and his mother has altered them to make them 
 fit?" 
 
 Edward Lindsay felt anything but comfortable 
 as he sat in his class, and looked round on his 
 new companions. He saw that all of them were 
 better dressed than himself, and occasionally his 
 face flushed crimson as he overheard whispered 
 sneers at the plainness of his clothes. He saw, 
 too, that the studies were much more advanced 
 than those he had been used to. Even in his pet 
 subject, arithmetic, he found all the boys in his 
 class somewhat ahead of him. His highest sums 
 had been in Practice and Compound Proportion ; 
 but he now found the dullest of his class-mates 
 working vulgar and decimal fractions, while he 
 scarcely knew a denominator from a numerator. 
 Thinking of these things made him low-spirited
 
 ] tS A Year at School. 
 
 and nervous, and when he might have answered a 
 question he was too much confused to do so. 
 
 Dinner-time passed a bit pleasanter, and then 
 the afternoon followed, much as the morning had 
 done, in little discouragements for the new boy. 
 It was quite a release for him when the benedic- 
 tion was pronounced, and he walked off home 
 with William Parsons, between whom and Ed- 
 ward quite a friendship had sprung up. 
 
 The home-lesson appointed for the second 
 class was an outline map of England; but Ed- 
 ward Lindsay had never tried to draw a map in 
 his life, and besides he had no atlas to copy from. 
 His friend William suggested that, as a new boy, 
 the master would not expect one from him, but to 
 this argument Edward would not listen. He had 
 resolved to equal his competitors before long, and 
 he knew he must not begin by shirking a difficult 
 lesson. 
 
 Seeing his determination, William Parsons 
 asked him to come up to their house in the even-
 
 A New Scholar. 19 
 
 ing, and he would show him how he did his map, 
 and lend him his atlas. 
 
 When Edward went up, he was astonished to 
 find John Parsons, who was in the first class, 
 working out a geometrical figure with compasses. 
 And turning to William, he was surprised at the 
 ease and rapidity with which he traced the rugged 
 outline of our island home ; and when he got his 
 colours, and tinted his map with a pink border, 
 his admiration knew no bounds. 
 
 Then he tried to draw one, but time after time 
 he had to rub off his blacklead lines and start 
 again. At last, however, he succeeded in produc- 
 ing a recognizable outline. 
 
 When the master saw it next morning, he 
 was very much pleased with it. He had not ex- 
 pected one from him at all, but had forgotten to 
 tell him so.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE DINNER-TIME. 
 
 HERE were about thirty of the scholars 
 at Copsley School who lived at such 
 a distance that they preferred to bring 
 their dinners with them instead of 
 
 having the walk to and from home. 
 
 * '-' 
 
 There was considerable variety in the pro- * 
 visions brought by the different boys. Slices 
 of bread and butter, bread and cheese, ham and 
 beef sandwiches/ and small pork pies, were the 
 usual viands produced at dinner-time. Others 
 brought slices of ham or bacon, which they cooked 
 in a very primitive fashion over the class-room 
 fire. 
 
 In most cases the lads were careful to have as
 
 The Dinner-Time. 
 
 little weight to carry as possible. Some even 
 brought no victuals at all, but begged twopence 
 instead, with which they bought a penny roll and 
 a pennyworth of treacle, the two making a meal 
 whose delicacy only a schoolboy can appreciate. 
 
 Some of the boys, however, were in the habit 
 of bringing rather more pretentious dinners. 
 There were three brothers in particular Alfred, 
 Thomas, and James Edgeworth, hearty, hungry, 
 growing lads who generally brought a large 
 plateful of cold meat and a fruit pie for division 
 among them. It was a standing joke among 
 their schoolfellows that the rest of the boys could 
 eat two dinners while Alf, Tom, and Jim Edge- 
 worth were quarrelling over theirs. They were 
 irritable, cross-grained lads, as one might have 
 guessed, judging from their red hair and surly 
 faces. Alfred was the tallest boy in the school, 
 though not so strong as Gus Brookes, and could 
 easily have settled any dispute with his younger 
 brothers by sheer strength; but although he
 
 22 A Year at School. 
 
 would have preferred to do so he knew that if he 
 did he should get severely punished \vhen he went 
 home at night. 
 
 As soon as morning school was over there 
 was a rush to the little closet set apart for the 
 dinner baskets. In the summer the lads seized 
 their respective dinners and ate them in the coolest 
 place they could find ; but in the winter all the 
 boys by common consent wished to get near the 
 fire, and as they preferred an open fireplace to a 
 closed stove they generally sat in the class- 
 room. 
 
 It was here that Edward Lindsay first became 
 intimate with his new companions. On the first 
 day of his arrival he had been subjected to a great 
 deal of cross examination, through which he had 
 passed creditably, and now on his second day at 
 Copsley School he felt a little more at ease. 
 
 He and John and William Parsons had got 
 into the class-room early, and had secured com- 
 fortable seats, when the three Edgeworth boys
 
 The Dinner-Time. 
 
 came in with what Bob Johnson called their 
 " market-basket." 
 
 Alf looked round, and finding all the best 
 seats occupied, he turned rudely on the new 
 scholar and said 
 
 " I say, Lindsay, come out of that seat, will 
 you ? It is mine." 
 
 " Pm sure it isn't," said John Parsons. " You 
 know very well that the places belong to those 
 who first get them. Don't you stir, Ted," he 
 said, turning to the timid lad, who had already 
 got up. 
 
 " Oh, I don't mind at all," said Edward Lind- 
 say. " I would rather he sat there if he wishes 
 to." And with that he moved away to the other 
 side of the room, to the perfect astonishment of 
 his new schoolfellows. 
 
 " I should be ashamed to take advantage of a 
 fresh chap in that way," said George Benson, as 
 he knelt on the fender and toasted his bread and 
 cheese.
 
 24 -A Year at School. 
 
 " Catch anybody who knows him moving for 
 him/' put in Gus Brookes, as a taunt. 
 
 " No one asked you to speak/' growled out 
 Alf, who was a tiifle ashamed of what he had 
 done. 
 
 He now opened the large dinner-basket and 
 began to divide the provisions with his two 
 brothers. There was some cavilling about the 
 sharing of the meat, but when he began to carve 
 the apple pie the clamour was quite astonishing. 
 
 " I say, -Alf, I haven't got so much as you/' 
 protested Tom, while Jim complained that he had 
 not enough apple for his piece of paste. 
 
 " I shall tell your mother so I shall/' said 
 Jim j " you always keep the best piece for your- 
 self." 
 
 " He should tell his mother then ! " said Sam 
 Townley, with mock sympathy, as he lay on a 
 bench with his feet stiick Yankee fashion against 
 the mantelpiece, this being a favourite posture 
 with him after dinner.
 
 The Dinner -Time v 25 
 
 " I say, Parsons/' said Gus Brookes to John, 
 " have you learned the rule for dividing a circle 
 into three equal parts ? Fve hardly got to that 
 yet. If you can do it I wish you would fetch 
 your instruments and divide that pie for those 
 chaps. I don't like my dinner-time disturbed in 
 this way." 
 
 The lads generally managed to despatch their 
 dinners by a quarter or half-past twelve, and so 
 they had fully an hour and a half left for sport. 
 This time was variously spent. In the summer 
 cricket attracted many of the lads ; others pre- 
 ferred to take a walk in the wood, and loll about 
 on the velvety grass, while one of their number 
 read aloud some romance or adventure; and still 
 others hied away to the canal for fishing or bath- 
 ing. In colder weather there were lots of warm 
 games tick, rounders, circular swings, leap-frog, 
 football, and, grandest of all, " hare and hounds/' 
 in which game the lads often ran for two or three 
 miles. In winter the boys flocked to the nearest
 
 26 A Year at School. 
 
 ponds for skating or sliding ; or, if the weather 
 was damp, they assembled in the school and class- 
 rooms, where they huddled round the fire and 
 listened to tales or conundrums. Sam Townley 
 was responsible for most of the stories given at 
 such times. He had an omnivorous appetite for 
 every variety of romance or fairy tale. He sub- 
 scribed to several periodicals for the young which 
 teemed with tales 
 
 " Of most disastrous chances, 
 Of moving accidents by flood and field ; 
 Of hair-breadth 'scapes i' the imminent deadly breach ; 
 Of being taken by the insolent foe, 
 And sold to slavery.'' 
 
 But on this Tuesday afternoon the lads seemed 
 unable to settle down to any game. The frost, 
 which had held out bravely through the holidays, 
 had begun to give way early on the Monday night, 
 and on Tuesday the boys found the roads muddy 
 instead of hard, and the ice on the pools unsafe. 
 Perhaps the dampness of the weather damped
 
 The Dinner -Time. 27 
 
 their spirits. At any rate they grieved over the 
 departure of their old friend Jack Frost. 
 
 And so skating and sliding were out of the 
 question, and the play-ground was so muddy from 
 the thaw that it was decidedly unpleasant even to 
 walk about, without incurring the additional dis- 
 comforts of splashing and possible stumbles which 
 would attend a game. So the lads lounged about 
 the school-room, talked over their holidays, and 
 laid plans for future enjoyment, until the master's 
 whistle again summoned them to their studies.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 A SNOW-FIGHT. 
 
 the next Friday morning Gus 
 Brookes awoke just as the old- 
 fashioned kitchen clock was striking 
 six, and sat up in bed debating with 
 himself whether he should get up or not. 
 For the last few days the weather had been 
 so bad that he had had no sport when he had 
 risen early. 
 
 " It seems very cold/' he said, as he rubbed 
 his eyes and tried to look through the window ; 
 but somehow the panes were so dim that he 
 could scarcely see through them. 
 
 "It is very queer/' thought Gus, as he got 
 out of bed. " It surelv can't be a frost after such
 
 A Snow-Fight. 20. 
 
 a long thaw. It is though/' he almost shouted, 
 as he reached the window ; " and snow, too ! 
 Hurrah ! A white world ! " 
 
 There was no question now about lying in 
 bed. He was soon washed and dressed, and he 
 then hurried downstairs, where the servant was 
 lighting the fire and preparing breakfast. Of 
 course he did not hesitate what to do. It was a 
 deep snow, and he knew his mother would want 
 the snow cleared away from the back-yard, and a 
 way made to the coal-shed and fowl-pen. By the 
 time breakfast was ready, Gus was all in a glow, 
 his face as ruddy as health and exercise could 
 make it, and when his father and mother thanked 
 him for what he had done he felt as happy as 
 could be. As soon as breakfast was over, he 
 hastened to school to celebrate with his school- 
 fellows the return of their old friend, Jack Frost. 
 
 On arriving at school, he and a few other big 
 lads held a meeting together, and congratulated 
 each other on the advent of such a glorious fall of
 
 30 A Year at School. 
 
 snow, and proceeding at once to make the most of 
 the circumstance, the meeting resolved itself into 
 a council for war. They agreed that as soon as 
 they could despatch their dinners they would divide 
 into two parties, one on each side of the lower 
 end of the playground, and have a jolly snow- fight. 
 
 It was only about a quarter past twelve, there- 
 fore, when Gus Brookes and Alf Edgeworth, 
 having arranged the preliminaries, called their 
 schoolmates to join in the contest. 
 
 In all games in which two sides were wanted 
 Gus Brookes and Alf Edgeworth were invariably 
 the captains of the opposing forces. They were 
 the biggest boys in the schools, and were con- 
 sidered tolerably well matched, since what advan- 
 tage Gus lost in stature, was balanced by his 
 superior strength. In a snow-fight, however, 
 Edgeworth was no mean antagonist. He was 
 left-handed, and, as is often the case with such 
 lads, he could throw with marvellous precision 
 and with tremendous force.
 
 A Snow -Fight. 31 
 
 Snowballing is a very healthful, exhilarating 
 sport, but it would be well if lads only indulged in 
 it under certain proper conditions. Of course 
 only those should be snowballed who are able and 
 willing to enjoy the fun. It is both cowardly and 
 wicked to throw snowballs, as some boys do, at 
 old folks, girls, and children people who cannot 
 retaliate. Then again, snowballing ought to be 
 practised so as not to be dangerous to property; 
 there should be no windows near, or the chances 
 are they will be broken. Lastly, boys ought not to 
 make their snowballs too hard. If their object is 
 to bruise other boys' faces till they are twice as 
 big as they ought to be, they need not wait for 
 snow : stones and brickbats will do it much more 
 effectively. But if they throw snowballs for sport 
 they need only be squeezed just hard enough to 
 keep the snow together when thrown; there is 
 no necessity for them to be made as hard as 
 pebbles. 
 
 Now Gus Brookes very wisely insisted on
 
 32 A Year at School. 
 
 these conditions. The fight was to take place in 
 the lower part of the playground, right away from 
 any windows; no one was to be hit but those 
 boys who voluntarily offered to join the game ; 
 and no snowballs were to be made hard enough 
 to hurt any one seriously. 
 
 Away the lads trooped to the appointed spot, 
 and, having borrowed spades from the school- 
 house, they cleared a space about six yards wide 
 between the contending parties, throwing up the 
 snow on each side like entrenchments. One by 
 one the different captains chose the boys for their 
 respective sides. A few of the town boys had 
 hurried in after a hasty dinner, so that there were 
 nearly a score on each side. Ten minutes were 
 allowed for making snowballs, and the lads, 
 closely buttoned up to the chin and warmly 
 gloved, began to press the snow into shape. 
 
 As Gus Brookes looked round on his party, 
 he saw he had got rather the worst of it. 
 Edgeworth had got two or three of the best
 
 A Snow-Fight. 33 
 
 throwers, and some of the hardiest of the boys. 
 He saw at once it was a case of skill and manage- 
 ment against sheer force. He accordingly deputed 
 four of the boys to do nothing else but guard, 
 and from time to time replenish the stock of 
 frosty ammunition ; and choosing two or three 
 of the best boys, he explained his plans. He 
 hoped to drive the opponents back, and, if 
 possible, secure their snowballs. Of course, if 
 he could push them right out of their snow 
 ramparts his party would gain the victory. 
 
 As soon as the ten minutes' truce was over, 
 Alfred Edgeworth began to send his snowballs 
 fierce and fast into the opposite camp, stop- 
 ping one boy's ear, completely covering the eyes 
 of another, and almost filling the mouth of a 
 third who happened to be laughing loudly at the 
 moment. When he saw a few of them fall 
 back from the front to get their faces clear of 
 the snow, he rushed forward with an armful 
 of snowballs at the head of his party, conscious 
 
 3
 
 34 -^ Year at School. 
 
 of his superior force and confident of an easy 
 victory. 
 
 But Gus had expected this attack, and had 
 prepared for it. He had only replied occasionally 
 to the heavy firing of the enemy, reserving his 
 strength and snowballs until they could be more 
 effectively employed. So when he saw his oppo- 
 nents rushing on him, he shouted to his com- 
 rades, " Now for it, lads ! " and Sam Townley, 
 who had just been reading an account of the 
 battle of Waterloo, used Wellington's words on. 
 that occasion, and as he hurled a big snowball 
 full in Charlie Davis's face he shouted grandilo- 
 quently, " Up, guards, and at them ! " 
 
 Perfectly surprised at the reception they met 
 with, Edgeworth's party were soon glad to retreat, 
 and when once they started to run they found it 
 hard to stop, until Brookes and his fellows had 
 followed them right into their own quarter, and 
 were using the snowballs in its attack which had 
 been prepared or its defence. However, they
 
 A Snow-Fight. 
 
 soon rallied,, and though Gus did not give up all 
 he had gained by his stratagem, he had to retire 
 some distance. 
 
 The battle raged for about half-an-hour, some- 
 times one side getting a small advantage, and 
 then the other ; but it was easy for any one to 
 see that slowly but surely Edgeworth's party were 
 being driven back by Gus Brookes. 
 
 As he lost the game Alfred began to lose his 
 temper. He once or twice cried out that the 
 other side were not playing fair, while at the 
 same time he was altogether disregarding one of 
 the conditions agreed upon. Several times Gus 
 Brookes saw one or another of his lads retire 
 with tears in their eyes, after getting one of Edge- 
 worth's hard swift balls on the face, and he him- 
 self had abundant opportunity of testing how 
 dreadfully hard they were, since he received, as a 
 rule, about every fourth hit himself. As he was 
 gainino:, however, he thought he would not raise 
 a quibble which would make the victory question-
 
 36 A Year at School. 
 
 able, so at it he went, and drove the enemy 
 further across the playground. 
 
 We have intimated that Alfred Edgeworth was 
 & coward, and so he proved himself in this battle. 
 He was very angry at being beaten by a weaker 
 force, and was sending snowballs as hard as he 
 could make them at his opponents, when one of 
 the same sort hit him straight in the eye, and he 
 heard Sam Townley's taunting voice shouting, 
 " There, Alf, see how you like one of your own 
 sort." 
 
 Now, although he had thrown scores of balls 
 quite as hard as the one that hit him, it caused 
 him such exquisite pain that he almost howled. 
 He said nothing, however, but at once decided on 
 the cowardly trick of throwing stones in the snow- 
 balls. He wrapped them up very carefully with 
 snow, and hitting Sam Townley on the chest with 
 one, he made him pant for breath. Ball after ball 
 was thrown with stones inside, but Alf was so 
 closely pressed by his opponents that he could
 
 A Snow-Fight. 37 
 
 not take a correct aim. At length his party 
 were pushed right away from their ramparts, 
 when,, just as Gus Brookes was about to shout 
 " Victory ! " there was a sudden cry of pain, and 
 John Parsons fell backwards on a heap of snow, 
 which was speedily crimsoned with blood from 
 a wound on the side of his head. 
 
 Of course the fight was at once stopped, and 
 John was carried almost fainting into the school- 
 house, where his wound was bathed and dressed.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 AFTER THE BATTLE. 
 
 3?T was with great difficulty that Mrs. 
 B" Jones, who lived in the school-house, 
 could keep the lads out of the little 
 sitting-room where John Parsons lay 
 on the sofa before a warm fire. Every 
 now and then, when she went into the other room, 
 or when she was engaged in bathing the wounded 
 boy's forehead, some boy would creep in, not- 
 withstanding her orders to the contrary. 
 
 Outside the school-house yard stood Alfred 
 Edgeworthj pale and excited. He had not the 
 courage to go in and speak to the lad whom he 
 had ill-used; but as each visitor came out he 
 pounced upon him, and eagerly inquired if John
 
 After the Battle. 39 
 
 Parsons knew who had thrown the stone. As all 
 answered in the negative he began to feel a little 
 more at his ease, although his conscience still 
 troubled him. 
 
 In the little crowd of boys who, not having 
 the courage to disobey Mrs. Jones, vainly pleaded 
 with her for permission to see the sufferer, was 
 the new schoolboy, Edward Lindsay ; and in order 
 to understand the story, it will be necessary to 
 inquire how he had been engaged while the events 
 recorded in the last chapter had been transpiring. 
 
 He had taken no part in the snow-fight ; for 
 although not what would be called delicate, he was 
 not robust, and a slight exertion was sufficient to 
 exhaust him. But besides that, he had other 
 reasons for declining to play. It will be remem- 
 bered that his fellow-pupils were most of them in 
 advance of him in nearly every branch of study, 
 and as he had set himself the task of overtaking 
 them, it was necessary for him to devote some of 
 his leisure to study. Now, on this particular morn-
 
 40 A year at School. 
 
 ing Mr. Stanton had worked out at full length on a 
 black-board a rather difficult sum in vulgar fractions, 
 and Edward Lindsay had determined thoroughly 
 to master, and permanently to fix in his me- 
 mory, all the complex calculations involved in this 
 sum. So after dinner he walked down into the 
 playground, saw the two opposing parties in 
 battle array, and then walked back into the school- 
 room, seated himself at a desk in front of the 
 black-board, and was soon deep in the problem 
 before him. Time after time he worked the sum, 
 first copying from the board, and then doing it, 
 as lads say, "out of his own head," and com- 
 paring results. At last he jumped up, cleaned 
 his slate, and walked out, conscious of having 
 mastered all the processes of a difficult sum, and 
 feeling quite as proud of that victory as the winner 
 of the snow-fight would be of his. 
 
 On coming into the playground, the Babel of 
 cries which proceeded from the lower end told him 
 that the battle was still raging high, and drawn by
 
 After the Battle. 41 
 
 the influence which a great struggle of any kind 
 always exerts over high-spirited lads,, he ran 
 towards the scene of the conflict, and looked on 
 the only boy in the playground not actually en- 
 gaged in the fight. Alfred Edgeworth had for 
 some time been throwing occasional snowballs 
 loaded with stones, and it was not long before 
 Edward Lindsay perceived his treachery. Now, if 
 any of the boys on Edgeworth's side had seen 
 him throwing stones, and thereby breaking one of 
 the rules of the game, it is very likely they would 
 have stopped him; for the majority of English 
 boys have a strong dislike to downright meanness, 
 and besides, Alfred was no favourite with any of 
 them ; but so exciting was the engagement, that 
 if Edgeworth had pulled off his own head and 
 thrown it, his companions would probably not 
 have noticed the fact until they had found his 
 headless trunk lying in their way. 
 
