Page:Dream Life - Mitchell - 1899? Altemus.djvu/56



T's a proud thing to go out from under the realm of a school-mistress, and to be enrolled in a company of boys who are under the guidance of a master. It 1s one of the earliest steps of worldly pride, which has before it a long and tedious ladder of ascent. Even the advice ot tne old mistress, and the nine-penny book that she thrusts into your hand as a parting gift, pass for nothing; and her kiss or adieu, if she tenders it in the sight of your fellows, will call up an angry rush of blood to the cheek, that for long years, shall drown all sense of its kindness.

You have looked admiringly many a day upon the tall fellows who play at the door of Dr. Bidlow's school: you have looked with reverence, second only to that felt for the old village church, upon its dark-looking heavy brick walls. It seemed to be redolent of learning; and stopping at times, to