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gentle brothers。'
Then whining forth； 'What a sap…engro； lor！' he gave me a parting
leer； and hastened away。
I remained standing in the lane gazing after the retreating
company。 'A strange set of people；' said I at last； 'wonder who
they can be？'
CHAPTER VI
Three years … Lilly's grammar … Proficiency … Ignorant of figures …
The school bell … Order of succession … Persecution … What are we
to do？ … Northward … A goodly scene … Haunted ground … Feats of
chivalry … Rivers … Over the brig。
YEARS passed on； even three years； during this period I had
increased considerably in stature and in strength； and； let us
hope； improved in mind； for I had entered on the study of the Latin
language。 The very first person to whose care I was intrusted for
the acquisition of Latin was an old friend of my fathers； a
clergyman who kept a seminary at a town the very next we visited
after our departure from 'the Cross。' Under his instruction；
however； I continued only a few weeks； as we speedily left the
place。 'Captain；' said this divine； when my father came to take
leave of him on the eve of our departure； 'I have a friendship for
you； and therefore wish to give you a piece of advice concerning
this son of yours。 You are now removing him from my care； you do
wrong； but we will let that pass。 Listen to me： there is but one
good school…book in the world … the one I use in my seminary …
Lilly's Latin grammar； in which your son has already made some
progress。 If you are anxious for the success of your son in life；
for the correctness of his conduct and the soundness of his
principles； keep him to Lilly's grammar。 If you can by any means；
either fair or foul； induce him to get by heart Lilly's Latin
grammar； you may set your heart at rest with respect to him； I；
myself； will be his warrant。 I never yet knew a boy that was
induced； either by fair means or foul； to learn Lilly's Latin
grammar by heart； who did not turn out a man； provided he lived
long enough。'
My father； who did not understand the classical languages； received
with respect the advice of his old friend； and from that moment
conceived the highest opinion of Lilly's Latin grammar。 During
three years I studied Lilly's Latin grammar under the tuition of
various schoolmasters； for I travelled with the regiment； and in
every town in which we were stationary I was invariably （God bless
my father！） sent to the classical academy of the place。 It
chanced； by good fortune； that in the generality of these schools
the grammar of Lilly was in use； when； however； that was not the
case； it made no difference in my educational course； my father
always stipulating with the masters that I should be daily examined
in Lilly。 At the end of the three years I had the whole by heart；
you had only to repeat the first two or three words of any sentence
in any part of the book； and forthwith I would open cry； commencing
without blundering and hesitation； and continue till you were glad
to beg me to leave off； with many expressions of admiration at my
proficiency in the Latin language。 Sometimes； however； to convince
you how well I merited these encomiums； I would follow you to the
bottom of the stair； and even into the street； repeating in a kind
of sing…song measure the sonorous lines of the golden schoolmaster。
If I am here asked whether I understood anything of what I had got
by heart； I reply … 'Never mind； I understand it all now； and
believe that no one ever yet got Lilly's Latin grammar by heart
when young； who repented of the feat at a mature age。'
And； when my father saw that I had accomplished my task； he opened
his mouth； and said； 'Truly； this is more than I expected。 I did
not think that there had been so much in you； either of application
or capacity； you have now learnt all that is necessary； if my
friend Dr。 B…'s opinion was sterling； as I have no doubt it was。
You are still a child； however； and must yet go to school； in order
that you may be kept out of evil company。 Perhaps you may still
contrive； now you have exhausted the barn； to pick up a grain or
two in the barn…yard。 You are still ignorant of figures； I
believe； not that I would mention figures in the same day with
Lilly's grammar。'
These words were uttered in a place called …； in the north； or in
the road to the north； to which； for some time past； our corps had
been slowly advancing。 I was sent to the school of the place；
which chanced to be a day school。 It was a somewhat extraordinary
one； and a somewhat extraordinary event occurred to me within its
walls。
It occupied part of the farther end of a small plain； or square； at
the outskirts of the town； close to some extensive bleaching
fields。 It was a long low building of one room； with no upper
story； on the top was a kind of wooden box； or sconce； which I at
first mistook for a pigeon…house； but which in reality contained a
bell； to which was attached a rope； which； passing through the
ceiling； hung dangling in the middle of the school…room。 I am the
more particular in mentioning this appurtenance； as I had soon
occasion to scrape acquaintance with it in a manner not very
agreeable to my feelings。 The master was very proud of his bell；
if I might judge from the fact of his eyes being frequently turned
to that part of the ceiling from which the rope depended。 Twice
every day； namely； after the morning and evening tasks had been
gone through； were the boys rung out of school by the monotonous
jingle of this bell。 This ringing out was rather a lengthy affair；
for； as the master was a man of order and method； the boys were
only permitted to go out of the room one by one； and as they were
rather numerous； amounting； at least； to one hundred； and were
taught to move at a pace of suitable decorum； at least a quarter of
an hour elapsed from the commencement of the march before the last
boy could make his exit。 The office of bell…ringer was performed
by every boy successively； and it so happened that； the very first
day of my attendance at the school； the turn to ring the bell had；
by order of succession； arrived at the place which had been
allotted to me； for the master； as I have already observed； was a
man of method and order； and every boy had a particular seat； to
which he became a fixture as long as he continued at the school。
So； upon this day； when the tasks were done and completed； and the
boys sat with their hats and caps in their hands； anxiously
expecting the moment of dismissal； it was suddenly notified to me；
by the urchins who sat nearest to me； that I must get up and ring
the bell。 Now； as this was the first time that I had been at the
school； I was totally unacquainted with the process； which I had
never seen； and； indeed； had never heard of till that moment。 I
therefore sat still； not imagining it possible that any such duty
could be required of me。 But now； with not a little confusion； I
perceived that the eyes of all the boys in the school were fixed
upon me。 Presently there were nods and winks in the direction of
the bell…rope； and； as these produced no effect； uncouth visages
were made； like those of monkeys when enraged； teeth were gnashed；
tongues thrust out； and even fists were bent at me。 The master；
who stood at the end of the room； with a huge ferule under his arm；
bent full upon me a look of stern appeal； and the ushers； of whom
there were four； glared upon me； each from his own particular
corner； as I vainly turned； in one direction and another； in search
of one reassuring look。
But now； probably in obedience to a sign from the master； the boys
in my immediate neighbourhood began to maltreat me。 Some pinched me
with their fingers； some buffeted me； whilst others pricked me with
pins； or the points of compasses。 These arguments were not without
effect。 I sprang from my seat； and endeavoured to escape along a
double line of benches； thronged with boys of all ages； from the
urchin of six or seven to the nondescript of sixteen or seventeen。
It was like running the gauntlet； every one； great or small；
pinching； kicking； or otherwise maltreating me； as I passed by。
Goaded on in this manner； I at length reached the middle of the
room； where dangled the bell…rope； the cause of all my sufferings。
I should have passed it … for my confusion was so great that I was
quite at a loss to comprehend what all this could mean； and almost
believed myself under the influence of an ugly dream … but now the
boys； who were seated in advance in the row； arose with one accord；
and barred my farther progress； and one； doubtless more sensible
than the rest； seizing the rope； thrust it into my hand。 I now
began to perceive that the dismissal of the school； and my own