1831.] [ 249 ] 



THE TUTOR-FIEND AND HIS THREE POPILS. 



Three fathers had each a son — they were determined, come what 

 might, that the boys should be wisely taught — in other words, should 

 be instructed in the mode of gelling on. They made all inquiries after a 

 teacher, but, for some time, with no success : one was too poor, and 

 therefore incapable of instrviction ; another, too merry ; good-nature was 

 a losing quality. At length they heard of a person anxious, and, they 

 believed, well-fitted to take charge of youth. The parents hastened to 

 the scholar's abode ; it was a miserable hut in the middle of a marsh : 

 the croak of frogs and buzz of flies were the only sounds heard about 

 the master's dwelling, which was guarded by a little ugly cur, that, 

 yelping at the approach of the visitors, caused its master to throw open 

 the casement, and reveal himself to the view of those who sought him. 



He was a man of about sixty ; his whole appearance wild and meagre. 

 His face seemed sharp and bloodless — the dry, yellow skin, tightened 

 over his high cheek-bones, came into more ghastly relief from a dead- 

 black eye. His bi'ow was seamed with wrinkles. His hair, of speckled 

 black and grey, drooped in unsocial lankness. His beard seemed half- 

 rusted wire. His long, naked arms were fearfully muscular ; and his 

 nails, hooked as the bill of a parrot. He was employed feeding a nest 

 of owlets, with some crushed snails before him. Looking vip at his 

 visitors, he smiled, and displayed two rows of huge teeth, of pearly 

 whiteness. He opened the door, and the visitors entered the tutor's 

 habitation. It consisted of one room, grotesquely furnished ; Indian 

 flies were pinned to the walls — here was the jaw of a shark — there a 

 tiger's skin — with snakes of all sorts, wreathed in knots, hanging around. 

 In one corner of the hovel was the miser's bed — a heap of rags, with an 

 account-book for a pillow. A mess of adder-broth was on the fire, to 

 which old Rapax (for so was the tutor called) invited the appetites of his 

 visitors. " There are eels," said he ; " but adders go the farthest." 



The bargain was soon closed. Rapax was to have the children ; and, 

 next morning. Scowl, Topaz, and Blitheheart set out for their future 

 master's dwelling. Topaz laughed as he stood on the other side of a 

 ditch fronting the tutor's hut ; then springing over, he relapsed into a 

 gloom as he approached the habitation. Scowl neither paused nor 

 smiled ; but dashed sulkily over, following his companion in silence. 

 Blitheheart had tarried behind, gathering a water-lily — now, he comes, 

 skipping along, bounds across, and arrives at his future school almost 

 ere he sees it. Rapax was leaning through the window, pursuing his 

 occupation of yesterday. 



" You are welcome," said he ; " enter. — And you, sir" (addressing 

 himself to Scowl), *' come, feed my owlets." 



" Feed owlets ! Not I, by the rusty holiness of your beard. Feed 

 owlets !" 



" You, young sir" (to Topaz), " will perliaps take the office?" 



*' An' they were a nest of linnets for a pretty daughter of your's, 

 indeed would I ; but owlets are not young men's birds." 



" Gentle youth," said Rapax, turning to Blitheheart, " will you 

 assist me ?" 



" Willingly, sir," replied the boy, — " but shew me the fashion." 



The old man muttered to himself, " Humph! — scornful, jesting, and 

 ingenuous! Well, well — the same end by different ways." Then to 