 Edward Lindsay's first impulse was to report 
 what he saw to the opposite party, for although
 
 42 A Year at School. 
 
 he had not heard the la\\s of the game rehearsed, 
 he felt instinctively that stones were not allowed 
 to pass for snow. But then there crept in a bit of 
 shyness. He was a new boy, and hardly liked to 
 interfere,, and before he had time to overcome his 
 backwardness he saw, to his dismay, his friend 
 John struck down with one of the dangerous mis- 
 siles. Before he could get near, John was carried 
 into the house, and now Edward stood impatiently 
 waiting for an opportunity to see his friend. 
 
 " It's no use you lads a-waitm'/' said Mrs. 
 Jones, for about the twentieth time ; " the poor 
 boy wants quiet an' rest, an' if I let a score o' you 
 noisy chaps in a-chatterin j an' a-talkin j , there's 
 no knowin* as he mightn't be took with brain- 
 fever, or summat w r orse." 
 
 " Please, Mrs. Jones," said Edward, beseech- 
 ingly, " do let me see him. I won't put him 
 about, I promise you ; but I want to speak to him 
 very particularly." 
 
 The macron was about to repeat her refusal,
 
 After tie Battle. 43 
 
 but John, having recognized his friend's voice, 
 asked her as an especial favour to let him in. 
 
 " Which o' you boys is named Ted Lindsay ?" 
 asked she; and as Edward stepped forward, she 
 continued, " If you will promise not to excite him, 
 you can come in for a minute or two, but nobody 
 else, so you others may as well walk off as not." 
 
 And so, to the great mortification of his 
 schoolfellows, Edward tripped eagerly up the steps, 
 and was soon seated beside his friend. 
 
 " How are you, John?" said he; "are you 
 much hurt ?" 
 
 " Not much/' said John, " but my head aches, 
 and I feel sick, and almost like fainting.'" 
 
 Edward then detailed what he knew of the 
 cause of his hurt, and asked John if he should tell 
 the schoolmaster of it. 
 
 John Parsons was not much surprised to hear 
 who had thrown the stone ; he had some suspi- 
 cions of Alfred Edgeworth, and his first idea was 
 to revenge himself by getting him into trouble.
 
 44 -d- Year at School. 
 
 But after a while a better feeling came over him. 
 and with all a schoolboy's aversion to telling tales, 
 he decided to let matters take their own course. 
 He felt sufficiently recompensed in the fact that 
 his side had won. 
 
 " Then you won't let me tell the master about 
 it ?" asked Edward. 
 
 " Certainly not, Ted. I don't think / shall 
 tell anyone myself, and you must not on any ac- 
 count, for it would only get you into trouble with 
 Alf; and besides, the other lads wouldn't trust 
 you after if you began to carry tales to the master. 
 Mr. Stanton is almost sure to find out who it is 
 without asking questions. Of course, if he asks, 
 you will tell him, but I do not want you to tell 
 unless he does. I'll be bound Alf feels ashamed 
 and miserable enough as it is. But hark ! there 
 is the school whistle you must be off. I daresay 
 I shall go home before you come out, for the 
 master said I was to go with Will as soon as my 
 head was well enough. You must come up after
 
 After the Battle. 
 
 45 
 
 tea and see me. Good-bye ! Now,, mind and 
 don't tell what you know without you are asked." 
 With that Edward Lindsay ran off and took 
 his place in the marching line, which had already 
 formed, and as he did so he noticed Alfred Edge- 
 worth watching; him with a scowl on his face.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 RETRIBUTION. 
 
 [ S the lads entered the schoolroom for 
 afternoon studies, a single glance at 
 the stern brow of their schoolmaster 
 
 sufficed to tell them that he was aware 
 j* 
 
 of the little tragedy which had so abruptly 
 terminated the snow-fight. After the opening 
 services had been gone through, instead of direct- 
 ing the classes to file off to the various class- 
 rooms as usual, he called for silence, and at once 
 alluded to the affair which was uppermost in each 
 mind. He first dwelt on the meanness and 
 cowardliness evinced by the act of throwing 
 stones in snowballs. 
 
 "I am ashamed," said he, " to think that after
 
 Retribution. 47 
 
 all I have said, after all the lessons I have taught, 
 there should be found in this school a boy so 
 deceitful, so cowardly, and so ungentlemanly as to 
 throw stones under pretence of throwing harmless 
 snowballs. Had it been in the street, among 
 rough, uncultivated boys, however much I might 
 have felt shocked, I should scarcely have been sur- 
 prised. But here, within my own school-grounds, 
 among boys whom by precept, and I hope also by 
 example, I have trained to be upright, honest, and 
 straightforward, I am both astonished and indig- 
 nant to find there is one boy at least who has 
 profited so little by my teaching as to be capable 
 of the wretched meanness the effects of which 
 you are all aware of. Whoever the boy is, he is 
 doubly guilty ; for not only has he done what he 
 knew to be altogether wrong, but he has done it 
 after having pledged his word not to do it." 
 
 " I am determined to find out who was the 
 offender, and, as you all know, I generally succeed 
 when I set myself the task. I feel certain of dis-
 
 48 A Year at School. 
 
 covering who it is, but I will give the boy a chance 
 of confession. I have already resolved what 
 punishment such a lad deserves, but if that lad 
 should now be thoroughly ashamed of what he 
 has done, and if he will openly confess that it was 
 he who did it, I will only inflict half the penalty. 
 I do not wish anyone to tell tales. I would rather 
 the guilty boy should voluntarily own his fault. 
 I will give him three minutes, and if the boy will 
 come into the middle of the room and confess his 
 misdoing, I shall gladly remit half the punish- 
 ment." 
 
 A dead silence followed. The boys looked 
 round the room to see if anyone left his place, but 
 no one moved. Those who had been engaged in 
 the snow-fight felt concerned, for they had never 
 seen the master so angry before. Alfred Edge- 
 worth sat trembling in his place, and the colour 
 came and went as one second after another was 
 ticked out by the clock, now distinctly heard amid 
 the unbroken stillness. Once or twice he felt
 
 Retribution. 49 
 
 inclined to step forward and own himself the 
 wrong-doer. He would willingly have escaped 
 half the penalty by so doing, but he argued that no 
 one had seen him, and so, by keeping his seat, he 
 might escape the whole of the punishment. 
 
 Slowly the clock ticked away the seconds, and 
 the three minutes, which had appeared like half-an- 
 hour, were gone, and then with quivering lip and 
 flashing eye the master stepped down from his desk. 
 
 " It seems," said he, " that the boy is a greater 
 coward than I thought him. We must try some 
 other way of finding him out. The snowball con- 
 taining the stone which wounded John Parsons 
 must have been thrown by some one on the oppo- 
 site side. All the boys who belonged to the other 
 party will leave their seats and stand in the centre 
 of the room." 
 
 With reluctant and timid steps the boys formed 
 a line, wondering if the master were going to 
 punish them all to make sure of the right one. 
 Alfred Edgeworth, instead of going to the head of
 
 5O A Year at School. 
 
 the line as he would have done under ordinary cir- 
 cumstances, took his station somewhere about the 
 middle of it. 
 
 " I shall now/' said Mr. Stanton, " ask every 
 one of these boys if he has thrown a stone this 
 afternoon, and by that I doubt not I shall find out 
 the criminal, for I hope no boy in my school will 
 tell me a barefaced lie." 
 
 And then in a stern and determined tone he 
 asked each boy if he had thrown a stone that 
 dinner-time. 
 
 " No, sir \" answered each one, until he came 
 to Alfred Edgeworth, who was so excited he could 
 scarcely control his voice. 
 
 " Speak up, Edgeworth," said the master ; " did 
 you throw a stone this afternoon ?" 
 
 " No, sir :" he gasped out, and on the master 
 passed, right down the line, and everybody had 
 denied the charge. 
 
 "Go to your places," said the master, as he 
 went to his desk. "My boys," said he, " I can
 
 Retribution. 5 1 
 
 scarcely tell you how grieved I am at what has 
 occurred this afternoon. I have known all along 
 who threw the stone I only wanted to give that 
 boy an opportunity of confession. I could not 
 have believed there was such a coward among you ; 
 but there is, sitting in this room, a boy who after 
 promising to play fairly has broken his word and 
 used unlawful means to win the game; he has 
 refused to confess it ; and when pointedly asked 
 has denied the fact. Alfred Edgeworth, stand out 
 you are the boy/' 
 
 Advancing towards the trembling culprit with 
 his new cane in his hand, Mr. Stanton told the 
 boys that he purposed giving Alfred ten strokes 
 with the cane on each hand for throwing the 
 stones, and the same number for denying the 
 charge, and he should forbid him to enter the play- 
 ground for a month from that day. 
 
 " Perhaps some of you/' said he, " may think 
 I am going to punish this boy in anger, but 
 although I am angry now, as I ha, ve just cause to
 
 52 A Year at School. 
 
 be, I fully determined what punishment to inflict as 
 soon as I heard the facts of the case. All those 
 boys who think Alfred Edgeworth deserves his 
 punishment, put up their right hands." 
 
 It was no servile agreement with their master's 
 verdict that prompted the boys, with but few ex- 
 ceptions, to lift up their hands. They felt indig- 
 nant at what Edgeworth had done, and detested 
 the cowardice which would, if possible, have slipped 
 the blame on another. 
 
 And so writhing and groaning under each 
 stroke, Alfred received the just reward of his 
 doings, and little sympathy was felt for him by 
 any, excepting his tw^o brothers, and they could 
 not but see that he deserved chastisement. Alone, 
 in a comer of the room, sat Alfred all the rest of 
 the schooltime, sobbing and crying and rubbing 
 his hands, which burned and ached with the 
 infliction they had so recently undergone. 
 
 William Parsons had been fetched out in the 
 midst of the lessons to go home with his brother,
 
 Retribution, 
 
 and so when the school broke up about four 
 o'clock,, Edward Lindsay found that for the first 
 time he must go home without a companion. 
 
 He did not much relish his walk, especially 
 as, after leaving the main street of Copsley, his 
 road lay for some distance alongside the canal, 
 and then branched off by a little-frequented lane 
 to Rudham. However, Edward knew he must get 
 home however unpleasant the road may be, and so 
 leaving his schoolfellows, who were still standing 
 in little groups discussing the events of the day, he 
 hurried off at a brisk pace. 
 
 But to return to Alfred Edgeworth. As soon 
 as he had sufficiently recovered from the distress of 
 mind produced by his beating, he set himself to 
 discover how the master had found him out; and 
 as he remembered Edward Lindsay's prolonged 
 visit to John Parsons in the schoolhouse, his 
 remark to Mrs. Jones that he had something par- 
 ticular to say, and the fact that he had been the 
 solitary spectator of the latter part of the snow-
 
 54 -^ Year at School. 
 
 fight, it appeared perfectly certain to him that it 
 through the new boy that the master had 
 heard of his proceedings ; and the more he became 
 convinced of this, so much the more did he long 
 for revenge. 
 
 Now the fact was, the master had learned all 
 he knew from Mr. Thomson, one of the assistant 
 masters, who, living at a distance, always had his 
 dinner in one of the upstairs class-rooms over- 
 looking the playground, from the window of which 
 he had watched the fight and its termination. 
 
 But Edge worth, smarting with disgrace and 
 his recent thrashing, forgot all about the assistant 
 master, and even- minute became more confirmed 
 in his opinion, and more resolved to punish 
 Ted Lindsay for having got him into such 
 trouble. 
 
 Hence it was that almost as soon as Edward 
 had entered the lane which led to Rudham, he felt 
 a rude hand on his collar, and found himself face 
 to face with Alfred Edsreworth scowlinsr with rage.
 
 Retribution. 55 
 
 " I'll teach you to tell tales, young fellow," 
 said he, shaking the frightened lad by his coat- 
 collar. 
 
 " I didn't tell," pleaded Edward. " I saw you 
 throw the stones, but the master didn't get to 
 know through me." 
 
 "Don't tell me such lies how else could he 
 know ?" said the wrathful Edgeworth, as he dealt 
 his prisoner a heavy blow on his face which made 
 the tears start from his eyes. 
 
 Edward Lindsay would doubtless have received 
 further and heavier punishment had there not just 
 then appeared another actor on the scene, who 
 proved to be none other than Gus Brookes. After 
 lingering some time in the school-yard he had 
 determined to run over and see how John Parsons 
 was before he went home to tea. 
 
 "Hallo! what's up?" said he. " Alf Edge- 
 worth ! and who's this youngster crying ? Why 
 it's Ted Lindsay. Come, none of this, Alf; if you 
 want to light anyone, fight one at least something
 
 56 A Year at School. 
 
 like vour own size me, for instance not a little 
 chap like that." 
 
 " I'll teach him not to tell tales again," said 
 Alfred sulkily. 
 
 "It wasn't him \\ho told of you," said Gus; 
 " it was Mr. Thomson, who saw you from his 
 window even-body knows that; and even if Ted 
 had told of you, it would have served you right for 
 being such a coward." 
 
 "Who calls me coward?" asked Alf, defiantly. 
 
 "I do," said Gus, putting himself in a firm 
 position. 
 
 " Then take that," said Edge worth, as he 
 launched out wildly with his clenched fist. But 
 Gus managed to evade the blow, and as he could 
 not longer act merely on the defensive, he dealt him. 
 one in response, which, not being so skilfully par- 
 ried, came with such force as to lay him on his 
 back in the hedgerow. 
 
 When Alf gathered himself up again, Gus 
 several times challenged him to another trial of
 
 Retribution. 57 
 
 skill ; but either the master's caning, the blow he 
 had just received, or possibly the two combined, 
 had driven all the valour out of him ; for although 
 he continued to brag and boast as usual, he dis- 
 creetly kept out of reach of his opponent's brawny 
 arms, and Gus at last left him to his boasting, and 
 proceeded to Rudham with Ted Lindsay. 
 
 Fighting, as most people are now beginning to 
 see, is a cruel and degrading sport, and as a means 
 of settling disputes, quite useless, since " might 
 not right " generally carries the day. Yet, how- 
 ever much the readers of this story may object to 
 fighting in general, I think there are few who 
 would regret the chastisement this cowardly brag- 
 gart received from one who, whatever personal 
 feeling he may have had in the matter, was chiefly 
 concerned as the champion of a timid and almost 
 helpless schoolfellow.
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 SPRINGTIME. 
 
 WHATEVER opinion my readers may- 
 have of Alfred Edgeworth's con- 
 duct, I think there are very few but 
 will admit that he had been suffi- 
 ciently punished when we left him in the 
 last chapter, boasting his valour in the lane lead- 
 ing to Rudham. He had doubtless on many 
 occasions escaped punishments he richly deserved, 
 but he was destined this time to get rather more 
 than was sufficient, for a fresh infliction was 
 awaiting him at home. It was a lively expecta- 
 tion of this which made him saunter so slowly 
 homewards, for his former beating had made him 
 hungry, and if he had been influenced bv his
 
 Springtime. 59 
 
 appetite alone, he would have run as fast as he 
 could for his tea. 
 
 When he did get home he found his brothers 
 had been there some time, and that the tale of his 
 dishonour and disgrace had preceded him and had 
 procured for him anything but a cheerful welcome. 
 
 After tea his father gave Alfred a severe talk- 
 ing to, which did not hurt him much ; a severe 
 thrashing, which hurt him considerably; and then 
 followed something which hurt him worst of all. 
 
 Mr. Edgeworth was a baker, a honest, hard- 
 working tradesman, who found his business quite 
 as much as he could manage. He had often 
 thought of keeping Alfred at home to help him, 
 but his desire for his son's improvement had in- 
 duced him hitherto to keep him at school, and he 
 had hoped to be able to do so for at least six 
 months longer. But now that his son had dis- 
 graced himself, he determined that he should begin 
 at once to learn the business, for he thought, and 
 rightly so too, that Alfred would not be likely to
 
 60 A Year at School. 
 
 do himself much credit among his schoolfellows 
 after what had passed. 
 
 To Alfred the sentence was as bitter as it was 
 unexpected. He had anticipated the lecture and 
 the beating, and wished them safely over, but it 
 had not once flashed across his mind that his 
 father might take him from school. He did not 
 like the idea of work. It was not pleasant to 
 think of spending most of one's time in the shop 
 or the bakehouse, having no playtime and no play- 
 mates. And then he had set his mind on a prize 
 at Midsummer, and that was gone. 
 
 But in vain did he plead ; his father was firm, 
 and so from Copsley School and from these pages 
 Alfred Edgeworth retires, in a manner anything 
 but graceful. When the market- basket appeared 
 at school next day, it contained only two dinners, 
 and consequently there was rather less than two- 
 thirds of the usual quarrelling and disturbance. 
 
 Three months flew swiftly past. The inno- 
 cent snow which had been made the means of
 
 Springtime. 6 1 
 
 provoking so much ill-feeling and revenge slowly 
 wept itself away, leaving the roads and the play- 
 ground almost as miry as Bunyan's Slough of 
 Despond. 
 
 But by degrees the warm spring sun, together 
 with the March winds, dried up the moisture, and 
 the ground was once more firm under foot. 
 
 In Copsley Wood even greater changes were 
 apparent. Warmed hy the sun's rays Nature 
 had awaked from its long winter's sleep. The 
 sap which had been congealed in the roots of 
 plants and in the trunks of trees, now circulated 
 through each limb and twig and fibre, and every- 
 where green leaves were bursting forth as if pushed 
 out by the abundance of energy within. Every 
 branch was wreathed with leaves of brightest, 
 freshest green, and where the dead leaves of last 
 autumn lay rotting on the ground were to be seen 
 the shoots of the blue-bell and the lily, the,cow T - 
 slip and the primrose, which would quickly hide 
 the grave of last year's beauty with a covering of
 
 62 A Year at School. 
 
 fresh and fragrant loveliness. In the shady nooks, 
 among the underwood and brambles, was the 
 violet, emblem of sweetest purity; and away 
 where the little brook, rejoicing in its release from 
 its icy bonds, danced gaily through the glen, the 
 pretty buttercups saw themselves reflected in its 
 clear water, and ever and anon they bathed their 
 golden flowers in the stream. And up among 
 the branches of the trees the twitter, chirp, and 
 warble of the varied songsters of the grove made 
 a confused yet pleasant hum of melody. For 
 weeks past the birds had chosen their mates and 
 built their nests, and now they poured forth from 
 their throbbing throats such bursts of praise as 
 only perfect innocence could offer. 
 
 While such surprising changes have been go- 
 ing on in the outer world, nothing of importance 
 had happened among the scholars at Copsley 
 School. The usual studies had been gone through, 
 and the boys had either advanced or stood still just 
 in proportion as they had taken pains or not.
 
 Springtime. 63 
 
 By slow but sure progress Edward Lindsay 
 had risen in his class, until he was now often the 
 first boy, and never went lower than fourth or 
 fifth. His perseverance and energy had attracted 
 the notice of all, and although here and there his 
 advancement had aroused envious feelings, by 
 far the majority of the boys, together with the 
 teachers, admired him and helped him as much as 
 possible. 
 
 John Parsons was only away a week by reason 
 of the wound received in the snow-fight, and he 
 was now working away with the rest, and finding 
 it no easy task to keep up with his friend Ted. 
 
 Every half year at Midsummer and at Christ- 
 inas it was a rule with Mr. Stanton to have a 
 thorough examination of every scholar, and on 
 these occasions the first six in each class were 
 moved a class higher, while the first three received 
 prizes of books or drawing materials. And so 
 every one was now working in preparation for the 
 examination.
 
 64 A Year at School. 
 
 Gus Brookes wished there were no such 
 things, or if examinations were indeed indispen- 
 sable, he wished they would give prizes for athletic 
 development and for physical skill. In the play- 
 ground he could carry all before him, but in school 
 he found little delicate lads, whom he could pick 
 up with one hand, getting before him. However, 
 to do him justice, he tried his best, and though 
 nature had perhaps paid a trifle more attention 
 to his muscles than it had to his brain, why he 
 might console himself with the reflection that 
 there is plenty of honourable work in this world 
 for muscle, and that a man not overloaded with 
 brains escapes a great deal of the trouble, anxiety, 
 and actual misery that sometimes falls to the lot 
 of a man endowed with great mental power and 
 activity. 
 
 In the playground the bright spring weather 
 had almost the same effect on the boys that it 
 had on the birds and buds. They knew not why 
 or how it was, but they felt such exhilaration as
 
 Springtime. 65 
 
 no amount of play could exhaust. As Tom Hood 
 says of the schoolboys of Lynn 
 
 " Like sportive deer they coursed about, 
 
 And shouted as they ran, 
 Turning to mirth all things of earth 
 As only boyhood can." 
 
 And so throughout the playground and through 
 Copsley Wood were heard the merry laugh and 
 joyous shout of the lads. For some of them had 
 already begun to visit the wood in the dinner 
 hour, and almost daily a fresh bunch of violets 
 was gathered for the master's desk. 
 
 I said nothing of importance happened in 
 the three months we have so lightly passed over. 
 Of course Shrove Tuesday arrived in due season, 
 and the lads, having a half-holiday granted them, 
 did their best to honour the day by devouring a 
 great deal more than was good for them of those 
 most indigestible and unwholesome cakes which it 
 is usual to make on that day. 
 
