LITTLE those who swallowed them, the whole transaction 

 JOURNEYS was then one of benefit. All of which proves to us that 



men had the essence of wisdom two hundred years 

 ago quite as much as now. 



The master of the school at Grantham was one Mr. 

 Stokes, a man of genuine insight and tact two things 

 rather rare in the pedagogic equipment at that time. 

 The Newton boy was small and stood low in his class, 

 perhaps because book-learning had not been the bent 

 of his grandmother. The fact that Isaac was neither 

 strong nor smart nor even smartly dressed, caused him 

 to serve in the capacity of a butt for the bullies. 

 One big boy in particular made it his business to punch, 

 kick and cuff him on all occasions in class or out. This 

 continued for a month, when one day the little boy in- 

 vited the big one out into the church-yard and there 

 fell upon him tooth and claw. The big boy had strength, 

 but the little one had right on his side. 

 The schoolmaster looked over the wall and shouted, 

 "Thrice armed is he who knows his cause is just! ' 

 In two minutes the bully was beaten, but the school- 

 master's son who stood by as master of ceremonies, 

 suggested that the big boy have his nose rubbed against 

 the wall of the church for luck. This was accordingly 

 done, not o'er gently, and when Isaac returned to the 

 schoolroom, the master, who was supposed to know 

 nothing officially of the fighting, prophesied, "Young 

 Mr. Newton will yet beat any boy in this school in his 

 studies." 



It has been suggested that this prophecy was made 

 70 



