SANDFORD AND MERTON 49 



The time came when I went really from home, and this 

 was into the charge of the Rev. Samuel Gray, at Cundale 

 Parsonage, which is only about nine miles from Thirsk. 



Mr Gray was a tall young man, something of the Mr 

 Barlow type, but more sensible. His wife was a daughter 

 of Callcott, the artist, and the only other boy committed 

 to Mr Gray's control was her young brother Bob, about 

 the same age as myself. It was in 1862 that I went to 

 Cundale, and Mr Gray's system of dealing with us was 

 certainly good, for much of his teaching is fresh in my 

 memory still. With him I soon lost all nervousness. He 

 had a judicious method of leading you up to your work. 

 I quote an illustration of this very briefly from an old 

 diary which I kept in the early part of 1863 : 



Feb. 1863. 



This morning, after lessons, we had a paper chase. In the 

 afternoon we had English history, writing and compo. Then 

 Mr Gray, Bob and I went out for another paper-chase. I went to 

 Mr Appleton's and got buried in the straw. This evening we did 

 our French lessons and then played at Family Coach. 



4th March. 



This morning we went to the sale for the Lancashire people. It 

 did not commence until the afternoon. I bought two pictures 

 and two book markers. This evening there was a Bran pie, for 

 which we had to pay 3d. a dip. I got a kettleholder and a pin- 

 cushion. Bob and I rode a donkey home. 



However charitably inclined, I appear to have had an 

 eye to business even at that period, for the very next 

 day, 5th March 1863, comes the entry : 



This morning I got the prize for Caesar, half-a-crown. I also 

 sold a picture for is. which I bought for 3d. 



Mr Gray had really an extraordinary capacity for 

 interesting one, whether in work or play, and among other 

 good schemes he used to make us go out into the hall and 

 read aloud to him while he sat in a room out of sight. 