 The ist of April came, too, and the lads 
 
 5
 
 66 A Year at School. 
 
 played each other many a practical joke. Books 
 were hidden out of the way, inkpots emptied, 
 empty envelopes were addressed and given to 
 different lads as if they contained news of import- 
 ance, the smaller boys were sent on ridiculous 
 errands to the tradespeople of the neighbourhood, 
 and every one was zealous in exhorting his neigh- 
 bour to remedy some defect in the lacing of a 
 shoe-string, or the tying of a necktie. But how- 
 ever unpleasant some of these jokes might be, 
 they had to be borne as patiently as possible, since 
 any signs of ruffled temper would be sure to pro- 
 voke further annoyance.
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 KEEPING A BIRTHDAY. 
 
 3fe) O you know whose birthday it is to- 
 day, Charlie ? " asked Mr. Stanton? 
 c s a ^, f Charlie Davis, as they walked up 
 and down the playground about ten 
 t^Jj> minutes before two o'clock on a beautiful 
 sunshiny day in the middle of April. 
 
 Now Charlie Davis was generally supposed to- 
 be the best-informed lad in Copsley School on all 
 questions relating to politics, or to the aristocracy 
 of the realm. He was quite a constant reader of 
 the newspaper, and had vainly tried to get up a 
 debate among the scholars on the leading ques- 
 tions of the day. On getting a newspaper, his 
 first glance fell on the proceedings of Parliament,
 
 68 A Year at School. 
 
 he next perused the extract from the Court 
 Circular, marriages or law-suits in high life next 
 attracted his attention, and lastly he noticed 
 smaller matters. 
 
 So Charles at once concluded that his teacher 
 was sounding him to know if he were well up in 
 his knowledge of the birthdays of princes, peers, 
 or principal commoners. So he tried to remember 
 if he had seen any reference to any approaching 
 anniversary of the kind. He knew it was not 
 the Queen's because he remembered very well 
 that she was born on the 24th of May. But try 
 how he might, he could not remember the birth 
 of any important personage happening on that 
 day. And yet he did not like to confess such 
 ignorance without the appearance of knowing 
 something about it, so he began to guess 
 
 " Is it Prince Albert's ? " asked he. 
 
 "No," said Mr. Stanton; and added, as he 
 smiled, " try again." 
 
 " The Prince of Wales V guessed Charlie.
 
 Keeping a Birthday. 69 
 
 "No!" said his master, " you are altogether 
 too high look lower down/' 
 
 And accordingly Charlie did look lower down, 
 but he only descended from princes to peers. 
 
 " Is it Earl Derby's ? " he asked. 
 
 " No ! Too high yet ! " 
 
 A little longer pause followed, and Charlie 
 tried to judge from his teacher's face if he had 
 been anywhere near right in his guess, but all he 
 could see was that Mr. Stanton was amused, for 
 a smile was playing round his mouth. So he 
 must needs guess again. 
 
 " It isn't Mr. Gladstone's is it, sir ? " 
 
 " No ! 
 
 " Well then I will give it up," said Charlie. 
 
 " I suppose I must tell you then," said the 
 master. " It is not Prince Albert's, Lord 
 Derby's, nor, so far as I know, the Prime 
 Minister's ; but to-day is the birthday of the 
 prince, the lord, and the prime minister of Cops- 
 ley school do you know who that is ? "
 
 " Well to be sure," said Charlie, " I wonder 
 I did not think of that. I ought to have guessed 
 you first. I wish you many happy returns of the 
 day, sir.' 3 
 
 "Thank you, Charlie/' said the master, and 
 putting his whistle to his mouth he called the 
 scholars from their play to commence their after- 
 noon studies. 
 
 When they had all taken their places, Air. 
 Stantoii told them it was his birthday,, and further 
 said that as it was such a beautiful day and so 
 pleasant outside, he thought there would be no 
 harm done if he gave them an extra half hour's 
 play to remember the day by, so if they would 
 work steadily for an hour he would give them half 
 an hour in the playground. 
 
 True to his promise, at three o'clock the lads 
 were let out of school, and, incited by the example 
 and exhortation of Gus Brookes, they gave their 
 teacher " three times three " cheers which might 
 have been heard half a mile away. A plentiful
 
 Keeping a Birthday. 71 
 
 supply of nuts were showered among the boys, 
 who scrambled after them as eagerly as if they 
 were pearls, and after thirty minutes' jolly fun 
 they re-entered school feeling as grateful as if their 
 master had entertained them with a very sump- 
 tuous repast. 
 
 Thus ended the commemoration of the school- 
 master's birthday, so far as the school at large 
 was concerned, but for the first class a greater 
 treat was in store. Mr. Stanton, although un- 
 married, lived in a good-sized house near the 
 school, and it was no very unusual thing for him to 
 ask a few of the boys to spend the evening with 
 him. He really loved his scholars, and indeed he 
 had few objects in life which were not connected 
 in some way or other with their welfare. He 
 made himself one among them, entering into 
 many of their sports, and showing them that 
 he had their best interests at heart. On this 
 occasion he had invited all the scholars in 
 the first class, as also the four assistant
 
 72 A Year at School. 
 
 masters, to drink tea with him and keep his 
 birthday. 
 
 After school, those boys who lived near 
 enough hurried home for a wash, and for the 
 purpose of putting on a clean collar in which to 
 do honour to their master's hospitality ; but those 
 who, like William Parsons, lived at a distance, 
 had to make the best toilet they could with the 
 assistance of an abundant supply of soap and 
 water in the master's kitchen. 
 
 At five o'clock the guests had all arrived, and 
 were seated round a long table in the master's 
 sitting-room. Mr. Stanton sat at the head of 
 the table, and Mr. Thomson at the foot, and 
 nowhere in Copsley was there a happier man than 
 Mr. Stanton, or a jollier party than that seated 
 round his board. Tea was at once served, and 
 cakes, sandwiches, bread and butter, and preserves 
 vanished with a rapidity which can only be 
 believed by those who have ever attempted to 
 keep pace with the appetites of a dozen hungry
 
 Keeping a Birthday. 73 
 
 schoolboys. Merrily passed the meal. Any little 
 reserve or awkwardness was quickly banished by 
 the invincible good humour of the host. With 
 little pleasantries and well-directed observations he 
 succeeded in putting each one at his ease, and in 
 drawing out each individual's peculiarities for the 
 general good. 
 
 After tea fruit and nuts were brought in, and 
 the lads diverted themselves according to their 
 varied tastes. One of the junior masters played a 
 game of draughts with Charlie Davis, Mr. Thom- 
 son and another preferring the more scientific 
 game of chess. Some of the boys amused them- 
 selves with looking at volumes of engravings, 
 while others were soon deeply interested in books 
 from the well-filled shelves. Mr. Stanton created 
 great amusement by bringing out a powerful 
 galvanic apparatus, with which he operated upon 
 those of the lads who were not otherwise engaged. 
 Bob Johnson was especially interested in this 
 machine. He seemed altogether unable to keep
 
 74 ^ Yw at School. 
 
 away from it, although the way in which it caused 
 him to writhe and double himself up, and the 
 curious shape in which it pulled his face, made 
 him a most ludicrous object. At various intervals 
 Mr. Stanton read selections from his favourite 
 authors, sometimes exciting roars of laughter by 
 an extract from some humorist, and at other 
 times subduing them with passages of exquisite 
 tenderness and pathos. And occasionally, too, 
 Mr. Stanton sat down to his piano, and sang 
 several hearty old English songs; and with the 
 assistant masters he also rendered some favourite 
 glees and part-songs. 
 
 In due time supper was served, and consider- 
 ing what a substantial tea the lads had had, it 
 really was amazing how those boys, and the 
 men too, did enjoy the cold beef and mutton 
 provided; but, as Mr. Stanton jokingly said, 
 " Galvanism is a rare thing for the appe- 
 tite." When the meat was removed there came 
 the dish of the evening a steaming hot plum-
 
 Keeping a Birthday. 75 
 
 pudding. Wine also was served round, in which 
 to drink the master's health. When all had 
 tasted the pudding and pronounced it excellent, of 
 course there had to be some little speech- 
 making. 
 
 Mr. Thomson rose, and in a very neat little 
 speech referred to Mr. Stanton's superior abilities 
 as a teacher, his great earnestness, and his marked 
 success in his profession. He hoped he might 
 be spared to spend many future years in the same 
 noble cause, and he had great pleasure in pro- 
 posing the toast of the evening, namely " Many 
 happy returns of the day to Mr. Stanton." 
 
 Most of the boys following Mr. Thomson's 
 example, took a sip at their glasses in honour of 
 the toast, and Mr. Stanton was about to get up to 
 acknowledge it, when he noticed that one of the 
 masters was speaking rather earnestly to Charlie 
 Davis, who was very red in the face. On ask- 
 ing what was the matter, Charlie said that he was 
 a total abstainer, and although he wished Mr.
 
 76 A Year at School. 
 
 Stanton many happy returns of the day, he must 
 ask to be excused from drinking to t\& toast. 
 
 "Well,, Charlie, I should be very sorry for 
 any boy to drink against his wish, but this is only 
 home-made cowslip wine. I should never think 
 of setting foreign wines before young people/' 
 
 "That is just what I have been telling him/' 
 said the assistant master; "you would not offer 
 him any harm. And, besides, teetotallers are 
 allowed to drink home-made wines." 
 
 " Excuse me, sir," said Charlie, " but it isn't 
 a question of being allowed, but of principle. I 
 think those teetotallers who drink wines of any 
 sort are only pretenders." 
 
 " Hear, hear, Charlie ! " said Mr. Stanton ; 
 " I agree with you. I am proud to think that 
 you are so firm in principle as not to forego it even 
 to please your friends. Do not think anything 
 more about it. I shall value your kind wishes 
 just as much as if you drank to the toast." 
 
 Mr. Stanton thanked his guests for the senti-
 
 Keeping a Birthday. 77 
 
 ment his friend Mr. Thomson had given expression 
 to, and spoke to the uniform courtesy he had 
 always received from all his assistants, and the 
 pleasure it gave him to find so many boys in his 
 school who really tried to do him credit and to 
 profit themselves. A few more healths followed, 
 and at last the pleasant evening came to a close, 
 and the boys went home well pleased with them- 
 selves and with their teacher.
 
 f ,*/ ^^=^^^V:lV^M^ 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE MIDSUMMER EXAMINATION. 
 
 f 
 
 k IME rolled on. Easter came and went 
 with little notice, for Mr. Stanton 
 only allowed a few days' holiday, pre- 
 ferring to give an extra week at Mid- 
 summer, when the great heat and the 
 fineness of the weather rendered a holiday pecu- 
 liarly desirable and enjoyable. 
 
 May passed with its bright days and cool 
 evenings, and June came with its warm sunshine 
 and gorgeous flowers. The weather was already 
 becoming unpleasantly warm ; the atmosphere of 
 the schoolroom was close and heavy, and the lads 
 seemed drugged by it into drowsiness ; the big 
 bees came buzzing dreamily over the fields, the
 
 The Midsummer Examination. 79 
 
 cattle stood sleepily in the shadow of the wide- 
 spreading trees, and all who were not compelled 
 to work indulged in a sort of half-wakeful exist- 
 ence, which seemed in perfect harmony with 
 Nature. 
 
 In the playground the lads found it too much 
 exertion to run about, so they sat in groups in the 
 shade, or went quiet walks in Copsley Wood ; 
 while others, feeling the heat to be unbearable, 
 resorted to a little-used branch of the canal, where 
 it flowed between grassy banks, bordered by haw- 
 thorn bushes, and here they undressed and laved 
 their bodies in the cool, transparent water. 
 
 But though the boys tried thus to amuse 
 themselves, their chief thoughts were now directed 
 to the Midsummer examination. There was a 
 very healthful feeling of ambition in Copsley 
 School, and even the stupid and habitually careless 
 boys tried, now that the time was so near, to 
 make up for previous neglect. 
 
 Both master and pupils [wished heartily that
 
 80 A Year at School. 
 
 the examination were over and the holidays begun, 
 but still they kept pegging away, trying to keep 
 as wide awake as they could in the long, sultry 
 afternoons, when even the air which came through 
 the open windows felt warm and enervating. Mr. 
 Stan ton did what he could. He had all the win- 
 dows and doors wide open ; held some of his 
 classes in shady comers of the playground ; and 
 knowing that cold water is the most deadly foe to 
 sleepiness, he provided a number of large tin 
 basins in which the lads might wash their hands 
 and faces, and so cool themselves for their after- 
 noon's work. 
 
 The examination was fixed for the first Mon- 
 day in July. Slowly June dragged itself through 
 it seemed as if time itself were lagging behind. 
 The lads counted first the weeks, and then the 
 days, before the event. At last came the preced- 
 ing Friday, and the next Monday was to decide 
 how the last half-year's tuition had been re- 
 ceived.
 
 The Midsummer Examination. 
 
 Before school closed on the Friday, Mr. Stan- 
 ton explained the conditions of the examination, 
 and advised every boy to be at school at least half 
 an hour before schooltime, and to bring with him 
 a good supply of well-sharpened lead and slate- 
 pencils, so that no advantage might be lost 
 through the absence or clumsiness of these requi- 
 sites. He promised that he and the assistant 
 masters should be fully prepared for the examina- 
 tion on Monday morning, and he hoped the 
 scholars would be equally ready. With that the 
 boys left school, many of them laying in a large 
 stock of pencils, and taking off the edge of their 
 pocket-knives in sharpening them. Those lads 
 who had not been very diligent in their lessons, 
 very foolishly spent nearly all Saturday in commit- 
 ting whole pages to memory, and in brushing up 
 what they knew imperfectly. But most of the 
 boys were wiser. They knew that what was hur- 
 ried over in that way would not be of much 
 service, and they wisely concluded that by enjoy-
 
 82 A Year at School. 
 
 ing their games they would be all the fresher for 
 the real hard work before them. 
 
 Monday morning came, and by a quarter to 
 nine o'clock the playground of Copsley School 
 was all alive with boys. There were very few 
 running about, however, for there was hardly any 
 play going on. It seemed as if these gamesome 
 lads had all on a sudden been transformed into 
 serious, steady collegians. They walked gravely 
 about in twos or threes, discussing their own and 
 others' chances in the forthcoming competition. 
 Some sauntered about alone without any apparent 
 object; they would have started a game but they 
 knew running would excite them, and make their 
 hands shake, and that would tell against them 
 very much. Others walked about with their fore- 
 fingers in the lesson-books, and 'as they passed 
 about they muttered, " Twelve times ten are one 
 hundred and twenty, twelve times eleven are one 
 hundred and thirty-two:" "England is divided 
 into forty counties namely, Northumberland,
 
 The Midsummer Examination. 83 
 
 Durham/' etc., or " Prepositions serve to connect 
 words with one another, and show their relation 
 between them/' thus proving that they were try- 
 ing to make up for lost time. 
 
 At a few minutes to nine the master blew his 
 whistle, and the lads fell into line, as eager for 
 their work as soldiers for a fray. After prayers, the 
 lower classes were sent into the class-rooms, and 
 the boys of the first four classes were distributed 
 about a yard apart along the desks of the school- 
 room. Writing was the first exercise, and the 
 boys did their best to imitate the copy, for they 
 knew that proficiency in that art would be a 
 necessary qualification for a prize. Arithmetic 
 followed, and every boy in each class was furnished 
 with the same list of questions, the first three of 
 which were to be worked out in full on paper as a 
 test of neatness and correctness of method. No 
 one was allowed even to look at a single question 
 until all were ready, and then at a word from the 
 desk they started together. This paper was a
 
 84 A Year at School. 
 
 difficult one, and there were not many who had 
 completed their sums when the master stopped 
 them. The upper classes now moved off into 
 different class-rooms, while the lower classes came 
 in for their writing and arithmetic,, and now the 
 examination got more severe ; Mr. Stanton exa- 
 mined the classes separately in mental arithmetic, 
 English history, and geography ; and many boys 
 who would have done well if they had had to 
 answer the questions on paper, found they were 
 not quick enough in their replies to verbal ques- 
 tions. 
 
 Then came dinner, and after that the quietest 
 time the playground had seen that year ; for, as 
 in the morning, there were very few who felt 
 inclined for fun while the examination was in 
 progress. 
 
 Afternoon exercises began as usual at two 
 o'clock, and the first four classes were again seated 
 at the desks, where their first task was a long 
 paper of questions in grammar, for replying to
 
 The Midsummer Examination. 85 
 
 which the boys were supplied with abundance of 
 foolscap paper. After that they had to make out 
 a bill of parcels, and here again was a fine chance 
 for skilful and neat penmen. An exercise in com- 
 position followed ; each boy had to write what he 
 thought about the weather. And then came the 
 last subject of examination. The first class had 
 to draw a map of Europe from memory, putting 
 in as many towns, rivers, and mountains as time 
 would allow ; the second class had to do the same 
 with a map of England ; and the third and fourth 
 classes 'had to draw a small map of America, 
 copying from a large one on rollers. 
 
 Four o'clock struck before any boy had done 
 all he wished to do at his map. The papers were 
 collected, singing and prayer followed, and the 
 boys left the school, relieved to know that for 
 awhile the strain of study was over, and that they 
 might now enjoy their leisure without losing much 
 ground. 
 
 Tuesday and Wednesday passed quiet and un-
 
 86 A Year at School. 
 
 interesting, and on Thursday morning Mr. Stan- 
 ton announced that he and his assistants had 
 finished their inspection of the examination 
 papers, and that he should, in the afternoon, read 
 the list of the successful competitors, and that 
 they would then at once begin their holiday. 
 
 Oh ! what anxiety there was to know the re- 
 sults of the examination. No boy was indif- 
 ferent ; for if he had no hope for himself, he was 
 interested for some friend. 
 
 At two o'clock Mr. Stanton ascended his 
 desk, and amid the almost breathless silence of 
 the whole school, he read out the list of those 
 who had gained prizes, and of those who were to 
 be moved into higher classes. The first three 
 names in the first class surprised no one, for they 
 had previously held the same position. Alec 
 Gordon stood first, and chose for his prize a beau- 
 tifully-bound atlas. William Parsons came next, 
 and carried oft" a nicely-illustrated book of travels. 
 And, third, came Bob Johnson, who received an
 
 The Midsummer Examination. 87 
 
 elegant volume of poetry. Of course, no one 
 could be moved higher than the first class, so all' 
 that the master could do was to read the names 
 of the next three on the list. He then passed 
 on to the second class ; and after remarking at 
 some length on the peculiar excellence of the 
 papers written by the first boy in it, he electrified 
 the school by calling Edward Lindsay to receive 
 the first prize. Ted was so surprised he hardly 
 knew how to walk. He certainly had expected to 
 get moved up, and had thought it just possible he 
 might get the lowest prize, but beyond that he 
 had never dreamed of attaining. He chose a nice 
 little box of geometrical instruments, which he 
 had been longing for for some time. 
 
 It would take too much time to tell who won 
 the prizes in the other classes; suffice it that 
 John Parsons secured the third prize, and that he, 
 together with Ted Lindsay, Sam Townley, and 
 three others unknown to this history, were moved 
 into the first class.
 
 88 A Year at School. 
 
 And then the school broke up. George Ben- 
 son went off the next day on a long visit to his 
 uncle's farm, where he would be able to ride the 
 little pony at pleasure; Gus Brookes gave himself 
 up for a month of cricket, rowing, swimming, 
 etc., with the lads of the village; and most of 
 the other boys had some visit or amusement to 
 look forward to.
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 ONE MISSING. 
 
 the boys again assembled after 
 the Midsummer vacation, they had 
 sad news to hear. Charlie Davis had 
 been taken ill just before the exami- 
 nation, which he was, of course, unable to 
 attend. He was not very robust, and had lately, 
 in common with all the boys of the first class, 
 been studying very closely with a view to winning 
 a prize, and this, together with the sultry weather, 
 had lowered his vital energies, and so he became 
 an easy prey to the first attack of the summer 
 fever. His parents, friends, and schoolfellows 
 were sorry he should be debarred from taking part 
 in a competition in which he had every prospect
 
 90 A Year at School. 
 
 of distinguishing himself, but this \vas all that 
 troubled them in relation to his illness. They 
 expected he would be all right again in a week at 
 the most, and with this idea the lads broke up. 
 
 But on returning to school they found to their 
 surprise that Charlie Davis,, the first to show up 
 on such occasions, was not to be seen, and on 
 inquiry his schoolfellows learned, to their great 
 dismay, that Charlie's fever had got worse and 
 worse, and that his case was really alarming. 
 
 Mr. Stanton, who had been on a visit to the 
 sea-side, and had only returned late the preceding 
 night, was greatly troubled at the reported danger 
 in which Charlie lay. He asked Mr. Thomson to 
 go and inquire from Charlie's father the exact 
 nature of the danger to be apprehended, and was 
 informed that the doctor had as yet declined to 
 give any opinion as to the probable result, from 
 which fact it was evident that his patient was in a 
 very critical state. 
 
 In the evening the schoolmaster went himself
 
 One Missing. 9 1 
 
 to inquire about Charlie. He was welcomed by 
 the sorrowing parents, and at their request went 
 to look at his old scholar. He entered the room, 
 and spoke gently to Charlie, but he did not know 
 him, for he had been delirious for sometime. His 
 eyes were wide open and intensely brilliant ; his 
 face, though evidently shrunken, was almost 
 scarlet with fever, and looked even worse by con- 
 trast with the pure white of the bedclothes. Only 
 his mother was noticed at all by him, and even 
 she could not get an intelligible answer to one of 
 the many questions which her fond mother's heart 
 longed to ask. All that could be done for the 
 sufferer was to moisten his lips with juicy fruit, 
 and occasionally to administer medicine or some 
 slight nutriment to enable his system to bear the 
 terrible strain of the fever. 
 
