68 TALES AND TRAITS OF SPORTING LIFE. 



THE PRIVATE PUPIL 



(PROM THE DIARY OF A. SOFTUX, ESQ.) 



When I was a very young- man — and that is not such 

 an extraordinary time back either — I had the pecuHarly 

 g'ood fortune to pass my state of transition under the im- 

 mediate care of the very reverend as well as learned Dr. 

 Gradus. This happy era in life's journey every one must 

 have some recollection of — the time when you are not 

 quite responsible for your own acts, but feel cpiite ecpial, 

 nevertheless, to go with the best of them. 



The Doctor's domestic circle was limited, which of course 

 i\"ent to imply that his terms were not. In fact, things 

 were done altogether with rather a high hand ; and so, 

 when my good mother ventured to hint somewhat ner- 

 Tonsly that horse-exercise would tend much to increase 

 mj bodily health, as well as materially add to my appetite 

 ibr Greek Play, not the slightest objection was offered to so 

 reasonable a suggestion. The Doctor had a capital stable, 

 a gi'oom who had lived some years with " Sir Richard/' 

 and perfectly understood his business — in a word, there 

 was every disposition to make us both comfortable ; and 

 on the same night I took possession of my bed-room^ 

 ■jny '* riding-horse" — as he was modestly designated — 

 took possession of his box. 



He was rather an imposing-looking hack, too — fifteen- 

 ihree good; well furnished throughout, legs as clean as a 



