MY SCHOOL DAY.

CHAP. IV.

HERE was no National School then in our

parish. The only school that there was, was
a private boys’ school, kept by a Mr. Tombs ; and
all the farmers and other neighbours who could
afford it sent their sons there to learn to read and
write in English, with a little spelling and summing,
Further he could not go, for he knew no more him.
self; but then nothing more was ever demanded ot
him, as he certainly did not succeed in inspiring
his scholars with a desire after knowledge for its
own sake.

Miss Churchill took me to the school herself on
Monday morning, and presented me to Mr. Tombs,
who received me very graciously, and made many
promises to take care of me.

School had already begun, so, on hearing that
I could read, Mr. Tombs put me at once into a
reading-class, where to my great satisfaction I
found myself not far from Tommy Cadwallader.