loo THE EARLY DAYS OF 



trade, has I suppose also disappeared, though at the time I saw 

 every prospect of his remaining there for ever. 



It was a happy time when the school broke up for the Summer 

 holidays, as we were free to go pretty well where we liked until we 

 could be all packed off. The small boys of course went last ; but 

 we could hear the ringing cheers of those who had already started, 

 and we passed our time in thinking over the happiness in store for 

 us at home, and devising schemes for pleasure. 



But the trail of the serpent was always visible when " my 

 character" arrived per post, and was placed like a wet blanket on 

 the Rectory breakfast-table. As I was never taught anything, of 

 course my progress could not be called satisfactory ; but during 

 eight long years as the worst crimes which could be scored against 

 me were — The attempted introduction of a dead cat into the school, 

 and the possession of " The Newgate Calendar," I never could 

 understand why my conduct was generally condemned. I am 

 certain I was always ready to do anything I was told, that is, if I 

 knew how to do it, and I would have led a " forlorn hope " had I 

 only received a command to lead it. 



Directly I got home I went the round of the village to see all 

 my friends, as I knew every man, woman, and child in it — as I do 

 now ; and then I started off to the brook and elsewhere, to see if I 

 could find anything new in the shape of birds, beasts, plants, or 

 fishes. 



Had nature endowed me with an intellect coinciding with the 

 sharp look-out I always kept when I took my walks abroad, 

 goodness only knows what I might not have discovered in the vast 

 field of natural history; though doubtless it would have been better 

 had I kept a sharp look-out for grammar, and a correct interpre- 

 tation of the three concords or agreements in Latin, whilst I 

 remained at school. But there is no accounting for tastes, and as 

 I have already recorded my Indian observations in '* The Natural 

 History of Monghyr," I will conclude this chapter with some notes 

 which I made when I found a Pied Flycatcher's nest in Wales. If 