 Hot, restless, and uneasy, poor Charlie tossed 
 from side to side on his pillow, looking with 
 strange, bewildered gaze on the familiar persons 
 and objects around him, and muttering and talk-
 
 92 A Year at School. 
 
 ing to himself in a way which showed how com- 
 plete was the temporary disarrangement of his 
 mind. 
 
 " I suppose Alec Gordon will win the first 
 prize ? " he said,, as he lay glaring at his teacher. 
 
 " He will try hard for it/' said Mr. Stanton, 
 for he thought the remark \vas an evidence of 
 returning consciousness, and he feared to perplex 
 the poor boy still more by telling him that the 
 prizes were already awarded. 
 
 But without the least notice of his reply, 
 Charlie rambled on in a queer, half-intelligible 
 voice. " If Lord Palmers ton gets defeated, he 
 will appeal to the country at least, I should 
 but there's nothing like a good hit to long point. 
 I shall be all right in grammar and writing, but I 
 can't score much in arithmetic. What a splendid 
 hit Gus Brookes made then ! What a noise those 
 boys make ! Wouldn't it be grand to get before 
 Alec Gordon ! Oh ! my poor head ! How it 
 aches ! " And thus Charlie's brain was puzzling
 
 One Missing. 93 
 
 over the things in which he was so deeply inte- 
 rested. When not asleep, he was thus rambling 
 in his talk, mingling events of weeks ago with 
 those of to-day, and confusing himself as to 
 persons and places as only delirious people can. 
 
 In opening the school next morning, Mr. 
 Stan ton prayed earnestly for their afflicted school- 
 fellow. Twice during morning lessons he sent to 
 inquire if there were any fresh hope of his 
 recovery, but each messenger returned without 
 good news. In the dinner-hour Mr. Thomson 
 again went, and found that the poor boy's head 
 was so much worse that the doctor had ordered all 
 his hair to be cut off, and still there were no signs 
 of improvement. It was with much sadness of 
 heart that the boys heard this news as soon as 
 afternoon school had commenced. 
 
 " My dear boys," said Mr. Stanton, " while 
 we are sitting here in health and strength, one, 
 who a few weeks ago was as light-hearted as any 
 of you, and to all appearance in good health, is
 
 94 A Year at School. 
 
 now tossing in weariness and pain. It seems 
 hard to go on with our lessons as if nothing were 
 the matter, when each moment may be the last 
 for the poor sufferer. I do not feel that I can 
 teach you this afternoon, and I am sure many of 
 you would find your thoughts wandering from 
 your books to your afflicted schoolfellow. He had 
 his faults, as all of us have; but his were such as 
 experience and age would have cured, and I feel 
 sure there is not a boy here who would not put 
 himself to great sacrifice, if he could in any way 
 help towards the recovery of Charlie Davis. But 
 we cannot help him. We are here, and he is 
 yonder, and even his dearest friends who are near 
 him are as powerless as ourselves to assist him. 
 There is only one thing we can do, and that is 
 pray for him. We are taught in the Bible to pray 
 to God in all times of sorrow or danger, and so 
 instead of lessons this afternoon, let us all 
 earnestly ask God to recover your suffering school- 
 fellow."
 
 One Missing. 95 
 
 And then every boy knelt down, and with 
 closed eyes devoutly accompanied the school- 
 master in an earnest prayer that, if it were in 
 accordance with his holy will, God would in 
 answer to their united believing entreaty, with- 
 draw his afflicting hand from the boy on whose 
 behalf they were pleading; but if in his divine 
 wisdom He saw fit to take theirYriend from among 
 them, He would mercifully pardon his sins, purify 
 his heart, and take him unto Himself. 
 
 With earnest, impassioned eloquence, Mr. 
 Stanton pleaded for the life of the poor boy, and 
 as the lads listened they too joined their petitions 
 with his, and prayed as if it were their own 
 brother who lay at the point of death. 
 
 Mr. Stanton then sent a lad to inquire if there 
 were any change for better or worse in the con- 
 dition of the sufferer, and he brought back the 
 answer, "No change ! " 
 
 "Thank God for that," said Mr. Stanton, 
 devoutly; cc if he is no worse there is some hope."
 
 96 A Year at School. 
 
 And again the whole school knelt, and Mr. 
 Thomson prayed for the poor boy. Amid 
 almost perfect silence he poured forth his soul in 
 earnest entreaty for God's mercy on their school- 
 fellow, and if it were possible for his recovery 
 and return among them. And from two hundred 
 youthful hearts there arose a fervent " Amen/' 
 
 Again the boys rose from their seats, and 
 again a messenger was sent to the sufferer's 
 house. He quickly returned, and more from his 
 looks than from his words they learned that the 
 boy who had been so lately among them was now 
 no more. A low, suppressed sob went round the 
 schoolroom as the news was told. Mr. Stanton 
 again asked the boys to kneel in prayer, and then 
 amid the scarcely audible sobs of Charlie's par- 
 ticular friends he bowed before the wisdom which 
 had seen fit to remove their friend from among 
 them, and earnestly besought God that He would 
 mercifully console the bereaved parents and their 
 afflicted friends for the loss of the dear boy, and
 
 One Missing. 97 
 
 that He would sanctify this bitter dispensation of 
 his providence to their future and eternal welfare. 
 On rising from their knees, Mr. Stanton gave out 
 the grand old hymn, commencing: " O God, 
 our help in ages past ! " The Jads sung it 
 sweetly and devoutly to the tune " Windsor/' 
 and then the school broke up. 
 
 Poor Charlie Davis was buried a few days 
 afterwards, and in accordance with a request he 
 had made in the earlier stage of his illness (for he 
 seemed from tlie first to think he should die, and 
 to contemplate the fact without fear) the boys in 
 his class followed] him to the gravj, and with 
 tear-dimmed eyes saw the last of their old school- 
 fellow.
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 " GUS TO THE RESCUE." 
 
 was a glorious day in July. The boys 
 had left Copsley School about half-an- 
 hour, and most of them had already 
 started for home. 
 
 There were a few, however, who had 
 stayed behind to make arrangements for a ramble 
 on the next Saturday afternoon. Some of the 
 boys wanted to go boating, one or two were 
 desirous of fishing, while some others did not 
 mind where they went so that it was a pleasant 
 place. At last it was decided to go to Puntford, a 
 little village about five miles from Copsley, where 
 there would be boating and fishing for those who
 
 " Gas to the Rescue." 99 
 
 liked it, and shady woods for those who wished to 
 romp about or gather wild flowers. 
 
 Thus it was that Gus Brookes and William 
 Parsons were so late in starting for home. On 
 they passed out of the play-ground, arm-in-arm, 
 their satchels hanging carelessly at their sides, and 
 their whole appearance telling as plainly as possible 
 that they had not made the acquaintance of soap- 
 and-water since they left home in the morning. 
 Of course they were still talking of the excursion. 
 , " I hope that little outrigger boat won't be en- 
 gaged when we get to Puntford," said Gus ; " I 
 wouldn't give a fig to row one of those heavy 
 ones.*' 
 
 "The outrigger isn't very safe, though," sug- 
 gested his friend. 
 
 " It depends upon who is in it/' said Gus. 
 " When I went down the first time this summer, 
 the man at the boat-house said I wasn't old 
 enough to manage it,' but at last I persuaded him 
 to let me show hiir how well I could row, and 
 t
 
 loo A Year at School. 
 
 didn't I astonish him ! He said he should 
 
 never be afraid to But whatever is the 
 
 matter ? Look yonder I" 
 
 They were now within a few hundred yards of 
 the canal bridge, and as William Parsons raised 
 his eyes he saw that there was a crowd of people 
 on the bridge, some of whom were rushing to and 
 fro, and gesticulating excitedly. Of course the 
 two boys set off at the top of their speed to the 
 scene of the commotion, in order to learn the 
 cause. They knew what was amiss, however, 
 before they reached the bridge, for Alec Gordon, 
 who was running hither and thither among the 
 crowd, had seen them approaching, and had run 
 to meet them. 
 
 "Oh, Gus, little Harry Summers has tumbled 
 into the canal. Do try to get him out. I would, 
 but I can't swim, and everybody seems afraid to 
 venture. Oh, dear ! oh, dear ! he'll be drowned, 
 he will I" cried the almost frantic boy, as he fairly 
 wrung his hands in his dismay.
 
 iis to the Rescue" 101 
 
 Harry Summers was Alec's cousin, a bright, 
 fair-haired little fellow of nine years,, and Alec, 
 who had no brothers and sisters, loved him as if 
 he had stood in a nearer relationship. He was 
 his almost constant companion. On this after- 
 noon he had left school with his cousin, and, 
 calling at home, had obtained permission to spend 
 the evening with Alec, who lived only a little way 
 farther on. Their way lay along the canal side, 
 and thus it was that Harry, in chasing his cousin 
 at full speed, had caught m's foot against a stump, 
 and this had pitched him right into the middle of 
 the canal a few yards below the bridge. The canal 
 here was very wide, and on the opposite side was 
 a large warehouse, whose walls came straight 
 down into the water. The force with which 
 Harry had fallen in was floating him every instant 
 farther from help. 
 
 Directly Alec heard the splash he had raised 
 an alarm, and, as there was a great deal of traffic 
 over the bridge, a crowd collected at once. As is
 
 A Year at School. 
 
 usual on such occasions, there was a great clamour 
 of advice, and very little help. Still, all was done 
 that could be done to rescue the unfortunate boy. 
 A dealer in boat stores who lived near brought out 
 boat-shafts and ropes, but the longest of the shafts 
 was too short to reach the drowning lad, and the 
 ropes were useless, for after the first convulsive 
 struggle the poor boy made no effort to save him- 
 self. He was evidently insensible. 
 
 Gus Brookes needed no entreaty. He was 
 very fond of little Harry Summers, but he would 
 most likely have acted much the same if he had 
 been a stranger, or even an enemy. He rushed to 
 the bank of the canal, and saw the pallid face of 
 the unfortunate lad as it rose from the water for 
 the second time. He hastily threw down his 
 satchel, tore off his coat and cap, and, after 
 balancing himself an instant on the iron kerb, 
 took a bold header, which carried him to the oppo- 
 site side of the canal. 
 
 It was well for him that he had learned to
 
 " Gus to the Rescue" 103 
 
 swim with his clothes on. To those who have 
 never tried it, it proves a very difficult task. The 
 water quickly soaks through the garments, and 
 not only do they encumber the motion of the 
 limbs, but they add considerably to the weight of 
 the body and keep it lower than it otherwise would 
 be. But Gus had been advised by an old sailor 
 who lived near him to practise swimming while 
 dressed, and so he had frequently taken old gar- 
 ments, and, putting them on near the canal, had 
 become quite expert in this most useful mode of 
 swimming. 
 
 As he leaped from the side the clamour of the 
 crowd ceased, and they held their breath till they 
 saw him come up within a yard or two of the 
 drowning boy. Swimming quickly behind the lad, 
 Gus caught him with his left arm just as he had 
 begun to sink for the third time. Gus had heard 
 that it was safest to approach a drowning person 
 from behind, and he was one of those cool people 
 who never lose their wits, even in the greatest
 
 IO4 A Year at School. 
 
 emergencies. But there was no need for any such 
 precaution in this case. The little fellow made no 
 attempt to clutch his benefactor, for he was alto- 
 gether insensible and helpless. Gus quickly swam 
 across to the shore of the canal, where he and his 
 burden were lifted out. 
 
 Just as they reached the bank a shriek was 
 heard, and pushing her way through the crowd 
 came Harry's mother, tearless, but very pale, and 
 trembling from head to foot. Regardless of his 
 drenched clothes, she snatched her darling to her 
 bosom and hurried home with him, while the poor 
 boy's father, w r ith tears in his eyes, thanked Gus 
 for his brave action, and begged him to come 
 home with him. 
 
 Everybody was praising Gus, and offering to 
 take him in while dry clothes might be fetched 
 from his home. Alec Gordon kept thanking him 
 over and over again like one bewildered, and 
 begged of him to go to his uncle's. But no ! Gus 
 knew he had far sweeter praise to get yet. He
 
 ' Gus to the Rescue. 3 ' 
 
 knew how pleased his mother would be to hear of 
 what he had done, and he knew, too, that home 
 was the best place for him. So putting on his 
 coat and cap, and taking up his satchel, he strug- 
 gled out of the admiring crowd, whistled for Will 
 Parsons to follow, and then they both set off at a 
 brisk trot, which they kept up until they reached 
 his home. Gus was by this time in a fine perspi- 
 ration, and consequently little liable to suffer from 
 his recent adventure. While he ran off to change 
 his clothes, William Parsons told his mother the 
 tale which Gus was too modest to relate. 
 
 It is needless to say that his mother, though 
 alarmed at first, was pleased at what she heard. 
 What mother would not be proud of such a brave 
 lad, or of such a noble deed ? She hugged and 
 kissed him, and called him her hero. Many a 
 timid mother might have told her boy of the 
 risks he had run, and have warned him not to 
 venture his life again in that way. Such mothers 
 rarely have heroes for sons, neither do they deserve
 
 106 A Year at School. 
 
 them, for they wither all noble impulses and pur- 
 poses by their selfish fearfulness. 
 
 William Parsons stayed to tea with Gus, and 
 sat chatting with him for some time afterwards, 
 when he suddenly stopped short, and said 
 
 " Well, I must be going. I have got a map to 
 draw to-night." 
 
 " Oh, dear \" said Gus, with a rueful face, " I 
 forgot home-lessons. I have got a hard sum to 
 do. What a pity I did not take the slate into the 
 canal with me, and then the sum would have got 
 washed off ! Pll be bound there's no home-lesson 
 on Harry Summers' slate !" 
 
 " Hush, hush, Gus \" said his mother, kindly. 
 " Surely a brave lad like you is not going to be 
 frightened at a sum ?" 
 
 " Well, mother, some chaps would sooner do 
 fifty sums than jump into the canal; but I don't 
 know how it is I suppose we are made different 
 I would rather have another swim with my clothes 
 on than do a long sum. But perhaps, if Will
 
 " Gus to the Rescue." 107 
 
 doesn't mind stopping a bit, he can make it 
 clearer to me. It seems to come natural to him 
 and a few more of them. I believe they could 
 work fractions in their sleep if somebody would 
 only give them a slate and pencil." 
 
 Will Parsons cheerfully offered his assistance, 
 and with his aid the sum was very quickly finished, 
 and Gus, freed from the oppression of his home- 
 lesson, was again cheerful and high-spirited. After 
 his schoolfellow had gone, his mother had a bit of 
 quiet talk with him. She said she would rather 
 hear of such an act as the one he had done that 
 day than she would hear of his being the first boy 
 in the school. 
 
 " We cannot all," said she, "be clever and 
 quick at learning, but we can all be kind and good, 
 and, as God has blessed you with a strong body 
 and a brave heart, I trust He will enable you 
 always to use them for the good of your fellows, 
 and for the relief of suffering wherever you may 
 find it. Good-night, my boy," she said, as Gus
 
 icS A Year at School. 
 
 went to bed ; " I have good cause to be proud of 
 you." 
 
 Away went Gus to bed, feeling somewhat 
 reconciled to his ill-success in study. When his 
 father, who had been out on business, arrived at 
 Copsley Station, he heard almost every one talk- 
 ing of a noble rescue from drowning. Imagine 
 \vhat his feelings w r ere when, on asking particu- 
 lars, he learned that his son was the gallant de- 
 liverer of the drowning boy.
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE PIC-NIC. 
 
 was getting near the end of August. 
 What little wheat there was growing 
 around Copsley had already been cut 
 and carried home, and the schoolboys 
 had had many a run across the fresh stub- 
 ble, as if to renew a right which had been sus- 
 pended since last seed-time. The deep green 
 tints of Copsley Wood had gradually toned down, 
 and here and there were to be seen trees which 
 had already assumed their golden autumn glory. 
 The burning heat of summer had past, the air was 
 still and balmy, and all nature seemed bathed in 
 mellow light.
 
 A Year at School. 
 
 These changes reminded Mr. Stanton that it 
 was time for him and his pupils to begin earnest 
 preparations for the Christmas examination. But 
 for a number of years he had made it a custom to 
 take the lads out for a day in the country, and as 
 the trip had been put off time after time, he re- 
 solved that it should be taken at once, before the 
 wet weather set in. You may be sure there were 
 great rejoicings when, on the Friday afternoon, 
 Mr. Stanton told his scholars of his intention. 
 He had arranged to take them to the Clent Hills 
 in Worcestershire, and those whose parents were 
 willing for them to go were to meet him a little 
 before nine o'clock on Monday morning at Rud- 
 ham Station. 
 
 Long before the time appointed Rudham Rail- 
 way Station was besieged by the eager excur- 
 sionists. They were crowding here and there, 
 tumbling over luggage, getting in the way of por- 
 ters, and with boyish curiosity peeping into the 
 lamp-room, the parcels department, and the book-
 
 The Pic-nic. 
 
 ing-office, and trying in vain to solve the mysteries 
 of railway management. 
 
 Some of the lads were carrying bats, wickets, 
 and fist-balls, and when Mr. Stanton appeared he 
 delighted the boys by producing a monster foot- 
 ball cased in leather. Some boys had brought 
 provisions in their school satchels ; but by far the 
 greater number had so slenderly provided for 
 dinner, that they might have passed a whole line 
 of custom-house detectives without it being dis- 
 covered. 
 
 At last the train came into the station, puffing 
 and snorting as if in scorn at having to stop to 
 take on a lot of youngsters, and as soon as the 
 lads had scrambled into the carriage reserved for 
 them, the whistle was blown, and away they 
 started. What crowding there was at the carriage 
 windows, and what interest was excited by the 
 most commonplace scene or event ! They were 
 soon out of the smoky district, and passing 
 through a gently undulating country, whirling
 
 112 A Year at School. 
 
 past picturesque cottages, snug farmsteads, gen- 
 tlemen's houses, and meadows and copses without 
 number. 
 
 Several stations were stopped at, and at last, 
 the guard called out, " Hagley ! " and out trooped 
 the lads in as great a hurry as they had previously 
 scrambled in. Mr. Stanton having given up the 
 tickets, the little party passed out of the station 
 and on to the highway, bordered by high hedge- 
 rows bright with wild flowers of almost every hue. 
 The air was scented with sweet-briar, wild rose, 
 and a thousand other perfumes. The lads busied 
 themselves in gathering bunches of wild flowers, 
 and as they chased each other along the lane the 
 quiet village rang with their merry laugh and 
 joyous shout. 
 
 They were not long in reaching the gates of 
 Hagley Park, the seat of Lord Lyttelton, a noble- 
 man as famous for his charity and philanthropy 
 as for his great literary attainments. As Mr. 
 Stanton had previously obtained permission to
 
 The Pic-nlc. 1 13 
 
 pass through the park, they were quickly ad- 
 mitted. What a delightful walk it was under the 
 shade of the great ancestral trees,, past the front 
 of the fine hall, through groves rendered classical 
 by the memory of the poet Shenstone, who loved 
 to ramble here, and across glades where the 
 antlered deer, bounding from the path, reminded 
 one of the days of Robin Hood and his men. 
 
 On they passed till they reached the outer 
 bounds of the park, and passing through another 
 gate they stood at the foot of Clent Hills. What 
 a change ! In the park it was cool and shady, 
 and the grass under foot was long and soft ; but 
 directly they began to ascend the hills they found 
 the sun shining warmly, and the turf, though 
 soft, so smooth and slippery that it required some 
 care to keep upright, and merry was the good- 
 humoured banter when any of the party, forget- 
 ting his caution for a moment, suddenly found 
 himself on his knees, or else rolling down the 
 hill-side.
 
 A Year at School. 
 
 At the top of the hills are four huge unhewn 
 stones set up on end, each of which, it is said, 
 stands in a different county, the stones being set 
 up to mark the place where the boundaries of 
 Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, and 
 Warwickshire meet. By the time Mr. Stanton 
 and his pupils had reached this spot there were 
 few disinclined for a rest; so while some of the 
 boys, with a pharisaic fondness for " upper seats," 
 perched themselves on the rugged summits of the 
 four stone pillars, the rest of the lads sat down in 
 their shadow, and, as they could not reconcile 
 themselves to perfect rest, took advantage of the 
 leisure to make up for a small breakfast by eating 
 part of what they had brought for dinner a sys- 
 tem of " robbing Peter to pay Paul," which they 
 heartily regretted before they got home at night. 
 Milk was got from a man who had brought it up 
 the hill for sale to visitors, and quite an enjoyable 
 meal was made. 
 
 When all we r e sufficiently rested the bovs dis-
 
 The Pic-nic. 1 15 
 
 tributed themselves, and engaged in all sorts of 
 games. Some played at " rounders " with a 
 "fist-ball," while others scampered about in a jolly 
 game of cross-tick. 
 
