The native American., 1838-09-01
A PRACTICAL EDUCATION.

Of whom placed torn and filthy book beneath
his learned eve. This is the first class IN En-
glish spelling and philosophy, Nickleby, SAID
Squeers, beckonng Nicholas to stand beside him.
Wen get up Latin one, and hand that over to
you. Now, then, where's the first boy !! Please,
sir, he's cleaning the back parlor window, SAID
the temporary head of the philosophical class
so he is, to be sure, rejoined Squeers. I'VE
90 upon the practical mode OF teaching, Nlckleby
the regular education system. C-l-e-a-n, clean,
verb active, to make brig ght, TO scour-W-i-n, win,
der der, winder, easement. When the boy
knows this out of book, he goes and does it. It's
lust the same principle as the use OF the globes.
Where's the second boyr Pleas, sir, he's weed
ing the garden replied a small voice. TO be
sure, said Squeers, by no means disconnected. SO
he is Bot, bot, tim, tin, hey, bottlnney,
noun substantive, knowledge of plants.-When
he has learned that bottinney means knowledge
of plants, he goes, and knows'em. That's our
system, Nickleby-what do you think of it,
Its very useful one, at any rate answered
Nicholas, Significantly. i believe you rejoined
Squeers, not remarking the emphasis of his usher
Third boy-what's horse! "A beast, sir re-
piled the boy. so it is said Squeers. 'Aintit.
Nickleby?' i believe there is no doubt of that.
sir answered Nicholas. OF course there isn't,
quadruped's Latin for beast, as everybody that's
gone through the grammar knows, or else where's
the use of having grammars at all! Where, in
deedr said Nicholas, abstractedly, 'As you are
perfect in that resumed Slueers, turning to the
boy, go and look after my horse, and rub him
down well, or III rub you down. The rest of
the class 60 and draw water up till somebody tells
you to leave off, for it's washing day tomorrow,
and they want the coppers filed So saving he
dismissed the first class to their experiments in
practical philosophy, and eyed Nicholas with a
look half cunning and half doubtful, as fhe were
not altogether certain what he might think Of him
by this time. That's the way we do it, Nick
leby-and a very good way it is too, said Squeers.
Now, Just take those fourteenlttle boys and hear
them some reading, because you know you must
begin to be useful, and idling about here won't do.
Mr.. Squeers said this as if it had suddenly occur
red to him, either that he must not say too much
to his assistant or that assistant did not say
enough to him in praise of his establishment Of
practical education. 1t was Mr.. Squeers' custom
to call the boys together, and make sort of re-
port after every halt-yearly visit to the meropo-
lis regarding the relations and friends he had seen,
the news he had heard, the letters he had brought
down, the bills which had been paid. the accounts
which had been left unpaid, and so fourth. This
solemn proceeding always took place in the af-
ternoon Of the day succeeding his return: perhaps
because the boys acquired strength of mind from
the suspense OF the morning, or possibly because
Mr.. Squeers himself acquired greater sternness
and inheXbity from certain warm potatons in
which he was wont to indulge after his early
dinner. Be this as it may, the boys were recalled
from house, window, garden, stable and cow-y ard,
and the school were assembled in conclave, when
Mr.. Squeers with small bundle Of papers in his
hand, and Mrs. S. following with pair Of canes,
entered the room and proclaimed silence. let
any boy speak word without leave said Mr.
Squeers, mildly, and I'll take the skin off his
back This special proclamation had the desir-
ed effect, and death-like silence Immediately
prevailed, in the midst of which Mr. Squeer's
went on to say-'Boys, I've been to London, and
have returned to my family and you, as strong and
well as ever According to half-yearly CUSTOM
the boys gave three feeble cheers at this refresh
ing intelligence. Such cheers! Signs of extra
strength with the chill on i have seen the pa
rents of some boys, continued Squeers, turning
over his papers, 'and theirre so glad to hear how
their sons getting on, that there's no prospec,
al all Of their going away, which of course is a
very pleasant thing for all parties Two or three
hands went to two or three eyes when Squeers
sad this, Dut the greater part OF the young genle
men having no particular parents to speak of, were
wholly uninterested in the thing one way Oh
other. 4 have had dsappointments to contend
against, said Squeers, looking very grim. Bolder's
father was two pounds ten short.-Where is
Bolder!' Here he is, please sir rejoined twenty
oficious voices. Boys are very like men, to be
sure. Come here, Bolder,' said Squeers. An
unhealthy looking boy, with warts all over his
hands stepped from his place to the masters desk
and raised his eyes imploringly to Squeer's face
his own quite white from the rapid beating of his
heart. 'Bolder,' said Squeers, speaking very
slowly, for he was considering, as the saying goes,
where to have him. 'Bolder, if your farther
thinks that because-why, what's this, sir!' As
Squeers spoke, he caught up the boys hand by
the cuff Of his jacket, and surveyed it with an
edifying aspect Of horror and disgust. What do
you call this, sir!' demanded the schoomaster,
administering cut with the cane to expedite the
reply. 4 can't help it, indeed, SIR rejoned the
boy, crying. They will come; it's the dirty
work think, sir-at least, don't know what it
is, sir: but it's not my fault 'Bolder, said
Squeers, tucking up his wristbands and moisten-
ing the palm Of his right hand to get a good grip
of the cane, you re incorrigible young scound
rel-and as the last thrashing did you no good we
must see what another will do toward beating il
80. of ,,o, With this and wholly, d;,.o.-.