70 - Foachim the Mimic.

his S’s better. It is perhaps only Mothers who
attend to thefe little matters. Well ;—this great
big boy was two or three days at the fchool before
Joachim went near him. ‘There was fomething
ferious, ftern, and unfunny in his face, and when
Joachim was making the other boys laugh, the
great big boy never even {miled, but fixed his eyes
in a rather unpleafant manner upon Joachim as
he raifed them from his books. Still he was an
irrefiftible fubject for the Mimic; for, though he
learnt his leflons without a miftake, and always
obtained the Matfter’s praife, he read them with
fo ftrong a lifp, and this was rendered fo remark-
able by his loud, deep voice, that it fairly upfet
what little prudence Joachim poffeffed; and, as
he returned one day to his feat, after repeating a
copy of verfes in the manner I have defcribed,
Joachim, who was not far off, echoed the laft two
lines with fuch accuracy of imitation, that it ftartled
even the Mafter, who was at that moment leaving
the fchool-room.

But no laugh followed as ufual, for all eyes
were fuddenly turned on the big boy, who, crim-
fon with indignation, and yet quite felf-poffeffed in
manner, walked up to Joachim and deliberately
knocked him down on the floor. Great was Jo-
achim’s amazement, you may be fure, and fevere
was the blow that had levelled him ; but ftill more
fevere were the words that followed. ‘* Young
rafcal,” exclaimed the big boy, “ who has put you
in authority over your elders, that you are to be