 When they had amused themselves for about 
 an hour, Mr. Stanton called them with his whis- 
 tle, and got them to stand in a line for foot-ball. 
 With a well-directed kick he sent the ball whirling 
 away over the smooth turf, and away bounded the 
 lads helter-skelter after it. Gus Brookes was the 
 first to reach the ball, and a kick from him sent 
 it bounding off again ; but in the effort to drive it 
 before him, Gus lost his footing and found him- 
 self lying on his back. He rolled out of the way 
 of his advancing schoolfellows, however, and soon 
 joined their ranks. For some time the ball was 
 kept on the level ground, but at last a clumsy kick 
 from the side sent it careering down the slope of 
 the hill. What a scramble there was after it ! 
 Faster and faster went the ball, and just as some 
 boy thought he was going to grasp it, a frond of
 
 u6 A Year at School. 
 
 fern or a tuft of grass would cause it to spin off 
 in quite a different direction. At last the boys 
 and the football came to a stop together at the 
 bottom of the hill, and though there was a vigor- 
 ous attempt made to kick the ball up the hill again, 
 it had to be given up, for climbing was quite hard 
 enough of itself. 
 
 On again joining Mr. Stanton, a very slight 
 rest was sufficient to prepare the boys for further 
 exertions,, and running was proposed the fleetest 
 footed being regaled with milk, fruit, and such 
 confectionery as could be had frqm the villagers, 
 who seemed to think the Copsley lads uncommonlv 
 good customers, for they continually kept near 
 them with their baskets and cans, to the almost 
 complete neglect of several parties of grown-up 
 folks on other parts of the hills. 
 
 After the running the lads again sat down and 
 finished the food they had brought with them 
 those who were provided with pocket-money sup- 
 plementing it with very tempting, but fearfully
 
 The Pic-nic. 117 
 
 indigestible provisions. Sport then seemed to 
 run rather slack, until at last a sight presented 
 itself which filled every boy with enthusiasm. On 
 the side of the hill next the village there came 
 cantering up three or four donkeys. Before the 
 animals had fairly passed the brow of the hill 
 there was a general rush towards them, and as the 
 lads could not all ride at once, there was some 
 difficulty in deciding which should ride first. In 
 one case George Benson and Bob Johnson, in 
 their hurry to secure a ride, managed to mount 
 the same donkey, and as neither would get off, the 
 donkey-driver was considerably perplexed how to 
 settle the matter. The donkey, however, soon 
 helped him out of his difficulty by pitching Bob 
 gently over his head, and then rearing and slipping 
 George off behind a circumstance so comical 
 that neither of the lads could help laughing, and 
 as they lay and laughed at each other, any ill- 
 humour they had begun to feel quickly passed 
 away. Donkey-riding now became the favourite
 
 n8 A Year at School. 
 
 sport, and by six o'clock, when the boys started 
 back to the station, the poor animals must have 
 been very glad to be allowed to trot back to the 
 paddock where they grazed, or, if they w : ere so 
 fortunate, to a meal of corn in the stable. 
 
 The little party returned through Clent village 
 to the station, where they had not long to wait 
 for the train. They were much quieter in coming 
 back than they had been in going, and although 
 they sang a fe\v school songs on the way, they all 
 looked tired when they alighted at Rudham. 
 Wishing each other " Good night," they hurried 
 home to tell what a happy day they had spent, 
 and in some cases, I fear, to appease a clamorous 
 appetite which rebelled against short rations.
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 AN IMPORTANT VISITOR. 
 
 k HERE was a great commotion in Cops- 
 ley School one morning, a few days 
 after the pic-nic, in consequence of a 
 visit paid by Squire Brownlow. Now 
 John Brownlow, Esq., was a great man in 
 more senses than one. He measured quite six 
 feet in his shoes, and had broad shoulders, a capa- 
 cious chest, and brawny limbs. And then he was 
 supposed to be wealthy, and that alone is sufficient 
 to make a man great in the estimation of many 
 people. But beside this, Squire Brownlow was 
 great because he was an important, useful man. 
 He took a very prominent part in the public life 
 of Rudham, and was always to be found con-
 
 I2O A Year at School. 
 
 nected with any scheme for the political, social, or 
 religious benefit of the community. He was 
 moreover a borough magistrate; and although 
 kind, generous, and forgiving in disposition, he 
 was a veritable " terror to evil-doers/' and woe 
 to the man who had to appear before him on a 
 charge of drunkenness, assault, or, worst of all, 
 wife -beating. 
 
 He was called squire because he lived at Rud- 
 ham Hall, a queer, rambling old place, which had 
 in former years been the residence of the lord of 
 the manor. Since that time Rudham had deve- 
 loped from an agricultural village into a busy 
 manufacturing town, and instead of cornfields 
 and pastures little was to be seen but factories, 
 warehouses, and shops. But still Mr. Brownlow 
 lived at the Hall, and managed to keep it some- 
 thing like a country house. It was surrounded 
 with grand old trees and a very large garden, 
 which succeeded to some extent in keeping the 
 smoke and noise at a little distance. What farm.-
 
 An Important Visitor. 
 
 land the squire still owned was near Copsley, 
 which, with its meadows and its wood, lay like a 
 green oasis surrounded by a desert of brick and 
 smoke. Squire Brownlow had come to Rudham 
 a poor young man, and had started in life as a 
 small corn-factor. He now had the largest busi- 
 ness in that part of the county, and had several 
 large warehouses in different parts of the town, 
 for not only did he deal in grain, but in. all kinds 
 of provisions. All this had been accomplished by 
 steady, persevering work, together with natural 
 shrewdness and business ability. But, unlike too 
 many of the successful men of our day, he had 
 not sacrificed the comforts and innocent pleasures 
 of life to his desire for gain. No man was happier 
 at home than he, and none had a better reputation 
 for uprightness and kindliness of heart. 
 
 A pleasant man to meet was Squire Brownlow. 
 He had a ruddy, merry face, with hair and 
 whiskers almost white, and always looked as clean 
 and fresh as a spring morning. He wore a tall
 
 122 A Year at School. 
 
 white hat, with a broad very broad brim, and a 
 light grey suit of clothes. Moreover his carriage, 
 an old-fashioned four-wheel, was painted straw- 
 colour, and he alw r ays drove a fine grey horse, 
 which looked as clean and neat as himself. 
 
 No wonder then that when first the grey 
 horse, then the straw-coloured carriage, and last 
 the light suit, passed in succession into the play- 
 ground, all the boys instantly stopped in their 
 lessons, and began to wonder what on earth he 
 had come for. Some of the boys whose con- 
 sciences told them they had a fondness for stone- 
 throwing wondered if he had come with a pocket- 
 ful of summonses on account of broken windows. 
 Gus Brookes trembled lest he had come to com- 
 plain of damages done to the fences during a 
 cricket-match lately played in a meadow which he 
 had lent for the occasion. 
 
 No sooner had the carriage stopped than the 
 squire got down, and walking into the school 
 greeted Mr. Stan ton in a loud, deep voice it
 
 An Important Visitor. 123 
 
 would have been odd for a big man like him to 
 have a small one. After a few remarks about the 
 weather and the crops, Mr. Brownlow asked Mr. 
 Stanton if he could spare a few minutes as he 
 wanted to have a word or two with him. The 
 schoolmaster replied in the affirmative, and led the 
 way across the playground to his house, where 
 his visitor explained the object of his coming. 
 
 " You see, Mr. Stanton, one of my clerks is 
 going to leave, and I intend moving the others 
 up ; so I want an office-boy, and I should like 
 you to recommend one from among your pupils." 
 
 " I suppose you will require a premium, and 
 give no wages at first ?" said Mr. Stanton. 
 
 " No, no ! I tried that at one time, but it did 
 not pay. The lads who brought a premium were 
 too conceited; they wanted my place. One 
 actually told me he could not think of carrying 
 out a small parcel I wanted sent. No; I want 
 an honest, industrious lad, who has a tolerable 
 head-piece, and who doesn't mind running errands
 
 124 A Year at School. 
 
 or making himself useful in other ways now and 
 then. I shall give five shillings a-week to start 
 with, and it will be the boy's own fault if he 
 doesn't rise to be manager. Mr. Parsons at 
 Rudham Mill recommended a lad named Lindsay 
 Edward Lindsay, I think." 
 
 ''That was the very boy I was thinking of 
 naming, only I was not sure if his father would 
 like him to leave school yet. It would be almost a 
 pity to take him away now." 
 
 "As to that," said the squire, "his father 
 is quite willing for him to come, and if you think 
 he will suit me, perhaps you might arrange to 
 meet him one or two nights a week for further 
 study." 
 
 " I shall be very pleased to do so, and I can 
 assure you I have every confidence in Edxvard's 
 character and capacities. Perhaps you would like 
 to see him ?" 
 
 " Thank you, I should.'' 
 
 With that Edward Lindsay was fetched out of
 
 An Important Visitor. 125 
 
 school, to the great astonishment of all the boys, 
 and no less to his own bewilderment, and marched 
 into the presence of the great man of the district. 
 Of course Ted was somewhat awed, and answered 
 timidly the questions which the shrewd old gen- 
 tleman put. 
 
 "Come, don't be frightened, my lad," said 
 Squire Brownlow, in his kind, cheery voice ; " I 
 shan't eat you. I have not long since had a good 
 breakfast. You should never be afraid of any- 
 body/' 
 
 Edward laughed at this, and soon felt more at 
 ease, for he saw that the old gentleman was look- 
 ing kindly at him out of his soft grey eyes. 
 
 After examining Ted's copybook, the squire set 
 him some rather difficult sums in practice, in 
 which he had to find the value of so many hundred- 
 weights, quarters, and pounds of butter at a certain 
 price per pound ; and then so many pounds of 
 cheese at so much per hundredweight. Ted was 
 well prepared for such sums, and he got most of
 
 125 A Year at School. 
 
 them right. But what surprised and perplexed 
 him was that Mr. Brownlow could find the correct 
 answer to all these sums without putting down u 
 single figure. He had no idea how constant prac- 
 tice developes the faculties of the mind, and little 
 dreamt that one day he should be able to solve 
 questions even more difficult by means of mental 
 arithmetic. 
 
 Throughout the interview the squire never once 
 intimated to Edward Lindsay the motive he had in 
 view in questioning him ; but when he had satisfied 
 himself, he said 
 
 " Now, my lad, go back and mind your lessons ; 
 you seem to be getting on very well." 
 
 So Ted went back to his place as ignorant of 
 the squire's purpose as were his fellow-pupils ; and 
 when, in answer to their whispered questions,, he 
 could only say he didn't know why he had been 
 sent for, one-half of them voted him a stupid fel- 
 low, and the others set him down as a sly one who 
 was determined not to gratify their curiosity.
 
 An Important Visitor. 127 
 
 By-and-by the grey horse, the straw-coloured 
 carriage, the light suit, and the jolly face of Squire 
 Brownlow passed out of the playground, Mr. 
 Stanton came back into the school, and the lessons 
 went on just as usual, and when the day's work 
 was done Edward Lindsay tripped off home more 
 bewildered than ever, and not knowing whether to 
 be pleased or not at the strange visit of the 
 morning.
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 A NUTTING EXPEDITION. 
 
 FEAR some of my readers will begin 
 to think that the boys who went to 
 Copsley School cared for little besides 
 play and fun, since so many chapters 
 have been taken up with descriptions of 
 their sports and amusements. And although I 
 do not wish to set these boys up as models of 
 what school children should be, I must own to 
 feeling a very considerable amount of respect for 
 them. I think they were as good and as fond of 
 their books as young folks usually are, and that 
 my readers should share my good opinion of 
 them, is one of the reasons for my writing this 
 story. I have only to say in justification that 

 
 A Nutting Expedition. 129 
 
 play should in all cases occupy a considerable por- 
 tion of childhood, and further that, were I to 
 confine myself to describing merely the various 
 lessons and school work generally, I should get 
 very few boys, at any rate, to read what I had 
 written. But to my story. 
 
 On the Friday dinner-time, after Squire 
 Brownlow*s visit, an attentive observer could 
 not fail to notice that something of importance 
 was being discussed. The bigger boys were 
 walking slowly to and fro in the playground, 
 three or four talking together earnestly, and when 
 any of the smaller fry, prompted by curiosity, 
 ventured near to them to listen, they were sum- 
 marily sent about their business. Whatever could 
 it be that excited such interest, and yet demanded 
 so much secrecy ? Were the lads plotting an 
 insurrection against Mr. Stan ton ? Certainly 
 not! They were too fond of him. Could it be 
 possible they were planning to play truant 
 together ? No ! Some of the steadiest boys were
 
 130 A Year at School. 
 
 among them. You might go on guessing till to- 
 morrow without discovering the cause of their 
 excitement,, so I will be merciful and tell you. 
 The interest evident in the faces of all the boys in 
 the first four classes was the result of news which 
 had been brought to the school that morning. 
 Where the intelligence originated, or who was the 
 bearer of it, I cannot say, but of its importance 
 there could be no doubt, seeing the interest it 
 excited. It was this : One of the boys had 
 brought word from some one, who had been told 
 by somebody else, that the nuts in Bushbury 
 Wood were ripe, and that they were finer than 
 had been seen for years; and the incessant 
 chatter among the boys was caused by their 
 making arrangements to meet, and proceed 
 together to Bushbury, and bring back as many 
 nuts as they could carry. 
 
 Now Bushbury Wood was at least eight miles 
 from Copsley, and as there was no railway in that 
 direction, the boys would have to walk if they
 
 A Nutting Expedition. 131 
 
 were to go. Some wanted to start at six o'clock 
 in the morning, so as to finish their walk before 
 it was hot ; while others, who were fond of their 
 beds, protested that it would be soon enough to 
 start after breakfast. They were still undecided 
 as to the time of starting, when the master's 
 whistle summoned them, and they went into 
 school to resume their studies. But even here 
 the nutting excursion was uppermost in the 
 thoughts of many of them. Bob Johnson, catch- 
 ing the eye of a companion on the other side of 
 the school, reminded him of the pleasure he 
 anticipated in the expected trip, by imitating in 
 dumb show the operation of pulling nuts from 
 the trees, clearing them of their husks, and then 
 cracking and eating them with an apparent 
 relish which made his friend's mouth water, with 
 expectation. And many of the quicker lads, who 
 had for obvious reasons studied the deaf and 
 dumb alphabet, and who were tolerably clever at 
 it, spent a great deal too much of their time in
 
 132 A Year at School. 
 
 further discussing the time of starting, arguing 
 each side of the question on the tips of their 
 fingers, as if they were really speechless. 
 
 School over, another long meeting was held 
 in the playground, and at last the question of 
 starting was put to the vote ; and as the majority 
 were for going early, it was decided to meet at 
 Copsley toll-gate at six o'clock punctually, and 
 not to wait more than five minutes for any one. A 
 few of those who preferred starting after break- 
 fast, turned sulky and would not go at all, but 
 most of them fell in with the general arrange- 
 ment, and promised to go. 
 
 Accordingly at six o'clock the next morning 
 Giles Jones, who kept the Copsley toll-gate, was 
 awakened out of a rather unpleasant dream by 
 curious noises and strange tongues outside. 
 Peeping cautiously through the window he was 
 surprised and bewildered to see from twelve to 
 fifteen youngsters sitting about the gates in every 
 variety of posture, each of whom had a bag over
 
 A Nutting Expedition. 133 
 
 his shoulder or hanging in his hand. While, 
 perched upon each of the huge balls surmounting 
 the gate-posts, was a lad, seated in a grotesque 
 attitude, and in the early light looking not much 
 unlike one of those " griffins " which ancient 
 families delight to set up to watch the gates of 
 their demesnes. Poor old Giles rubbed his eyes 
 and wondered whether or no he was still dreaming. 
 No ! those were surely the turnpike gates, for he 
 could recognize the peculiar bolts and lock. Then 
 those lads must have been engaged in some house- 
 breaking exploit ! But then, he thought, they 
 would not be likely to attract public notice by 
 such singular behaviour. Giles was getting 
 more wide awake every minute, and as his 
 wits returned, he recognized one after another of 
 the boys, and resolved at once to revenge him- 
 self for his fright by driving them oft" his gates. 
 There was, however, no need for him to trouble 
 himself, for just then the finger of the gatehouse 
 clock reached five minutes past six, and off jumped
 
 134 A Year at School. 
 
 the lads, as if worked by springs, and away they 
 went to Bush bury. 
 
 Those who have never tried it, ean have no 
 idea how pleasant it is to take a walk in the 
 country early on a fine autumn morning, in plea- 
 sant company, and with light hearts and high 
 spirits. How queer it seems to be rambling 
 through little villages while most of the villagers 
 are still wrapped in sleep, hearing now and then 
 the shrill crow^ of the cock as he loudly publishes 
 his adherence to the practice of early rising, and 
 meeting no one, except it be a farm labourer, 
 walking sleepily along with a team of horses, 
 or a herd of cows looking as drowsy as himself, 
 There were many objects of interest on the way 
 to attract the attention of the boys, and as there 
 was no reason for hurrying, they sauntered care- 
 lessly along, walking or pausing at their own 
 sweet will ; and thus it was that by the time they 
 passed the little square tow r er of Bushbury Church, 
 the solitary bell, which had to do duty at weddings,
 
 A Nutting Expedition. 135 
 
 funerals, and on all other occasions, was dolefully 
 tolling nine. Another five minutes' walk brought 
 them to the entrance of the wood, and as the 
 grass was still wet with dew, the boys took ad- 
 vantage of some felled trees lying near, and sat 
 down to have a rest and to eat their breakfast. 
 
 I am pleased to be able to claim for the 
 Copsley boys a peculiar evidence of wisdom which 
 some men never possess to their dying day, and 
 that is that they had the good sense to profit by 
 experience. On their trip to Clent they had 
 bitterly felt the agonies of a half-empty stomach, 
 and so now they took particular care to provide a 
 plentiful supply of meat sandwiches and cake, and 
 as they had to take bags in which to carry back 
 the nuts, it was very convenient to store the pro- 
 visions within, and these it was that suggested to 
 Giles Jones the idea of a burglary. 
 
 Breakfast finished, the lads set busily to work 
 to pick nuts, but for a long while none found 
 their way into the bags, for the lads cracked and 
 ate the sweet juicy fruit as fast as they could
 
 136 A Year at School. 
 
 pluck it from the trees. But boys will in time 
 get tired even of nuts, if they have an unlimited 
 supply before them, and so at last they began to 
 stock their bags, and when they saw by the sun 
 that it was near mid-day, they sat down and 
 ate their dinners to make a little room in their 
 bags for more nuts. This good resolution they 
 might doubtless have followed up with more nut- 
 gathering, but while they were lounging about 
 after dinner, Sam Townley caught sight of a 
 squirrel sitting on a branch, with his tail curled 
 over his back, and he busy eating nuts. Of 
 course the lads set off in instant pursuit. Sam 
 began climbing the tree, while the others waited 
 for the little animal if it came down. The squirrel 
 seemed to treat the affair with supreme contempt. 
 He sat very demurely munching his fruit until 
 Sam Townley's hand was on the next branch to 
 the one which served him for a seat, when, with 
 a little scornful toss of his pretty head, he lightly 
 skipped off to another. Poor Sam, in his dis- 
 appointment and his hurry to get down and join
 
 A Nutting Expedition. 137 
 
 in the further pursuit, forgot some awkward off- 
 shoots from the tree near the ground, and the 
 consequence was he had a clumsy fall, with for- 
 tunately no other damage than a torn coat-sleeve. 
 Again and again did the lads climb trees, but 
 with no other result than to make the squirrel 
 spring to another one. Do what they would they 
 could not get the animal to descend to the 
 ground, and at last, after a chase of at least half 
 an hour, the little rogue got up into the higher 
 branches of a lofty tree, where he was hid alto- 
 gether from the view of his pursuers, and there 
 they left him. 
 
 The lads now started back, but it was no easy 
 matter to find their way, for they had scrambled 
 over brushwood and bramble in their eager pur- 
 suit of the squirrel, and so it was some time before 
 they found a beaten track which would lead them 
 to the spot where they had left their bags. 
 
 Before they reached it, however, they came 
 upon something else which drew them aside from 
 their purpose. By the roadside they found quite
 
 138 A Year at School. 
 
 a forest of brambles almost covered with fine 
 juicy blackberries. This was quite irresistible, 
 and so the lads fell to, scratching their hands with 
 the thorns, and discolouring their mouths with the 
 juice. As they cleared one bush, they passed on 
 to another, and by the time they were quite 
 satisfied the sun was already sinking below the 
 trees in the west. The lads had still some 
 food left, so they got their bags, and finding 
 a little stream of clear water, sat down by its 
 side and finished their provisions, quenching 
 their thirst at the brook. 
 
 They had fully purposed to fill their bags 
 with nuts before returning, but every one of 
 them was well tired, and it was getting time 
 to start; and as there was a walk of eight 
 miles before them, they agreed to set off with 
 the few nuts they had. Even these seemed too 
 heavy for them to carry, for some of them kept 
 lightening their bags by eating the nuts as they 
 went along. 
 
