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THE SCHOOLMASTER ABROAD. 



But, Now ! The Schoolmaster is abroad. 



Lord Brougham. 



Aye — now ! the Schoolmaster is abroad — why or 

 wherefore is no business of ours ; but his place in 

 the school-room is vacant, and a very considerable 

 spree is going on therein. Ah ! Thomson, swan of 

 the Thames, bard of the seasons, sweet singer of 

 Richmond, surely you were drunk — most blessedly 

 and blind drunk — when you dreamed, hiccuping over 

 the fifteenth tumbler of the 



** Delightful task ! to rear the tender thought, 

 To teach the young idea how to shoot." 



How interestingly the tender thought is expanding 

 itself in the present moment, when no dread of birch 

 rods or ferulae is impending to interfere with its na- 

 tural developement. How winningly the young idea 

 shoots when it is allowed to prime, load and pull the 

 trigger in its own sweet uncontaminated way. How 

 uniquely it pours the fresh instruction over itself, till 

 the very jacket and breeches are saturated with the 

 abundant moisture ; and above all how gallantly it 

 unbuttons its waistcoat to let out the generous pur- 

 pose from the glowing breast. The Tyrones have 

 read Horace's advice " Rapiamus occasionem de die," 

 and are most knowingly using the opportunity ; it is 

 not often such a Godsend falls to their lot, therefore 

 its angel visit is hailed with enthusiasm. 



A slip of a youngling, whose look bespeaks him 

 " up to any thing," is mounted on one of the desks, 

 much to the admiration of a little circle around him ; 

 he and his companions are " playing at school," he 

 being pedagogue and they operating as his disciples, 

 at the same time he has the comfort of his fellows 

 evidently at heart, for he has split both ends of the 

 real master's cane, and is inserting very carefully the 

 renowned horse hair. 



