moon won't stay up all night to please either you or Jess Brown."

"What you like, so be there is love in it." "Do you mean to leave it to me?"

66

Joyfully."

I immediately wrote as follows:

"DEAR JESS,

"I am so deeply in love-in love-don't mistake me-with you, that I can neither eat, nor sleep, nor work, nor walk, nor do anything else. I am nearly, if not quite, mad. Will you cure me by a short letter, saying that you are just in the same state respecting me? "I am yours only, and for ever,

JOEL PATERSON."

I read this absurdity to him, asking, “Will that do, Pat?"

"Do!" he exclaimed, throwing his unfortunate cap once more to the ceiling; "do! there isn't a member o' King George's parliament that could equal it!"

"That I sincerely believe," said I, thoughtfully; "but will you really send this to Miss Brown ?" "To-morrow, if Jack Tramp calls here."

On the following day Jack Tramp did call; the important epistle was sent; the post-office was duly defrauded of sevenpence-halfpenny; and in three months thereafter Joel and Jess were made one flesh.

By that time, however, I had left Moorness; had received my stipulated sum of five shillings; had gone to Heathburn; had seen my parents in their new house; had applied to Jerome Brake, at Tankerhill school; had been duly entered as a scholar; had commenced my studies of Lindley Murray; had seen my brother ruling copy-books and dictating lessons to Mr. Underbrook's family as their private tutor; and had felt the inspiration of new ideas, of which more anon.

E

I cannot, however, bid farewell to the family of the Langtons without expressing an earnest good wish for them all. The worthy couple, whom I first knew in their days of youth and health, the estimable parents of an estimable family, are now well stricken in years. Yet, when last I heard of them, they were in good spirits, enjoying the green old age of a temperate and pious life, the affection of a neighbourhood where their example and conduct did much good, and the love of a noble-looking group of sons and daughters, whom they had instructed in the grand lessons of love to their fellow-creatures and to God. Long may they all live, and in due time may they meet in that happy world where there will be no separations for ever!

CHAPTER III.

SCHOOL-DAYS AND SCHOOLFELLOWS.

"These trifling objects then my heart possessed-
These trifling objects still remain impressed;
So when with unskilled hand the idle hind
Carves his rude name within the sapling's rind,
In after years the peasant lives to see

Th' expanding letters grow as grows the tree;
Though every winter's desolating sway

Shake the hoarse grove, and sweep the leaves away,
That rude inscription, uneffaced, will last,
Unaltered by the storm or wintry blast."

S

Southey.

with evident reverence, offered a short prayer for the direction and blessing of God during the day. The prayer was marked by earnestness, and the new scholars, namely, myself and another, were particularly referred to. From that moment I loved Mr. Jerome Brake. "A good beginning," After prayer, the owners of the respective copy-books were called. Presently all the scholars who could write were busy as scribes.

"Master Thomas!" said Mr. Brake. I arose and went to the desk.

"Have you put your cap in the proper place?" "Yes, Sir."

52

"What do

A SURPRISED SCHOOLMASTER.

you wish to learn?"

"Geography and English grammar, Sir." "These are five shillings a quarter."

"Very well, Sir."

"The practice of this Institution is payment in ad

vance.

My five shillings were burning in my hand. I longed to get rid of them. I handed the sum to Mr. Brake. He received it with a gracious smile.

"Which books have you, Master Thomas?

"I have Boston's Fourfold State,' Paley's Works,' 'Paradise Lost,' and "*

"Stop!" said the schoolmaster, with evident astonishment, opening his mouth, which was a remarkably large member, and suddenly growing about six inches taller, as if an internal spring had been touched. I started back with surprise and fear, and apprehensive that I had committed some indiscretion. He continued to stare at me, deliberately pushing the fingers of his right hand through his hair, and making the most grotesque grimaces, opening and shutting his large mouth, and darting up and down as if the imaginary spring-work had been set actively in motion. I continued my retrograde movement, still keeping my eye fixed on the never-to-be-forgotten face of my teacher, until, suddenly kicking my heels against a form, I fell on my back on the floor, much to the delight of the assembled scribes, who sympathized with my misfortune by a low titter. At the same moment I heard the voice of Mr. Brake slowly repeating, as if it were the last vocal effort he meant to make in this world-" Boston, Pa-a -ley, Par-a-dise Lost! The boy's a-! Here, Thomas! Are you hurt?"

"No, Sir, thank you."

*How, or where, I had received Paley and Milton, I cannot remember; but that I had read both is certain. My impression is, that they were given to me by a literary gentleman in the neighbourhood of Moorness.

"Do

"Silence!" addressing the giggling juveniles. you mean to say, Master Thomas, or imply, or intimate, that you have brought the fervent Boston, and the immortal Paley, and the celestial Milton-always excepting his unholy republican propensities-to Tankerhill school with you, as elementary educational auxiliaries from which you anticipate assistance?"

"Sir?-I-I beg your pardon."

"Oh! perhaps you do not realize the literal import of my query in the exact form in which my phraseology hath exhibited it to your comprehension."

I looked about in despair, involuntarily moving my hand, as if I wished to lay hold on something by way of support.

Evidently enjoying the effect produced by his erudition, the schoolmaster, after a pause of a few seconds,during which he looked as if he meant to read the secrets of my soul,-took pity on me, and said,

"Where are the volumes you have designated?" "At home, Sir."

"Well, you will require school-books. Shall I provide them for ?" you

"If you please, Sir." "That will do.

Take your seat."

Mr. Jerome Brake was about thirty years of age, of rather low stature, and a dark complexion. One of his legs was some three or four inches shorter than the other; and when he was excited he always drew himself up by a sudden spring upon the longest, at the same time elevating his eyebrows, casting his eyes on the ceiling, opening his mouth, pushing his right hand through his hair, and uttering a singular ejaculation which sounded something like "Croush!" What particular signification he attached to this outlandish monosyllable I do not know, and need not conjecture. It was, however, frequently repeated in the course of the day; and whenever it greeted our ears we were sure