 However merry they had been in the morning,
 
 A Nutting Expedition. 139 
 
 they were a very sober company as they rested by 
 the roadside after walking two miles, and thought 
 drearily of the other six. But their case was 
 better than they thought, as, indeed, our circum- 
 stances generally are, if we could know all. They 
 had not gone much farther when an empty waggon 
 and a team of fine horses came rumbling and 
 jingling behind them, and with a shout of delight 
 Gus Brookes recognized the waggon from Rud- 
 ham Mill, which had been out to deliver a load of 
 flour. In less than three minutes the whole of the 
 nutting party were inside, and as they could now 
 well afford to be merry, they laughed and sang to 
 their hearts' content. Most of the boys still con- 
 tinued to eat their nuts, and by the time they 
 reached home the parents of more than one had to 
 take upon trust the tale of their success, for not a 
 single nut could they produce in proof of it. 
 That they had returned home in a flour waggon 
 however, no one needed to be told, for all their 
 coats were marked very conspicuously with 
 patches of white.
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 THE EMPLOYERS' PRIZE SCHEME. 
 f 
 i HE Copsley boys were now in earnest 
 
 preparation for the Christmas exami- 
 nation, in which every lad from the 
 first class to the last felt interested, and to 
 which they looked forward all through the 
 year. But the boys of the first class had another 
 object in view. A number of gentlemen of the 
 district had about twenty years before established 
 an Employers' Prize Scheme for competition, under 
 certain regulations, by scholars who attended any 
 school within a circle of five miles round Rudham. 
 Towards the funds of this scheme every school 
 had to contribute a certain sum for each scholar 
 sent for examination. Of course, under these cir-
 
 The Employers' Prize Scheme. 141 
 
 cumstances, it was not likely that a schoolmaster 
 would send any boy unless there was a probability 
 of his being successful. So Mr. Stanton examined 
 the first class himself, and then chose the first 
 twelve on the list as candidates for the prizes. 
 
 The candidates were divided into three grades, 
 a different standard of excellence being fixed for 
 each. Those who had never tried before were 
 open to receive a prize of a guinea's worth of 
 books ; those who had already won that contended 
 for a prize of three guineas in money ; and those 
 who had already carried off the two former, tried 
 for a money prize of five guineas ; while the one 
 who gained the highest number of marks had a 
 scholarship for two years, worth twenty pounds a 
 year, at a local college. 
 
 These prizes, as will readily be believed, were 
 greatly coveted by the youths of the neighbour- 
 hood, and not only on account of their intrinsic 
 worth, but because they were valuable as recom- 
 mendations in obtaining situations under sub-
 
 142 A Year at School. 
 
 scribers to the scheme. There was also con- 
 siderable emulation among the schools in the 
 neighbourhood, for the simple reason that the 
 schoolmaster whose pupils carried off most prizes 
 became very popular, and vacancies in such a 
 school were eagerly filled up. 
 
 Mr. Stanton had hitherto been very success- 
 ful, for his boys each year carried off more than 
 their proportion of prizes. It was a rare thing 
 for more than two of the candidates he sent to 
 prove unsuccessful in trying for the first prize, 
 and many were the three guineas awarded to his 
 scholars. He had on two occasions sent youths 
 who had carried off the five guineas; but it was 
 not often a boy stayed long enough at school to 
 entitle him to contend for that. 
 
 But on this occasion it must be owned that 
 Mr. Stanton felt anxious for the reputation of his 
 school. Three or four first-class boys had left 
 school immediately after the employ ers' examina- 
 tion last year, and he feared the possibility of
 
 The Employers 1 Prize Scheme. 143 
 
 falling short this time in the number of prizes. 
 But though anxious, he was not disheartened, and 
 so he tried his best. Having chosen the twelve 
 candidates, he gave them an extra hour of study 
 every day, taking half-an-hour of their dinner- 
 time, and keeping them half-an-hour after the 
 others at night. This might appear tyrannical, 
 only that the lads were as anxious as he for suc- 
 cess, and were glad to sacrifice part of both leisure 
 and pastime to obtain it. 
 
 The examination was fixed for Saturday, so 
 that the candidates might attend without inter- 
 fering with regular school duties. It was to 
 begin at ten o'clock in the morning in Rudham 
 Church Schools, which were not only the most 
 central, but the largest in the neighbourhood, and 
 the best suited to the purposes of an examination. 
 
 At last the important day arrived, and the 
 twelve lads on whom lay the responsibility of 
 keeping up the honour of Copsley School met 
 there at nine o'clock. Mr. Stanton gave each a 
 supply of pens, ink, and blotting-paper, to say
 
 144 A Year at School. 
 
 nothing of good advice, and then they walked 
 quietly on towards Rudham. At half-past nine 
 the town was all alive with little groups of boys and 
 girls (for girls were admitted to the competition) 
 from the various schools in the neighbourhood, 
 eyeing each other half shyly, half curiously, as if 
 trying to estimate their chances in the examination. 
 
 By ten minutes to ten all the candidates were 
 seated a yard apart along the desks, each with 
 pen, ink, and blotting-paper in front of him, and 
 a good supply of foolscap paper by his side. Pre- 
 cisely as the church bell rang out the first stroke 
 of ten, the genial, white-haired old vicar the 
 Rev. James Gray, who, together with an examiner 
 from the London University, was entrusted with 
 the carrying out of the Prize Scheme ascended 
 the desk, and read out the regulations that would 
 have to be complied with. Then the first printed 
 paper of questions was handed round. 
 
 After a slight rustling of papers, there was a 
 dead silence while the lads read over the questions. 
 Varied was the expression on the faces of the
 
 The Employers' Prize Scheme. 145 
 
 candidates. Some grew blank with bewilderment 
 as they saw question after question which they 
 could not answer ; while others grew bright with 
 the radiance of conscious ability. But there was 
 no time to throw away, and all alike began to do 
 what they could. And now the staff of inspec- 
 tors walked quietly round among the competitors 
 to answer any proper question, or with quick eye 
 to detect any attempt to break the rules of the 
 examination. Very soon a lad was found copying 
 from his neighbour, and was of course sent out 
 of the room, and a little later a lad was expelled 
 for referring to a memorandum brought on a 
 scrap of paper in his pocket. The downcast 
 looks of these two scapegraces as they left 
 their places were a very salutary caution to any 
 others who might be tempted to disregard the 
 regulations. 
 
 At eleven o'clock all the answers were taken 
 up, arid a fresh set of questions served round, and 
 at twelve the answers to these were collected,
 
 146 A Year at School. 
 
 and the examination adjourned for t\vo hours for 
 dinner. Of course all the competitors were 
 hungry, and very few of them had brought any 
 provisions with them. Now, there were only 
 two confectioners' shops in Rudham, and the 
 people not having thought of the examination, had 
 made no more preparation than on any other 
 Saturday ; the consequence was that there was a 
 run on cakes of all sorts custards were scarce, 
 and pork-pies were at a premium. One of the 
 confectioners, who proved to be an enterprising 
 man, equal to such an emergency, took in the 
 situation at a glance, and long before the time 
 allowed for dinner was expired, he provided 
 custards and rice-puddings enough to satisfy all 
 comers. 
 
 Mr. Stanton and his boys got such eatables as 
 they could, and then sauntered round the town, 
 through the old churchyard and back by the mill. 
 On the way, Mr. Stantcn tried to learn from the 
 boys their prospects of Success by asking what 
 they had answered to each question. William
 
 The Employers 3 Prize Scheme. 147 
 
 Parsons and Bob Johnson, who had won the first 
 grade prize last year, were now trying for the 
 three-guinea prize; and Alec Gordon, who had 
 previously gained the first and second grade 
 prizes, was trying for the five guineas; and, 
 though he had not whispered a word of his inten- 
 tion to anybody, he purposed, if possible, to win 
 the scholarship in addition. Mr. Stanton was 
 very well satisfied with the reports the boys gave 
 of their papers, and especially so with regard to 
 Alec Gordon's. He had answered every ques- 
 tion, and there was only one of his answers of 
 which the master was rather doubtful. 
 
 At a quarter to two the boys went in for 
 further examination, while their teacher stayed 
 outside chatting on various congenial topics with 
 other schoolmasters of his acquaintance. The 
 examination was over at four o'clock, and then 
 the lads walked home, feeling very anxious as to 
 the result, but knowing there would be at least a 
 fortnight of anxious suspense before the returns 
 would be published.
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 A LEAVE-TAKING. 
 
 schoolboy is there whose heart 
 does not leap with joy as he thinks 
 of leaving school and setting out on 
 the business of life ? How he re- 
 joices at the thought that at last the 
 period of mere preparation is passed,, and the time 
 of active responsibility is to commence ! All the 
 future is radiant with hope's fairest pictures, and 
 glorious with ambition's grandest dreams. True, 
 there is just a tinge of sadness at the thought of 
 leaving loved schoolfellows, just a suspicion of 
 regret at bidding farewell to the sports of youth. 
 But these thoughts are not allowed to damp the 
 spirits, they are all dispelled in a moment by one
 
 A 'Leave-Taking. 149 
 
 glance at the future. Dreams of wealth, fame, 
 and power resolves of high and noble purpose 
 and visions of heroic deeds to be done, occupy the 
 mind by night and by day. As a youth thus looks 
 forward there is no doubt, no fear all is hope, 
 bright and unwavering. 
 
 And it is right it should be thus. Youth is 
 the season of hope, and if one's thoughts and 
 feelings are not high then there is little prospect 
 of success. A hopeless youth can only be fol- 
 lowed by a degraded manhood and a useless old 
 age. It is as impossible to have a noble, useful life 
 without high hopes and noble purposes, as it is to 
 erect a magnificent building without designs and 
 plans. 
 
 But, notwithstanding the hope and confidence 
 with which the young set out on the more active 
 duties of life, the period of leaving school is one 
 of great importance. It is the time when a step 
 is taken on which depends in many cases success 
 or failure, and in all it is attended with grave
 
 150 A Year at School. 
 
 responsibility. Oh ! if the young could only see 
 the dangers, the cares, and the sorrows which are, 
 even more certainly than the bright visions which 
 attract them, a part of their future,, how careful 
 would they be of their first actions,, how firmly 
 would they check their wild impulses, how sternly 
 would they curb their passions. Happy arc they 
 who, in addition to the good counsel of parents 
 and the restraints of religious training, have the 
 further advantage of being employed by an upright 
 Christian master. 
 
 From what has been said the reader will have 
 guessed that Squire Brownlow had eniraffed Ted 
 Lindsay as his office-boy. As Ted went home on 
 the day of the Squire's visit, he was much exer- 
 cised in his mind as to what that visit might por- 
 tend. He hurried home, therefore, to surprise his 
 father and mother with the particulars of his 
 interview with the Squire. To his still greater 
 bewilderment, however, he found his parents al- 
 ready better informed than himself. The Squire
 
 A Leave-Taking. 
 
 had called and left word that Ted might, If he liked 
 the offer,, go to his office as early as convenient 
 after the examination for the "Employers' Prizes/' 
 which Ted had purposed competing for. 
 
 It is hardly necessary to say that Ted eagerly 
 fell in with the arrangement. He was not very 
 robust, and was consequently unfitted for any very 
 heavy situation, and his father had set his heart on 
 making him a clerk, or something of that kind. 
 The situation under Mr. Brownlow was just the 
 place his father would have wished for his son. 
 The salary was certainly very small, but it would 
 increase ; the business was a good one, and no- 
 where could a lad have a better opportunity of 
 getting a thorough acquaintance with each of its 
 branches. Then again the Squire was a good 
 master, and real worth and steady perseverance 
 were sure to be rewarded by him with promotion. 
 
 When Ted went to school next morning, he of 
 course went at once and told William and John 
 Parsons of the situation he had got. Who could
 
 152 A Year at School. 
 
 expect a schoolboy to keep secret such an impor- 
 tant event for a single day ? it would almost drive 
 him mad. His two friends were highly pleased at 
 his prospects, although they were sorry to lose his 
 companionship, and they, of course, in their turn 
 told the news to their particular friends, and so, 
 long before morning school began, nearly all the 
 boys knew that Ted Lindsay was spending his last 
 week but one at school, and that he was going 
 into Squire Brownlow's office. 
 
 And now Ted found that his fellow pupils had 
 changed in their manner towards him. He found 
 the mere fact of having obtained a clerkship had 
 raised him considerably in the estimation of some 
 of the boys. Those who had previously treated 
 him with rough familiarity now spoke respectfully, 
 while some watched him closely as if they ex- 
 pected to see some personal transformation as the 
 result of his altered prospects. He was no longer 
 a schoolboy with an ambition bounded by a school 
 prize or the first place in the class, but a worker
 
 A Leave-Taking. 153 
 
 in the busy world, where fame and fortune are the 
 goals striven for; and, as such, he was looked at 
 with something of the same feeling as a stay-at- 
 home citizen experiences when he sees his neigh- 
 bours march off to the war, or as a landsman feels 
 when he sees a ship's crew start on a voyage. 
 
 Mr. Stanton was very pleased to hear the news 
 which had so quickly spread through the school, 
 and even he assumed a different manner in conse- 
 quence. He treated Ted almost like a younger 
 brother, and though he gave him much good ad- 
 vice, he altogether dropped the schoolmaster and 
 assumed the character of a friend. He gave him 
 exercises which would be most useful to him in 
 the particular work he was about to undertake. 
 The Squire had told him that the boy engaged 
 would be occupied most of his time in invoicing, 
 so he gave him a thorough drilling in Practice, and 
 also taught him several short methods of calcula- 
 tion which would prove invaluable to him in work- 
 ins: such sums.
 
 154 ^ Yt'ar at School. 
 
 The few days intervening between his engage- 
 ment and the day on which he was to commence 
 his new duties seemed a long while to Edward 
 Lindsay, but at length the last day at school 
 arrived,, and he certainly felt more sad at the 
 thought of leaving than he had expected he 
 should. 
 
 It was a time-honoured custom at Copsley 
 School dating from the commencement of Mr. 
 Stanton's managership that when a boy left any 
 of the upper classes the last afternoon should be 
 devoted to a leave-taking between him and his 
 class-mates, so that the last recollection of the 
 old place should be pleasant. 
 
 Accordingly on opening the school on Mon- 
 day afternoon Mr. Stanton announced, what 
 was already well known, that one of the boys of 
 the first class was about to leave. He spoke of 
 the sorrow it gave him to lose any of those who 
 had by their good qualities and their affection 
 endeared themselves to him ; but it was one of
 
 A Leave-Taking. 155 
 
 the misfortunes of his position, and as the welfare 
 of scholars demanded their removal he must sub- 
 mit to his fate as cheerfully as he could, and con- 
 sole himself with the thought that they should 
 still respect each other however much their rela- 
 tions might change. In this particular instance 
 he was happy to say that the boy was not going 
 to leave the neighbourhood, and he should still be 
 able to continue the friendly relationship which 
 had sprung up in the short time that Edward 
 Lindsay had spent at school. He felt bound be- 
 fore closing to say that he never knew a more 
 conscientious and agreeable pupil, nor one who 
 made more rapid progress than he had. 
 
 He then gave the first four classes permission 
 to spend the afternoon with Ted in the playground, 
 playfully warning them that they must not shake 
 his arm off, or pull him to pieces. 
 
 Out came the lads, but the caution seemed to 
 be unneeded, for somehow they were not inclined 
 to be boisterous. They walked quietly by the side
 
 156 A Year at School. 
 
 of Ted, and conversed in subdued tones. The 
 words of the master had roused serious thoughts, 
 and they felt disinclined to romp as usual. Bob 
 Johnson, however, determined that this would not 
 do. He saw that they were all getting low- 
 spirited, and pulling Ted's high spirits down too, 
 so he turned about in his abrupt way, and said 
 
 " Come, lads, we aren't going to bury Ted to- 
 day put those looks away till you are asked to 
 the funeral. There's Jack Parsons there the very 
 model for a chief mourner." 
 
 A general laugh followed this absurd view of 
 the matter, and by the time they had had their 
 laugh out they were quite ready for a game, and 
 so in less than three minutes they were playing at 
 <f leap-frog " round the playground. When they 
 were tired of that they had a jolly game at 
 " rounders." They enjoyed themselves so much 
 that, on sending into school, they were surprised to 
 find they had only ten more minutes before closing 
 time. As the time was insufficient for another
 
 A Leave-Taking. 157 
 
 game, they sat down on the school bench for a 
 chat. 
 
 While there, Mr. Stanton came out of school 
 and entered his house for some purpose or other, 
 and Bob Johnson at once conceived the idea of a 
 triumphal procession. Gus Brookes bent his 
 broad back, and Ted Lindsay had to allow himself 
 to be seated thereon ; a guard of honour walked 
 on each side, and a long retinue followed, as they 
 slowly moved towards the master's front door, 
 singing, " See the conquering hero comes/' Bob, 
 the author of the fun, would insist on Ted carry- 
 ing a long quill pen over each ear as a symbol of 
 the honourable situation hew r as about to fill. Mr. 
 Stanton was much amused at the grotesque pro- 
 cession, but seeing that Ted was fully conscious 
 of his ridiculous appearance, he suggested that 
 Gus Brookes must be tired of his load, and so 
 Ted was allowed to dismount.
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 SUCCESS AND ENVY. 
 
 than three weeks had elapsed 
 since the examination for the Em- 
 ployers' Prizes, and no news had 
 come of the result. Both teachers 
 and scholars were getting anxious, and 
 many of the boys had daily asked Mr. Stanton if 
 the report had arrived. It was the first great trial 
 of patience with many of them, and they bore it 
 with no great evidence of the possession of that 
 virtue. 
 
 Of course the return did come at last. The 
 boys one morning guessed it had, for their master 
 seemed uncommonly pleased about something, 
 and a self-satisfied little smile lurked round the
 
 Success and Envy. 159 
 
 corners of his mouth. Their guess grew into a 
 positive certainty when, instead of ordering the 
 scholars into the class-rooms as usual, he told them 
 all to sit down, as he had something of importance 
 to say to them. 
 
 It is quite unnecessary to report all that Mr. 
 Stanton said that morning. Like most other 
 people in possession of news which others arc 
 eagerly waiting for, he teased his hearers a little,, 
 staying to review the former successes of his 
 scholars, instead of coming at once to what every- 
 one was anxious to hear namely, the results of 
 the last examination. 
 
 Suffice it to say the school had once more done 
 honour to itself. Mr. Stanton read the list from 
 the bottom. First came the names of the two un- 
 successful candidates, who felt very uncomfortable 
 in consequence. Then there were five winners of 
 the guinea prize, among whom were Edward 
 Lindsay, John Parsons, and George Benson. 
 Then came the four winners of the three guinea
 
 160 A Year at School. 
 
 prize namely, William Parsons, Bob Johnson, 
 and two others unknown to this history. 
 
 Having read these names Mr. Stanton folded 
 up the return, and as he did so cast a quick Jook 
 to where Alec Gordon was seated. Poor Alec 
 had all along felt morally certain of gaining at least 
 the five guineas prize, and now that his name 
 was not among the successful candidates he felt 
 wofully disappointed. His colour went, his lips 
 quivered, and his ringers twitched nervously. Mr. 
 Stanton saw how excited he was, and felt it would 
 be cruel to prolong his disappointment, so he 
 said 
 
 " There is one more prize which I have pur- 
 posely omitted." A hush followed, and anyone 
 might see that Alec Gordon was holding his 
 breath in expectation. Mr. Stanton continued : 
 f( The prize I have now to announce deserves a 
 prominency it would not have had if I had named 
 it with the others. For the first time in the 
 history of this school one of its boys has carried
 
 Success and Envy. 161 
 
 off the scholarship Alec Gordon has gained 
 the highest number of marks in this year's ex- 
 amination." 
 
 A thunder of applause followed the announce- 
 ment, but just as it subsided a cry" was heard 
 among the first-class boys, and as Mr. Stanton 
 stepped up, he was just in time to receive the 
 fainting form of the victorious candidate. But 
 "joy never kills/' and fresh air and cold water 
 soon brought round the over-excited boy. His first 
 words on recovering consciousness were (C It is 
 true I have succeeded, is it not ?" 
 
 Of course the prizes formed an inexhaustible 
 topic of conversation for several days. The un- 
 successful candidates felt very humble, but laid 
 the blame of their failure on their pens or their 
 paper, or indeed on anything else rather than their 
 own incapacity. Those who had been successful, 
 although they tried hard not to look proud, could 
 not help a little elevation of mind, and it did look 
 as if they never again intended to condescend to
 
 162, A Year at School. 
 
 such common-place things as school sports. All 
 their talk was of competitions, examination-papers^ 
 and prize-lists. 
 
 The distribution of the prizes was fixed for 
 November 2nd, as that was the earliest day 
 which Lord Dulprose, a local nobleman, could 
 spare from his Parliamentary duties in London, 
 and the good people of Rudham, like most other 
 English people, had a w r onderful reverence for the 
 nobility, and thought the prizes at least half as 
 much better if they passed through the hands of " a 
 real live lord." 
 
 In due course the important day arrived, and 
 the Public Hall at Rudham was filled with a 
 respectable audience, consisting of parents and 
 friends of the prize-winners, and other people 
 interested in school- work. " Lord Dulprose, in 
 a solemn, but somewhat inaudible voice, made a 
 few commonplace remarks on the subject of 
 education, which were received with applause. It 
 may be mentioned as an evidence of the unanimity
 
 Success and Envy. 163 
 
 with which the noble lord's speech was received, 
 that it was very vigorously applauded by many who 
 were at such a distance that they could not possibly 
 hear what he said. 
 
