SCHOOL EXPERIENCES. IT was in the year 1838. I was somewhere" between ten and eleven years old, just beginning to be very much afraid of young ladies, and fast emerging out of the state of nice-boy-hood into the gauche hobbledehoy, when it was decided that I was for some time in happy ignorance of this most momentous decision; for, though on most B I was to be educated. It was obviously impossible that the present "provisional government" of my sister's instructress could long continue on its hitherto firm basis, as it was gradually ceasing to make itself respected by its intellect or feared for its power. Being in disgrace had become rather an agreeable fact, for then "Robinson Crusoe" could be undisturbedly studied; and to be deprived of pudding, appeared rather a weak revenge for unsaid prosody; while not being allowed to come down-stairs for dessert, saved me the excruciating agony of being combed and cleaned. By-the-by, if any of my readers would kindly send me a line, addressed to the care of my publishers, explaining why nurses tear their charges' hair so unmercifully, and demonstrating the advantages of scouring the smoothest little face with the roughest wet towel, they would solve one of my greatest puzzles. For some weeks before the intentions of the higher powers were communicated to me, I had felt that something was in the wind, and had a sort of presentiment that I was to be some way disposed of. My lessons seemed of less impor tance: a sort of "well-after-all-it-does-not-muchmatter-now" sort of feeling seemed to prevail; while I became of greater importance, and my wardrobe of the greatest of all. The state of my shirts became a matter for most diligent inquiry; my shoes and the concomitant socks became objects of much interest to such members of the household as it concerned; and when, in addition to this, two new suits of clothes arrived to my address, built on (to me) new lines, and resembling those worn by my elder brother-who had hitherto, on the strength of his costume, inspired me with great awe: when this last brown-paper parcel lay opened before me, I considered that the season of uncertainty and doubt had passed away; that I had now sufficient data to go upon; so I boldly inquired what was going to be done with me-if several outfitters were being employed to rig me out for the Indies ? And I learned, by slow but sure degrees, that I was going to school. I confess I did not take the matter as much to heart, just at first, as I ought to have done. Had I only known how the next four months were to be |