Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1872-05-02
MisfrIl
a Rem,l.sc nee Of Eton Life.

Jcklia. was not only one of those
boys who are beui upon going wrong
themselves. but he dearly loved To drag
others into scrapcs with him. was
warned of this iata. propensity on his
part both by GREGG leby and Blazepole
Ntumps minor also conveyed a friendly
admonltISn - me on the subject. and
Asheton one morning sent for ne on
purpose to say that must be careful
what did when Jckling was by 10
advise me. But these counsels. though
they kept me from falling into an, Of
Jickling's more dangerous snarcs. lid
not remove him from my company.
lie was always with me. He acknowl-
edged with a candor that did him
hssor, that he liked fellows whom YOU
could humbug TIL all was blue : and
on my soliciting an explanation,
abruptly and grayely asked me when
my birthday was.
In October answered naivelv.
Next month"; said he. Well. it's
to be hoped (and his eyes glared on
me half-intimidatingly)-'it's to be
hoped that you'll do what's usual, and
not be mean and shabby rs some new
fellows are. Every new fellow who ;
worth his weight ii rags. goes 10 Good
ford and asks him to give the whole
school q holiday on the first birthday
he spends here. Only the rule is to
ask month in advance, 50 rs TO pre-
vent mistakes. and allow Gooiford
time to order the fireworks
What iireworks:' | inquired.
Why, the fireworks that are let off
in the playing-iields on new fellow 5
birthday answered Jicking. And
then there's the ginger-wine. After
the fireworks, ginger-wine's handed
round. and everybody has a glassful
Fifth form. two glasses full. You'll
! have to see to all that
Now there was nothing improbable
in any Of this to my fresh and unsus-
( pectlng mind. At my private school
/ 1--WE had numbered twelve there) every
birthday had been an occasion for
. ifSbi'NN iHt bstti dl iN >
I formed prominent feature in the
I DAYS entertainment. | saw no reason
why it should not be so at Eaton nay
/ | considered that Eton, being the
werthier place, would probably hold
the more strenuousiy TO worthy Gus,
tom. SO, 10 be brief, that self-same
afternoon was standing. by Jickling'>
direction, under the colonnade Of the
school-yard, in the presence of DIR
Goodford and of all the school pre
posters, gathered together. as the rule
to deliver their bills of absentees, ol
of BOYS on the sick-list. after three
o'clock chapel. DR.. Goodford, seeing
me stand beside him with nv hat on
began by asking me, with stately court
esy, whether | had cold in the head
was about to answer that a tire
some cold. which had afflicted "e som,
six weeks before, had happily disap
peared, and to thank him for so kindl,
inquiring after it, when ah opportun
nudge from prapostor, to the right
and cavernous whisper of Hat iron
prepostor on the left. brought me t
vague sense of the situation. | un
covered. reddening: and DIR. Good
ford then begged to know. with til
same high politeness as before. I
what he was indebted Tor the pleasur
OF my visit.
spoke without shadow OF diff
dence. and asked for a non dies for tn
whole school (Jickling had furnishe
me with the precise words) in honor
my birthday, which fell on the 10Th
October
have not forgotten the intefmlnaol
laughter that followed, nor the COZ
vulsions of one particular prapostO
aged eleven, and habitually mournfu
who rolled about against the colonnAd