 When the noble lord had exhausted his little 
 stock of truisms,, the more interesting business of 
 giving the prizes commenced. Of course Alec 
 Gordon was called first, and, after being introduced 
 to Lord Dulprose by the vicar, and by his lordship 
 to Lady Dulprose, he received the prize of five 
 guineas and the scholarship certificate, and passed 
 from the platform loudly cheered. And now 
 the candidates passed on quickly in regular suc- 
 cession until all the prizes had been given. A 
 few votes of thanks closed the proceedings, and 
 the. prize-winners and their friends went to their 
 homes. 
 
 It would be well perhaps for the reputation of 
 Copsley School if nothing more were said respect- 
 ing the Employers' Prizes, for at the close of the 
 day's proceedings the scholars had good reason to
 
 164 A Year at School. 
 
 be proud of the achievements of their candidates 
 But in common fairness, and as affording another 
 proof of the little weaknesses of human nature in 
 general, and schoolboy nature in particular, events 
 must be recorded which, however disgraceful, hap- 
 pened in consequence of the successes of the 
 Copsley boys. 
 
 There was in the village of Copsley a small 
 school, which up to the present there has been no 
 occasion to mention. It was an old-fashioned 
 school of the kind once so common in the old 
 days when education was left to be given by 
 people who were good for nothing else. It had 
 been set up long before Mr. Stanton's by its 
 present teacher, John Jackson, an old soldier who 
 had adopted school teaching as the likeliest way 
 of supplementing his slender pension. Now John 
 Jackson, or as he was called by the old folks who 
 had known him in his younger days Jacky Jack- 
 son was a cripple. His knee had been injured 
 in the wars, and he was obliged to walk with a
 
 Success and Envy. 165 
 
 crutch. Hence it was that the Copsley people, 
 in their anxiety to have a distinguishing name for 
 Jackson's school, designated it the " cripple's 
 school/' and in due time the scholars got to be 
 called "cripples." 
 
 Of course the education imparted by Jacky 
 Jackson was of a very elementary character, but 
 yet he generally entered three or four of his best 
 scholars for the "Employers' Prizes," and occa- 
 sionally he had the good fortune to carry one 
 off. This year, however, his pupils had fallen so 
 far below the standard that not one of them had 
 succeeded. 
 
 Now if the Copsley boys had been considerate 
 for the feelings of others they would have kept 
 silence about the failure of the " cripples." But 
 considering how little magnanimity there is in the 
 world, it was not very surprising that when Mr. 
 Stanton's pupils were passing the " cripples' 
 school " they took the trouble to inquire, in a 
 tone of mock interest, how many prizes they had
 
 i66 A Year at School. 
 
 won. The answer was a sullen admonition to mind 
 their own business. 
 
 Day after day the Copsley School boys loitered 
 on the way to banter the " cripples " about their 
 non-success, and each day the taunts of the one 
 side and the reproaches of the other grew 
 stronger and more offensive. The old soldier's 
 scholars charged their enemies with cheating, and 
 said the successful candidates had got all the 
 answers written on their finger-nails before they 
 went in for examination. Of course such a charge 
 carried its own refutation, and might safely have 
 been left uncontradicted. But that would not do. 
 A false and disgraceful accusation had been 
 brought against their best boys, and the Copsley 
 School lads thought the only way to wipe away 
 the disgrace was by chastising those who had made 
 the charge. 
 
 Accordingly Gus Brookes appeared as cham- 
 pion for his school, and challenged any boy on 
 the other side to a personal encounter. Xuw,
 
 Success and Envy. 167 
 
 though Gus has not held a very dignified position 
 in this history, it is to be feared this event will 
 lower him in the good opinion of many. It must 
 be remembered,, however, that this was no per- 
 sonal quarrel; he was merely offering to fight for 
 the honour of his school, and since he was not 
 likely to bring much credit to it with his brains, 
 he was all the more ready to defend it with his 
 fists. And then he was only doing what .states- 
 men and warriors, however mistaken, have until 
 of late years always thought it right to do namely, 
 trying to assert dignity by force of arms. For- 
 tunately, however, there was no battle, for Gus 
 had a widespread reputation for strength, and no 
 boy could be found who would face him. Of 
 course this did not mend the relations between the 
 schools; on the contrary, they grew worse, and 
 what the " cripples " could not do single-handed 
 they attempted in twos and threes. 
 
 At first there were only slight skirmishes. 
 Sometimes a bov from Mr. Stanton's school
 
 1 68 A Year at School. 
 
 would get roughly handled by three or four of 
 the enemy. Peas were shot through key-holes 
 in the school doors, and now and then the more 
 unruly of Jackson's lads indulged their animosity 
 by sending a stone through Mr. Stanton's school 
 windows. It was no longer safe to spin tops or 
 play marbles in the lanes near the school, for 
 the unprincipled tf cripples " were almost sure to 
 make a sudden raid, and carry off all they could. 
 So things went on through dark November. At 
 night Mr. Stanton's lads frequently had stones 
 thrown at them from dark corners, and so they 
 armed themselves with sticks and stones, and 
 retaliated when they saw the opportunity. 
 
 Of course this could not last long without 
 getting to Mr. Stanton's ears. He at once 
 inquired into the affair, and having shown his 
 boys that they were to blame for having first 
 provoked the " cripples," he made Gus Brookes 
 and the others who were mixed up in the dispute 
 promise to let it drop at once. They accordingly
 
 Success and Envy. 169 
 
 did so ; but their foes, being bound by no promise, 
 still continued to annoy them in various ways. 
 At last a stone intended for Gus Brookes,, missed 
 its object and shattered a plate glass window. The 
 boy who had thrown it was caught, and had to 
 pay smartly for the damage. His brother " crip- 
 ples," frightened at the risks involved, threw 
 stones no more, and only indulged in dark looks 
 and occasional taunts.
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 THE CHRISTMAS EXAMINATION*. 
 
 UR chronicles of Copsley School must 
 now draw quickly to a close. No- 
 thing particularly worthy of record 
 occurred after the events recorded in 
 the last chapter until the annual examina- 
 tion. Of course winter had set in with all the 
 various discomforts which in England invariably 
 accompany the last \veeks of the year. Hail, 
 rain, frost, and snow had followed each other,, 
 with short intervals of dull, damp fog. In the 
 beginning of December all Nature looked about as 
 desolate and uncomfortable as it could. The 
 streets were damp and dirty, the air was moist and 
 thick, and the only thing that made life at all bear-
 
 The Christmas Examination. 1/1 
 
 able was the immediate prospect of the visit of 
 hoary, happy, festive Christmas. 
 
 Young folks were gladly anticipating the good 
 things which should always accompany his ad- 
 vent. Old folks were making preparations for 
 receiving the various members of their families, 
 who, though scattered all the year, managed on 
 this glorious festival to come together for a verit- 
 able feast of love and good cheer. Shopkeepers 
 were getting in large stocks of fruit and provi- 
 sions, and glimpses of evergreens in their cellars 
 and tissue-paper in their back parlours told of the 
 preparations for decorating their windows. Rail- 
 way stations were getting busier, and .nearly every 
 blank wall was gay with many-coloured bills tell- 
 ing of railway arrangements for carrying friends to 
 one another all over the country at reduced rates. 
 
 Of course in all this bustle of expectation our 
 friends at Copsley School had a full share. No 
 boys could look forward to Christmas pleasures 
 with keener relish than they. They were as fond
 
 1/2 A Year at School. 
 
 as other boys of fruits, sweets, and merry-makings. 
 But besides their expectations of this kind, the 
 coming festival was associated in their minds with 
 two of the greatest events of the year. One was 
 the examination, and the other the public gather- 
 ing, when the prizes were distributed and the 
 evening spent very enjoyably with singing and 
 recitations by the boys. Christmas day fell this 
 year on a Thursday, and as the annual gathering 
 was usually held on Christmas Eve, the examina- 
 tion was fixed for the previous Thursday, so as to 
 give Mr. Stanton and his assistants plenty of time 
 to examine the papers and award the prizes. 
 
 Accordingly on the Thursday morning before 
 Christmas the scholars met in good time and in 
 full numbers. The mode of examination was 
 similar to that adopted at Midsummer, only that 
 the questions were generally more difficult and the 
 subjects a little more varied. Due precautions 
 were taken to prevent unfair advantage being taken 
 by any boy, and any case of copying or whisper-
 
 The Christmas Examination. 173 
 
 ing answers was punished by dismissing the 
 offender from the competition. Only an hour was 
 allowed for dinner instead of two as usual, and 
 the examination was continued until nearly five 
 o'clock, so that it should embrace every subject 
 taught in the schools. There were maps, papers 
 of free-hand and geometrical drawing, specimens 
 of business correspondence, bills of parcels, and 
 composition exercises, besides the regular subjects 
 of arithmetic, grammar, history, % and geography. 
 
 At five o'clock all the papers were collected, 
 and with a sigh of relief the lads realized the fact 
 that there were no more lessons for that year. 
 'That thought was quite sufficient to raise their 
 spirits, and however moody the examination had 
 made them they soon recovered their vivacity, and 
 before leaving, gave three such hearty cheers for 
 the master as made the old schoolroom ring with 
 the echo. 
 
 The light-hearted boys now ran gaily home, 
 excepting those who had been chosen to give
 
 174 A Year at School. 
 
 recitations, and about a dozen of the biggest boys 
 whom Mr. Stanton had selected and appointed as 
 a decoration committee. For of course it would 
 not do to hold their annual meeting surrounded by 
 four blank whitewashed walls, whose only orna- 
 ments were the window casements, a clock, and 
 about a dozen dusty maps, pictures, and mottoes, 
 The decoration of the room was a great point, and 
 a great deal of skill, taste, labour, and persever- 
 ance was expended upon it. 
 
 The decoration committee, the reciters, and 
 the assistant- masters no\v adjourned to Mr. Stan- 
 ton's house. The recitations were said over, 
 corrections and improvements suggested, and then 
 those lads tripped off home. And now there 
 remained many things to be arranged, and if the 
 work was to be done properly every one must take 
 a share of it. Gus Brookes volunteered a horse 
 and cart with which to fetch holly from Bushbury 
 Wood, and three other lads at once volunteered to 
 provide hatchets and accompany him. George 
 Benson promised to get another conveyance and
 
 The Christmas Examination. 175 
 
 go with two other boys to Copsley Wood for ivy, 
 laurel,, and other evergreens, and if they could not 
 get enough there, he promised to go on to Punt- 
 ford. William Parsons offered to provide two 
 ladders a short one and a long one for use in 
 putting up the decorations. Sam Townley said 
 his sisters had told him to promise a gross of 
 paper-roses,, and as much gas-trimming as they 
 could possibly get ready. Mr. Thomson promised 
 a large coloured motto for one end of the school, 
 and the other three assistant-masters, roused by 
 his good example, offered one each for the other 
 walls. Mr. Stanton promised to give as much 
 time as he could spare from judging the examina- 
 tion-papers to helping in the general arrangements, 
 and he deputed the senior assistant-master to 
 superintend the whole affair in his absence. The 
 other members of the committee arranged various 
 little duties among themselves, and promised to 
 be at school early on Monday to do what they 
 could. To make the most of the time Mr. Stan- 
 ton sent for a whole lot of tissue-paper, and while
 
 1 76 A Year at School. 
 
 they were discussing the various questions, they 
 employed themselves in cutting and twining it into 
 ribbons, wreaths, rosettes, and banners. By the 
 time they left, the carpet was plentifully bestrewn 
 with scraps, and a large bundle of decorations 
 testified to the industry of the visitors. 
 
 Among the various wishes indulged in by 
 people at Christmas-time, perhaps there is no one 
 in which they are more unanimous than a desire 
 for frost. A dull, damp Christmas is shorn of 
 half its charms and pleasures. Young folks espe- 
 cially like what, from its appropriateness, has 
 come to be called seasonable Christmas weather ; 
 for although they can fully appreciate the enter- 
 tainments provided indoors, they would consider 
 it very tame unless a morning on the ice or a 
 pleasant walk over the frosty ground were included 
 in the programme. 
 
 Why is it that young people enter into the 
 enjoyment of their winter sports with so much 
 enthusiasm ? Possibly it is because the visits of 
 his capricious majesty Jack Frost are like angels'
 
 The Christmas 'Examination. 177 
 
 visits are said to be few and far between. They 
 know that if they are to slide, skate, or snowball, 
 they must do it at once, just while they have the 
 opportunity, or not at all. Boating, swimming, 
 fishing, and all other sports, may be put off at 
 least for a few days in their season, but in games 
 with which ice or snow has anything to do, it is 
 generally a question of " now or never." 
 
 What would not schoolboys give now-a-days 
 to have one of the old-fashioned winters those 
 long frosts and deep snows which our grand- 
 fathers love to talk about, and which, in their 
 supreme compassion for these degenerate days, 
 they no doubt unconsciously exaggerate ! How 
 lads would enjoy such frosts .as in olden times 
 froze over wide rivers, and such snows as buried 
 stage-coaches, and penned the passengers up in 
 little wayside inns to spend their Christmas as 
 best they could ! 
 
 But we do not wish for such severe winters. 
 Possibly one such would be quite enough to more 
 than satisfy us. It is likely enough that even
 
 A Year at School. 
 
 schoolboys would begin to tire of the cold if it 
 were extreme for a month or six weeks at a 
 stretch. And it is certain their fathers would soon 
 cry out about the disastrous consequences to trade 
 which would be sure to follow from the obstruc- 
 tions caused by an old fashioned winter. 
 
 The weather during the week before Christmas 
 had been of such a puzzling description that no 
 weather prophet who valued his reputation would 
 for a moment think of foretelling what sort 
 Christmas would bring. There was no indica- 
 tion of frost, but at the same time there had been 
 no rain, and not even a fog for two or three days. 
 It was just the sort of weather that one felt sure 
 might any hour turn to hard frost or heavy rain 
 without any one being surprised. No change 
 occurred on Sunday, and when the lads who had 
 the decorations in charge went to bed on Sunday 
 night it was with many anxious forebodings as to 
 the sort of weather they would have for their 
 errand on the morrow.
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 THE ANNUAL GATHERING. 
 
 IT is often said that lads arc never so 
 happy as when they are in. mischief; 
 but perhaps the proposition would 
 break down in proving, for it is most 
 frequently asserted by those who care 
 little, and understand less, about children. But 
 whether that is true or false, we think there will 
 be few who will dissent from the statement that 
 youths are never happier than when they are 
 " playing at working/' Leave the toolshop open 
 and let young Johnny get in, and you may do 
 what you will with his tops and kites. Let the 
 painters leave some paint and a few brushes by 
 mistake, and that little rogue Joe will at once
 
 i8o A Year at School. 
 
 leave his marbles and try his hand at painting a 
 garden wall or a doorstep. 
 
 It was the gratification of this boyish instinct 
 that made the decoration committee so high- 
 spirited as they set about their various work on 
 Monday morning. The weather had turned 
 frosty as they had wished,, but it had gone a little 
 farther in that direction than they desired, for in 
 addition to a hard frost, there had fallen just 
 enough snow to hide roadways and footpaths. 
 Of course snow is very nice for snow-balling, and 
 it makes the country look very beautiful, but it 
 was not at all helpful in the work in which they 
 were engaged. It covered all the ground-ivy, so 
 that they could not find it so easily ; it hid all 
 the paths, so that they could not so readily find 
 their way ; and it \vas the cause of some rather 
 awkward mistakes. George Benson, in his 
 anxiety to show off his skill in horsemanship, 
 missed the way in the woods, and misguided the 
 horse so that the cart-wheel went over the trunk
 
 The Annual Gathering. 181 
 
 of a fallen tree, almost upsetting him and his 
 admiring companions. Gus Brookes made a 
 more ludicrous blunder. He had selected a fine 
 symmetrical holly-tree as a central decoration to 
 stand in front of Mr. Stanton's reading-desk, 
 but when, after about a quarter of an hour's 
 steady labour with an axe, the trunk was cut 
 through, instead of the holly falling, down came a 
 clumsy-looking, leafless hawthorn, Gus having 
 mistaken the trunk, and spent all his labour for 
 nothing. With a merry laugh at his blunder he 
 handed the axe to another boy, and as there was 
 110 doubt this time about the right tree the lads 
 soon had the pleasure of lifting it into the cart, 
 together with a piled-up load of ivy and laurel. 
 
 Meanwhile the company told off for home 
 duty had not been idle. The dreary, dusty maps 
 and mottoes had been taken down, and the walls 
 dusted throughout. By the time Gus Brookes 
 and his party arrived, George Benson had already 
 made two trips to Copsley Wood, and the school
 
 1 82 A Year at School. 
 
 floor was strewn with the verdant spoil. Up in 
 one corner were two lads busily plucking laurel 
 leaves from their stem, to be used in making 
 letters round the room. On either side of the 
 school William Parsons and Sam Townley seemed 
 to be combining the duties of amateur lamplighter 
 and billsticker, for they were continually running 
 up ladders to nail up laurel-leaf letters, and sliding 
 down again for a fresh supply of leaves and a 
 new stock of nails. Here and there lads were 
 engaged in picking up every loose scrap of ever- 
 green they could find, and threading the pieces on 
 twine for garlands and festoons, while others 
 busied themselves in cutting tissue paper orna- 
 ments for the gas brackets and pendants. The 
 four assistant masters fastened the mottoes they 
 had provided, and settled any question as to the 
 style and extent of the decorations. The lads 
 continued all day fetching holly, ivy, laurel, and 
 mistletoe, and by the time it got dark in the 
 evening the schoolroom floor was bestrewn thickly
 
 The Annual Gathering. 183 
 
 with evergreens, and on the walls one could trace 
 something of the general design. The work was 
 continued all day on Tuesday, and on Wednesday 
 after Mrs. Jones, her husband, and a charwoman 
 specially engaged for the task had given the floor 
 a conscientious scrubbing, the place looked more 
 fitted for a temple of Nature than for a schoolroom. 
 Round the walls of the school, near the ceiling, 
 and within a border formed by parallel lines of 
 ivy, was printed in laurel leaves the glorious 
 Christmas message, first sung by angels " Glory 
 to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good- 
 will toward men/' Over the gallery was Mr. 
 Thomson's motto, " Welcome to our annual 
 gathering/' the letters being in pure white on a 
 light blue ground with a gilt border. On the wall 
 at the other end of the room was " Success 
 to Copsley School," in blue and pink on white 
 ground. And on the side walls were mottoes 
 bearing the inscriptions " Knowledge is power/' 
 and " A merry Christmas and a happy New Year
 
 184 A Year at School. 
 
 to you/' the letters in both cases being formed of 
 red berries on a white ground. From each gas 
 pendant hung a small banneret, inscribed with the 
 compliments of the season and other good wishes. 
 Every motto was surrounded by a deep border of 
 evergreens, and between each of them, at suitable 
 distances, was a green bush of some kind or 
 other. A double row of ivy and laurel looped into 
 festoons joined the whole into a harmonious 
 design. From each ventilator in the roof was 
 suspended a huge bunch of evergreens, and from 
 these hung wreaths of many-coloured roses and 
 strings of tissue paper chains and ribbons, the 
 other ends being fastened at the corners and sides 
 of the rooms. 
 
 But most trouble had been taken in the deco- 
 rations in front of the gallery. There they had 
 erected a temporary Gothic arch, having three 
 points, the centre one very wide and very high, 
 and the one on each side much lower and 
 narrower. The gallery handrails and balustrades,
 
 The Annual Gathering. 185 
 
 and the whole of this arch, had been covered so 
 completely with ivy that nothing of wood or wall 
 could be seen. The dark green of the foliage was 
 relieved by festoons of coloured paper, bunches of 
 artificial flowers, and occasional bannerets; and 
 instead of the glass globes over the gas, bright- 
 coloured Chinese lanterns had been substituted. 
 But perhaps the most novel item in the decora- 
 tions, and certainly the one that attracted the 
 most attention, was the inner edge of the centre 
 arch, which was formed entirely of oranges 
 intended for the refreshment of the scholars, but 
 which had been made to do double duty by being 
 threaded on string, and made to gratify the eye 
 until the time came for them to please the taste. 
 
 At seven o'clock the schoolroom was crowded 
 with a bright and happy assemblage of parents 
 and friends, and precisely as the clock struck the 
 hour Mr. Stan ton walked in at the head of his 
 boys, who had been marshalled into line in the 
 class-rooms. A pleasant murmur ran through
 
 3 86 A Year at School. 
 
 the rooms as the bright, clean, happy-looking lads 
 took their seats on the gallery, and many a 
 parent's eye kindled with pride and pleasure as it 
 fell on the dear object of fondest hopes and most 
 earnest prayers. 
 
 The proceedings were opened with singing and 
 prayer, and then Mr. Stanton briefly addressed 
 the friends assembled. To the parents he offered 
 his thanks for their continued confidence and 
 goodwill, and he trusted he should always be 
 able in some measure to merit their kind estima- 
 tion. He promised on his part that his aim 
 should be to serve the best interests of his 
 scholars. To those of his audience, and they 
 were many, who could remember sitting on that 
 gallery on occasions similar to the present he had 
 only to say that he hoped he still kept a place in 
 their affections, and he assured th.em he felt a 
 deep interest in their welfare and well-doing. 
 
