212 CHRISTMAS. 



settling himself down quietly in his 

 rooms, he came. In answer to my inquiries 

 respecting the part of the County of which 

 he was a native, he named the village near 

 Rumsey, where my fat friend was so un- 

 ceremoniously pitched into the purling 

 brook by my carelessness. I could not 

 help smiling at the remembrance of the 

 wanton accident, and upon further inquiry 

 found that the ducking the publican had re- 

 ceived had not shortened his days, for he 

 was still living. He continued his visits, and 

 being what is termed a reading man, he con- 

 formed strictly to the discipline of the Uni- 

 versity ; indeed was in great hopes, from 

 having been at the head of the school in 

 Hampshire, that he should be enabled to 

 distinguish himself. 



At Christmas vacation he did not go 

 down ; but on the day of that festivity 

 he joined my family circle, which had got 

 to be rather numerous. 



After the customary turkey and chine, he 



