THE GREAT SCHOOL EXAMINATION. 207 



to become a candidate towards the end of July, to- 

 gether with a certificate of my moral character from a 

 citizen of the town, which my former employer, the 

 silversmith, was kind enough to give me. I stepped 

 with a light heart into the hall, for I really did not 

 much care whether I passed or not. The examiners 

 were five very respectable looking gentlemen ; as the 

 others seemed inclined to hang back, I very gallantly 

 stepped forward. One of the examiners said he should 

 begin with geography, and addressed me as follows : — 

 " Now, Jilr. Kresdegger ; " " Gerstaecker, sir." " Oh, 

 excuse me ; now, Mr. Kerseker, will you be so kind as 

 to give us the boundaries of Ohio." " Yes, sir ; on the 

 north," &c. &c. It was all conducted in this courteous 

 manner, and all answered the questions, except one of 

 the Germans. They then began upon Germany, 

 asking me, from what state I came ? " From Saxony." 

 " How is Saxony divided ? " " Into five districts." 

 " What are their names ? " To save my life, I could 

 not on the instant remember, but my impudence car- 

 ried me through. Taking it for granted that my 

 examiner knew no better than myself, especially as he 

 had no book, I answered gravely : " Leipzig, Dresden, 

 Grimma, Meissen, and Oschatz;" with which he was 

 perfectly satisfied, though one of my compatriots was 

 obliged to bite his lips to preserve his gravity. After 

 a little more geography we came to grammar, spelling, 

 arithmetic, and writing; we were then dismissed, and 

 directed to apply on the following Wednesday. On 

 Wednesday we had a fresh examination, rather more 

 tedious than the first, and then we w^ere referred to 

 the 5th August. All passed, excepting one of my 