 The next business was the distribution of the 
 prizes for the half-year, and as the boys had not
 
 The Annual Gathering. 187 
 
 yet seen the list they were as curious as the 
 audience. Alec Gordon received the first prize 
 a handsome writing-desk and as he stepped for- 
 ward he was greeted with a perfect ovation by all 
 present. Other first-class prizes were received by 
 William Parsons,, Bob Johnson, and Sam Town- 
 ley ; and second-class prizes by John Parsons, 
 George Benson, and others. After the distribu- 
 tion, suitable glees were sung and a number of 
 recitations given, and while this was going on, the 
 drawings, maps, and specimens of handwriting of 
 the pupils were handed round for inspection. 
 
 Gus Brookes, having no particular taste for 
 music, sat ruefully thinking of his hard fate, in 
 having won no prize, and wondering of what use 
 he could be in the world with such a head-piece, 
 when he was startled, just as a glee was finished, 
 by hearing his name called out by a benevolent- 
 looking, strange gentleman, who had risen to 
 address the meeting. In answer to the call Gus 
 rose to his feet, almost expecting he was going
 
 1 88 A Year at School. 
 
 to be held forth as a model for a dunce. Judge 
 then what were his feelings when, amid the up- 
 roarious applause of both old and young, he 
 found himself presented with the silver medal of 
 the Humane Society for having rescued Harry 
 Summers from drowning. The old gentleman 
 said he happened to be riding through Copsley, 
 and saw the brave boy rescue his schoolfellow. 
 He had since then procured the medal, and, in 
 deference to Mr. Staiiton's opinion, had deferred 
 the presentation of it until now. 
 
 A little more speech-making and more sing- 
 ing brought the meeting to a close, and parents, 
 friends, teachers,, and scholars retired to their 
 homes full of genial goodwill, and feeling all the 
 happier for the pleasant meeting the report of 
 which ends our history of " A Year at School. " 
 
 Simmons & Botten, Printers, Shoe Lane, E.G.
 
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 The Travels of Rolando. 
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 Romance of Adventure. 
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 Child's First Lesson Book. 
 
 2. 6
 
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 Bundle of Sticks. 
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 Ernie Elton at Home. 
 The Standard Poetry Book 
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 Try and Trust. By Author 
 
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 Swiss Family Robinson. 
 Evenings at Home.
 
 16 George Routledge & Sons' Juvenile Books. 
 
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 John Hartley. 
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 Archie Blake. 
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 Adventures of Joseph Han'se- 
 
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 Marooners Island. 
 
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 By 
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 Jane Austen. 
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 Jane Austen. 
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 Little Women. 1st series. 
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 In 13 Books, fcap. 8vo, gilt, Is. Gd. each. 
 
 I 6 TJie Red Shoes. 
 The Silver Shilling. 
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 The Darning Needle. 
 The Tinder Box. 
 The Goloshes of Fortune. 
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 Story of an Apple. By 
 
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 Truth is Everything. By 
 
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 Aunt Emma. By the 
 
 Author of "Rose and Kate." 
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 Good for Evil. 
 Rainbows in Springtide. 
 The Child's First Book of 
 
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 Florence the Orphcin. 
 The Castle and Cottage. By 
 
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 Fabulous Histories. By 
 
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 School Days at Harrow. 
 Airs. Barbauld's Lessons. 
 Holidays at Limewood. 
 Traditions of Palestine. By 
 
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 On the Sea. By Miss Camp- 
 
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 Games and Sports. 
 The Young Angler. 
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 i8 George Routledge & Sons' Juvenile Books. 
 
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 Miriam and Rosette. 
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 Boy Life on the Water. 
 
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 Rev. Richard Newton.
 
 20 George Routledge & Sons' Juvenile Books. 
 
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 Waste Not, Want Not. 
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 o 6
 
 22 George Routledge & Sons' Juvenile. Books. 
 
 , SIXPENNY STORY BOOKS continued. 
 
 o 6Lazv Lawrence, and the 
 
 White Pigeon. 
 The Barring Out. 
 The Orphans and Old Poz. 
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 the Basket Woman. 
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 Sunday School Reader. 
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 Edward Howard.
 
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 o 6 
 
 EDITED BY J. E. CARPENTER. Fcap. 48mo, fancy covers. 
 
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 Mavourneen Songster. 
 The Sacred Song Book. 
 The Devout Songster. 
 Songs for the Righteous. 
 Songs of Grace. 
 
 o 6
 
 24 George Routledge & Sons' Juvenile Books. 
 
 In royal 32010, 6d. each, with Illustrations, boards. 
 
 O 6 Swimming and Skating. By 
 
 the Rev. J. G. Wood. 
 Gymnastics. 
 Chess. With Diagrams. By 
 
 G. F. Pardon. ' 
 Whist. 
 Billiards and Bagatelle. By 
 
 G. F. Pardon. 
 Draughts and Backgammon. 
 
 By G. F. Pardon. 
 Cricket. 
 The Cardplayer. By G. F. 
 
 Pardon. 
 
 Rowing and Sailing. 
 Riding and Driving. 
 Archery. 
 
 Brother SairfsConundrums. 
 
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 Croquet. By Edmund Rout- 
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 Conjuring. 
 
 Quoits and Bo^vls. 
 
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 Swimming. 
 
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 O 6 Things In- doors. 
 
 What we Eat and Drink. 
 Animals and their Uses. 
 Birds and Birds 1 Nests. 
 Fishes, Butterflies, &* Frogs. 
 Trees, Shrubs, and Flowers. 
 City Scenes. 
 
 Rural Scenes. 
 Country Enjoyments. 
 How Things are Made. 
 Soldiers and Sailors. 
 Science and Art. 
 Geography and Costume.
 
 London and New York. 
 
 ROUTLEDGE'S NURSERY LITERATURE, 
 
 " No firm surpasses Messrs. Routledge in Sixpenny and Shilling 
 Picture Story-Books. Could not be better drawn, printed, or 
 coloured, if they cost twenty shillings instead of twelve pence." 
 Standard, December 23, 1870. 
 
 In fancy covers, with Pictures nnn ed in Colours. 
 
 Cinderella. 
 
 Little Red Riding-Hood. 
 House that Jack Built. 
 Cock Robin. 
 My First Alphabet. 
 Old Mother Goose. 
 Babes in the Wood. 
 This Little Pig went to 
 Marktt. 
 
 Old Woman who Lived in ao 3 
 
 Shoe. 
 
 Little Bo-Peep. 
 Nursery Rhymes. 
 Farm- Yard ABC. 
 Jack and the Bean-Stalk. 
 John Gilpin. 
 Old Mother Hubbard. 
 Three Bears. 
 
 The following Volumes are formed from the above Series : 
 In small 416, cloth gilt, price 2s. each. 
 
 Old Mother Hubbard's Picture Book. With 362 o 
 
 Pages of Coloured Plates. 
 My First Picture Book. With 36 Pages of Coloured 
 
 Plates. 
 
 In, cloth gilt, price 3s. 6d. 
 
 The Coloured Album for Children. With 723 6 
 
 Pages of Coloured Plates.
 
 26 George Routledge & Sons' Juvenile Books, 
 
 Beautifully printed in Colours by Messrs. LEIGHTON BROTHERS, 
 
 VINCENT BROOKS, DAI.ZIEL BROTHERS, and'EDMUND 
 
 EVANS. In super-royal 8vo, Fancy Wrappers. 
 
 6 Cherry Orchard. 
 Bible Alphabet. 
 Cinderella. 
 Three Bears. 
 Nursery Alphabet. 
 Little Totty. 
 
 The Dogs' Dinner-Party. 
 Puck and Pea-Blossom. 
 Puss in Boots. 
 Whittington and his Cat. 
 Punch and Judy. 
 John Gilpin. 
 Blue Beard. 
 Sindbad the Sailor. 
 Jack and the Bean- Stalk. 
 House that Jack Built. 
 Old Woman and her Pig. 
 A, Apple Pie. 
 Tom Thumb's Alphabet. 
 Baron Munchausen. 
 Butterfly's Ball. 
 Picture Alphabet. 
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 Valentine and Orson. 
 Arthur's Alphabet. 
 Dorothy frump. 
 Singing Birds. 
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 Dogs. 
 Birds. 
 Cock Robin. 
 Railroad Alphabet. 
 Alphabet for Good Boys and 
 
 Girls. 
 
 The Sea-Side Alphabet. 
 Greedy Jem and his Little 
 
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 The Farm- Yard Alphabet. 
 Our Puss and her Kittens. 
 Hop c? my Thumb. 
 Jack the Giant Killer. 
 Little Red Riding-Hood. 
 Beauty and the Beast. 
 Mother Hubbard. 
 Happy Days of Childhood. 
 Little Dog Trusty. 
 The Cats' Tea-Party. 
 The Babes in the Wood. 
 Wild Animals. 
 British Animals. 
 The Frog who would a> 
 
 Wooing Go. 
 
 The Faithless Parrot. 
 The Farm- Yard. 
 Horses. 
 
 Old Dame Trot. 
 Sing a Song of Sixpence. 
 The Waddling Frog. 
 The Old Courtier. 
 Multiplication Table. 
 Chattering Jack. 
 King Cole. 
 Prince Long Nose. 
 The Enraged Miller. 
 The Hunchback. 
 How Jessie iuas Lost. 
 Grammar in Rhyme. 
 Baby's Birthday. 
 Pictures from the Streets. 
 Lost on the Sea-Shore. 
 Animals and Birds. 
 A Child's Fancy Dress Ball. 
 A Child 's Evening Party. 
 Annie and Jack in London.
 
 London and New York. 
 
 27 
 
 SIXPENNY TOY-BOOKS continued. 
 
 Om, Two, Buckle my Shoe. 
 
 Mary's New Doll. 
 
 When the Cat's Away. 
 
 Naughty Puppy. 
 
 Children's Favourites. 
 
 Little Minnie's Child Life. 
 
 King Nutcracker. 
 
 British Soldiers. 
 
 British Sailors. 
 
 British Volunteers. 
 
 King Grisly Beard. 
 
 Host of the above may also be had. 
 
 Rumpelstiltsken. o 6 
 
 The Fairy Ship. 
 Adventures of Puffy. 
 This Little Pig went to 
 
 Market. 
 
 King Luckitboy's Party. 
 
 Aladdin. 
 
 Noah's Ark Alphabet. 
 
 Our Pets. 
 
 Nursery Rhymes. 
 
 strongly Mounted on Cloth, Is. 
 
 The following Volumes are formed from the above Series, in super- 
 royal 8vo, cloth gilt, price 3*. 6d. each ; or mounted 
 on linen, 5*. each. 
 
 FIRST SERIES, containing 
 
 The Little Hunchback. \ Little Red Riding-Hood. 
 
 Old Dame Trot and her \ Beauty and the Beast. 
 Wonderful Cat. 
 
 SECOND SERIES, containing 
 
 The Farm- Yard. 
 Greedy Jem and his Six 
 Brothers. 
 
 Puss and her Kittens. 
 The Frog who would a- 
 Wooing Go. 
 
 THIRD SERIES, containing 
 
 Hop o 1 my Thumb. 
 Gaping, Wide-Mouthed, 
 Waddling Frog. 
 
 FOURTH SERIES, containing 
 
 The Multiplication Table. 
 Prince with the Long Nose. 
 
 FIFTH SERIES, containing 
 
 Hoio Jessie was Lost. I The Babes in the Wood. 
 
 Grammar in Rhyme. \ Liltle Dog Trusty. 
 
 Happy Days of Childhood. 
 Sing a Song of Sixpence. 
 
 Chattering Jack. 
 The Faithless Parrot.
 
 28 George Routledge & Sons' Juvenile Books. 
 
 COLOURED PICTURE-BOOKS continued. 
 
 t j SIXTH SERIES, containing 
 
 3 6 The Fancy Dress Ball. I The Enraged Miller 
 A nnie and Jack in London . \ Old King Cole. 
 
 SEVENTH SERIES, containing 
 The Juvenile Party. \ History of Our Pets. 
 
 One, Two> Buckle my Shoe. \ The Cats 7 ea- Party. 
 
 EIGHTH SERIES, containing 
 King Grisly Beard. I Rumpelstiltsken. 
 
 The Fairy Ship. \ The Adventures of Pi</y. 
 
 ANIMALS AND BIRDS, containing 
 
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 Parrots. \ Singing Birds. 
 
 BOOS OF ALPHABETS, containing 
 The Railroad Alphabet. I The Sea-Side Alphabet. 
 The Good Boys' and Girls* \ The Farm- Yard Alphabet. 
 Alphabet. 
 
 KING LUCKIEBOY'S PICTURE-BOOK, containing 
 King Luckieboy's Party. I The Old Courtier. 
 This Little Pig went to Picture Book of Horses. 
 Market. 
 
 OUR PETS' PICTURE-BOOK, containing 
 The History of Our Pets. I Aladdin. 
 Xursery Rhymes. \ Noafis Ark ABC. 
 
 In supsr-royal 8vo, cloth gilt, price S.T. 
 
 Walter Crane's Picture-Book. Containing 64 Pa 
 
 of Pictures, designed by WALTER CRANE, viz.: 
 
 5 O King Luckieboy's Party. 
 The Old Courtier. 
 ffocV Jessie ions Lost. 
 The Fa. j Ship, 
 
 Chattering Jack. 
 Annie and Jack in London. 
 Grammar in Rhyntf. 
 The Multiplication Table in 
 Verse.
 
 London and New York. 
 
 ROUTLEDGE'S 
 
 With large Original Illustrations 
 .* HARRISON WEIR, and KEVL, 
 Demy 410, in stiff wrapper 
 
 by H. S. MARKS, J. D. WATSON, 
 beautifully printed in Colours. 
 ; or Mounted on Linen, zs. 
 
 Nursery Rhymes. 
 
 s. a. 
 
 Tom Thumb. I O 
 
 Alphabet of Trades. 
 
 Babes in the Wood. 
 
 Cinderella. 
 
 Jack and the Beanstalk. 
 
 Alphabet of Pretty Names. 
 
 l^he Laughable ABC. 
 
 Old Testament Alphabet. 
 
 Wild Animals, ist seres. 
 
 The Three Little Kittens. 
 
 Ditto. 2nd ser es. 
 
 The History of Five Little 
 
 Ditto. 3rd series. 
 
 
 Ditto. 4th ser es. 
 
 Tom Thumb's Alphabet. 
 
 Tame Animals, ist seres. 
 
 Nurseiy Songs. 
 
 Ditto. 2nd ser es. 
 
 New Testament Alphabet. 
 
 Ditto. 3rd ser es. 
 
 Our Farm- Yard Alphabet. 
 
 Ditto. 4th ser es. 
 
 The History of Moses. 
 
 My Mother. 
 
 The History of Joseph. 
 The Alphabet of Flowers. 
 Nursery Rhymes. 
 
 7 he Dogs' Dinner-Party. 
 Little Dog Trusty. 
 The White Cat. 
 
 The Life of Our Lord. 
 The Three Bears. 
 
 The Ugly Duckling. 
 Dash and the Ducklings. 
 
 Little Red Riding-Hood. 
 New Tale of a Tub. 
 
 Reynard the Fox. 
 Alphabet of Fairy 7a/es. 
 
 Nursery Tales. 
 
 Tit turns and Fido. 
 
 Old Mother Hubbard. 
 
 Anne and her Mamma. 
 
 Pictures from English His- 
 to^y. ist Period. 
 
 The Cats' Tea-Party. 
 Baby . 
 
 Ditto. 2nd Period. 
 Ditto. 3rd Period. 
 Ditto. 4th Period. 
 Puss in Boots. 
 
 H en ny- Penny. 
 Peacock at Home. 
 Sleeping Beauty.
 
 30 George Routledge & Sons' Juvenile Books, 
 
 The following Volumes are formed from the foregoing Series : 
 
 s. d. 
 
 5 The Henny-Penny Picture Book. Containing 
 
 " Henny-Penny," " Sleeping Beauty," " Baby," and " The Pea- 
 cock at Home." With 24 Pages of Coloured Plates. 
 
 Routledge's Nursery Book. Containing "Nursery 
 
 Rhymes,' "Mother Hubbard," "Alphabet of Pretty Names," 
 and " Cinderella." With 24 Pages of Coloured Plates. 
 
 The Poll Parrot Picture Book. Containing 
 
 "Tittums and Fido," "Reynard the Fox," "Anne and her 
 Mamma," and "The Cats' Tea-Party." 
 
 Routledge's Coloured ABC Book. Containing 
 
 "The Alphabet of Fairy Tales," "The Farm-Yard Alphabet," 
 "Alphabet of Flowers," and "Tom Thumb's Alphabet." 
 
 My Mother's Picture Book. Containing "My 
 Mother," "The Dogs' Dinner- Party," "Little Dog Trusty," and 
 "The White Cat" Large 4to, cloth. 
 
 The Red Riding-Hood Picture Book. Containing 
 "Red Riding-Hood," "Three Bears," "Three Kittens," and 
 "Dash and the Ducklings." Large 410, cloth. 
 
 Our Nurse's Picture Book. Containing "Tom 
 
 Thumb," " Babes in the Wood," " Jack and the Beanstalk," and 
 " Puss in Boots." Large 410, cloth. 
 
 The Child's Picture Book of Domestic Animals-. 
 
 Containing Tame Animals, First, Second, Third, and Fourth 
 Series. With 12 large Plates, printed in Colours by KROXHEIM. 
 Large oblong, cloth. 
 
 The Child's Picture Book of Wild Animals. 
 
 Containing Wild Animals, First, Second, Third, and Fourth 
 Series. 12 large Plates, printed in Colours by KRONHEIM. Large 
 oblong, cloth. 
 
 Pictures from English History. Containing "Pic- 
 
 tures from English History," First, Second, Third, and Fourth 
 Series. 93 Coloured Plates by KRONHEIM. Demy 410, cloth. 
 
 Dry 
 410, cloth.
 
 London and New York. 31 
 
 Price 3s. 6d. each. s d 
 
 For a Good Child. Containing " The Alphabet of 3 6 
 Trades," "The Cats' Tea-Party," and "Cinderella." With 18 
 Pages of Coloured Plates. 
 
 Routledge's Picture Book. Containing "The Farm 
 
 Yard Alphabet," " The Alphabet of Flowers," and " The Pretty 
 Name Alphabet." With 18 Pages of Coloured Plates. 
 
 A Present for My Darling. Containing "This 
 
 Little Pig went to Market," " Nursery Tales," and "Tom Thumb's 
 Alphabet." With 18 Pages of Coloured Plates. 
 
 The Good Child's Album. Containing "Red Riding- 
 Hood," " Mother Hubbard and Cock Robin," and "The Three 
 Kittens." With 18 Pages of Coloured Plates. 
 
 Nursery Rhymes. With Plates by H. S. MARKS. 
 Nursery Songs. With Plates by H. S. MARKS.
 
 THE BEST MAGAZINE FOR BOYS 
 
 YOUNG GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE 
 
 Edited by EDMUND ROUTLEDGE. 
 MONTHLY, 6d. 
 
 The Parts contain 64 royal 8vo pages, from Eight to Twelve 
 Illustrations, and either a Coloured Plate or a Full-page Illus- 
 tration on plate paper. 
 
 Each Month about FIFTY PRIZES are offered for the Solu- 
 tion of Puzzles, and TEN GUINEA, and TEN HALF- 
 GUINEA PRIZES for Essays, Stories, Poems, Maps, Models, 
 Paintings, &c., &c. 
 
 The Annual Subscription for the Parts is js., on receipt of 
 which sum the Parts for Twelve Months will be sent, post free, 
 as they appear. 
 
 Part XII., the First Part of the New Volume, appeared on 
 the 28th of November, 1872. 
 
 All the Stories are Complete in the Volume in which they are 
 commenced. 
 
 The following Stories commence in early Numbers of the Volume : 
 With a Stout Heart : A Story of a Boy's Adventures in 
 India. By Mrs. SALE BARKER. 
 
 The Man-o'-War's Bell : A Tale of the Sea, in Ten 
 
 Chapters. By Lieut. C. R. Low, (late) I.N. 
 
 The English at the North Pole : A . aval Story, with 
 
 250 Illustrations. 
 
 A New Story of School Life. By the Rev. H. C. 
 
 ADAMS, M.A., Author of "The Cherry Stones," &c., &c. 
 
 CONTRIBUTORS. 
 
 Rev. H. C. ADAMS. 
 THOMAS ARCHER. 
 R. M. BALLANTYXE. 
 Lady BARKER. 
 Mrs. SALE BARKER. 
 J. T. BURGESS. 
 Colonel DRAYSOX, R.A. 
 W. W. FENN. 
 SAMUEL HIGHLEY, F.G.S. 
 TOM HOOD. 
 
 And 
 
 HENRY KIXGSLEY. 
 W. H. G. KINGSTON. 
 Lieut. C. R. Low. 
 Professor PEPPER. 
 CHARLES H. Ross. 
 Major Gen. Sir THOMAS 
 
 SEATON, K.C.B. 
 BARBARA SEMPLE. 
 DOUGLAS STRAIGHT, M.P. 
 Rev. J. G. WOOD. 
 others. 
 
 London: G. ROUTLEDGE & SONS, The Broadway, Ludgate. 
 
 New York : THE WILLMER & ROGERS NEWS Co., 47, Nassau St., 
 
 And of all respectable Booksellers. 
 
 J. OGDEN AND CO., PRINTERS, 172, ST. JOHN STREET, LONDON. F .
 
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