92 THE SCHOOLMASTER ABROAD. 



with a copious libation of red ink. And, further, 

 they have altered, with considerable ingenuity, the 

 terminating syllables of a series of Latin verses pre- 

 pared for the morrow. The work is finished, and the 

 desk closed, the couple retreat to a convenient dis- 

 tance for the purpose of reconnoitering ; their victim 

 enters the room and, like a wise and good boy, heed- 

 less of the fun going on round him, proceeds to his 

 place. He is puzzled a little by the lock of his desk : 

 at length it is opened, and the expression of his coun- 

 tenance — the contrast between him and the culprits 

 — may be painted but cannot be expressed by words, 

 while he exclaims, more in sorrow than in anger, 

 " my eyes and Tommy ! what a mess ! " 



" Go on, sweet little fellows. While the capacity 

 for enjoyment exists, be ye joyful in your own way. 

 Ye have not yet known the truth of a heartache, nor 

 the humiliation of a step into the great world ; Sor- 

 row and Pain have as yet cast but the lightest of their 

 shadows before you on your path. You have Plea- 

 sure in its intensity, and you have that which will 

 never — never return, buoyancy of hope. Youth's 

 bright dream. 



Go on sweet fellows, and " God bless the work ! " 

 as the Duke of Wellington said to his Connaught 

 rangers, when he found them "aising a house of a 

 thrifle," after the battle of Badajos, " God bless the 

 work." 



Theobald. 



