CHAPTER III 



Devoted to rural scenes and characters, and combining matter of amusement 

 and instruction, with maxims of sound theory, and examples well worthy 

 of imitation. 



The next day being Sunday, Frank had matters of a graver 

 kind to attend to — all very necessary, however, to guide him 

 in the ' race ' he had to run ; and the plain, comprehensible 

 sermons he heard in Amstead Church were admirably adapted 

 to that purpose. But, on the Monday, a pursuit was proposed 

 to him, by Jem Perren, the keeper's son, quite as much to his 

 taste, at that early age. This was a game, once in much 

 vogue in England, and especially in counties bordering on the 

 sea-coast, known by the name of ' a crow's-nest race ' ; — that 

 is to say, either a carrion-crow's nest, or a particular one in a 

 rookery, was to be climbed for, by three boys, and he who first 

 put his hand into it was the winner. Now this was not at all 

 to Andrew's taste ; so that Frank had to look abroad for his 

 competitors ; but he had no difficulty in procuring them. One 

 was the son of the rector, a fine and spirited lad, and of the 

 same year with himself ; and the other, a son of a neighbouring 

 gentleman, much of a like kidney. 



' That shall be the nest,' said Frank, pointing to one in the 

 highest tree in the rookery. ' Surely not,' said young Chapman ; 

 ' the boughs are very slender ; indeed they look as if they would 

 break with our weight.' Jem Perren was likewise of this 

 opinion, and began to lament having proposed the day's amuse- 

 ment. ' Nonsense,' said Frank, ' the tree is alive and good at 

 the head, and I'll be bound it will bear us.' In fact, ' possunt, 

 quia posse videntur,' was his motto ; and he thus addressed his 

 competitors : — ' Now, my boys, off" with your jackets ! when Jem 

 gives the word, let us start.' 



The race is not always to the swift, but it is sometimes 

 to the bold ; and this was the case here. It was well enough 

 contested, until the party arrived within a few yards of the 

 summit, when the apparent slightness of the boughs, together 

 with the frightful abyss below, caused young Chapman and the 



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