Page:Pen And Pencil Sketches - Volume I.djvu/14



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The house where I was born — Day and year — A “Michael-Angelesque” baby — From the law to “Marks & Co.,” coachbuilders — Earliest recollections of the premises — Queen’s Hall, Langham Place, occupies the site — A “Derby” or “Ascot” morning in the Thirties and Forties — And, the coming home ! — Recollections of school-days not happy — “Chapel” and its austerities— The minister — A child’s vision — Books read on evenings at home by the boy’s father — Shakespeare and Dr. Johnson — Recollections of “Pickwick” and “Nickleby” — The boy’s happy country- excursions in September with his father — Sport — “The Arabian Nights” packed with the boy’s luggage and read aloud in the evening — The last harvest load and the harvest supper — Domestic changes — The death of William IV. — Coronation of the Queen — A juvenile performance of the National Anthem — Premises pulled down — Mr. Hansom, architect, and inventor of the Hansom cab — London schools and schoolmasters — Examination-day recitations — “Now, I won’t learn that Greek speech; I’ll be hanged if I do!” — At school near Dover — An amusing French master — Intro- duction to the study of Heraldry — Never fond of athletic sports, but loved country walks on half-holidays, and more extended woodland rambles 1–15