﻿THE CLEVER BOY. 



171 



The Clever Boy. 



BY MRS. S. C. HALL. 



"WELL, but grandmamma!' expostulated Edwin, "everybody 

 says I am very clever ; now do not laugh; everybody says so, 

 and what everybody says must be true." 



" First," replied his grandmother, " I do not think that what 

 everybody says must of necessity be true ; and, secondly, in what 

 consists your ' everybody ' ? " 



" Why, there is nurse." 



" Capital authority ! an old woman who nursed your mother, and 

 consequently, loves you dearly; go on." 



" And the doctor ; - -he said I was a good boy, the other morning, 

 when I swallowed the pill without a wry face." 



"Go on." 



" All the servants." 



" Excellent servants, Edwin, for the situations they are engaged 

 to fill, but bad judges of a young gentleman's cleverness. The 

 rector ? " 



" That is cruel of you, grandmamma," replied our conceited little 

 friend ; " you know he would not say it, because I did not get 

 through the commandment, in the class, last Wednesday evening." 



" Does your papa say you are clever ? ' 



The little fellow made no reply. 



" Do your schoolfellows ? " 



" They are all big boys." 



" Then your character for cleverness depends on the old nurse, 

 the still older doctor, and the servants ! " 



