'THIS COMES HOPPING' 



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tion which would bring in the subject of names. 

 Besides, if you begin at the beginning you are 

 bound to go on to the end, whereas if you begin 

 right in the middle you can then stop when you are 

 tired, which suits me much better. I recommend 

 you to practise that bit of advice when you are 

 next set a horrid long lesson to learn. 



My present name is Mr. Samuel, H.T., and I 

 do not think that I shall get much further. Let 

 me explain. You will not think it a bore, will you ? 

 We don't have to explain much in our country: 

 things have a w^ay of explaining themselves. But 

 names are just one of the things that do require a 

 word of explanation. 



When I was born I was called ' Sammy.' Lots 

 of rats never get any further than that, because one 

 year, as things go, is not a bad age for a rat. But, 

 thanks to my mother s teaching, and to a fair slice 

 of luck, and, perhaps I may be allowed to add, 

 to a certain amount of wisdom and intrepid courage 

 on my own part, I reached my second year, and 

 consequently became ' Sam.' 



* Sam,' of course, is a great deal more dignified 

 than ' Sammy,' as I dare say you know. Your 

 uncles, I should say, tip you nearly double as 

 much when they happen to meet you. 



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