X. PREFACE. 



On looking over my manuscript I find I have made several Latin 

 quotations, and I fear I incur the risk of making myself supremely 

 ridiculous in posing as a Latin scholar. Nothing however can be 

 further from my intention, for no one can be more painfully aware 

 than I am myself, how great my ignorance is, not only in Latin 

 but in every other branch of knowledge. Perhaps I should act 

 wisely in striking out all the Latin. But I trust it will not be 

 considered offensive when I acknowledge I am merely gifted 



" With just enough of learning to mis-quote,'" 



and have had to refer to the originals before venturing to send 

 what I have written to the printer. Ever since I took up the 

 Georgics for examination they have been running in my head, and 

 as I have kept a large apiary for many years, I believe I have read 

 the Bee-poem more frequently than any other book. But perhaps 

 I had better not say anything more on the subject, for in trying to 

 avoid one rock I may get wrecked upon another, and being 

 accused of the pride which apes humility, find myself in the position 

 of the old man and his donkey, who, do what he would, failed 

 to satisfy his critics. 



What a wonderful thing is memory ! Although I am far too apt to 

 forget, after five minutes have elapsed, who dealt last, and whether 

 the Queen is out before putting down my Knave, events which 

 occurred nearly fifty years ago so crowd my memory, that my chief 

 fear in writing my manuscript has been that it will be too long, 

 and illustrate the vice of prolixity, so current at the present time. 

 I find also that I have not placed all my stories of school life in 

 strict chronological order. They have recurred to my memory 



