/ bobs;-or, when you have hooked a fine large jack, seeing him take French leave, at the moment when you are courteously shewing him his nearest way to the bank. 3. (T.) On springing, at the right distance, the only covey you have seen, at the end of a long day's fag-flash in the pan. 4. (T.) In hunting-while you are leading the field, and just running in upon the fox, with the brush full in your hopes-being suddenly left in the lurch, or in other words,-in the ditch. Sen. Tremendous, indeed!---This is according to Mr.N's method of representing a man aş " in at the death ;"---you have seen it, I suppose, at Fores's window, in Piccadilly? Tes. No; but I'll get it immediately;--"How far is't call'd to Fores ?” Sen. Too far for a man of your temper ;--I will give you mine. 5. (T.) In archery-the string of your bow snapping, at the moment when you have made sure of your aim. Sen. Almost as bad:---this is the "JELUY λalyn Co" in a new sense.---But let us have done with what are vulgarly called "out-door amusements;"---one Groan for every principal field-sport may serve for a sample :---sportsmen could produce a thousand more; but all men are not sportsmen; and we, you know, have to do only with general Miseries--the common currency of human existence. Tes. Common, do you call it! Humph!--if this is the common currency, I can only say, that, from some plaguy twist in our horoscope, you and I seem to have pocketed all the basest pieces.---By the bye, I have not yet done with the open air, and its amusements. ---You must know that my youngest boy Tom, now at home for the holidays, came up to me yesterday, and told me that, having lately overheard us at our "Groans," he had bethought himself of setting down a few "School-miseries"---and so put them into my hands. I was pleased at the circumstance, as it served to shew, that even boyhood, the happiest period of man's life---and schooldays, which we are apt to look upon as the happiest part of that happiest time,---are by no means exempt from the general tax upon living and breathing :---nay, even my last little one, now at the breast, told me half an hour ago, as plain as a baby could speak it, of an infantine misery; viz. 6. (Testy's Baby.) A dry wet-nurse. Well, but now to poor Tom's list, which, I see, he has entitled TEN SCHOOL-MISERIES. 7. (Tom T.) 1. Waking, in a bitter winter-morning, with the recollection that you are immediately to get up by candle-light, out of your snug warm bed, to shiver out to school, through the snow, for the purpose of being flogged as soon as you arrive. Eh, Sensitive ?---I don't think the blackest beard among us can go beyond that ?---This Misery is what I would call a mental cold pig. 8. (Tom T.) 2. Seeing the boy who is next above you flogged for a repetition, which you know you cannot say even half so well as he did. 9. (Tom T.) 3. At cricket-after a long and hard service of watching out,-bowled out at the first ball.Likewise, cricket on very sloppy ground, so that your hard ball presently becomes muddy, sappy, and rotten :-a jarring bat:—a right-hand bat for a left-handed player :-a hat, vice stumps. 10. (Tom T.) 4. Winding up a top badly grooved, so that the string bunches down over the peg; and, on your attempt to peg it down into the ring,-" volat vi fervidus axis:"-i. e. it flies into the eye of a playfellow. 11. (Tom T.) 5. Your hoop breaking, and then trundling lame, and perpetually tripping you up, as you boggle along with it;-the other boys, with good hoops, leaving you miles behind. 12. (Tom T.) 6. The stocking perpetually coming down as you run, and bagging below the shoe, so as to be trampled in the dirt, (all, by and bye, to be snugly buttoned to your flesh,) and throw you down:-no garters, except twine, which you are, at last, obliged to use, though it cuts to the bone. 13. (Tom T.) 7. Being obliged to take a severe licking from a boy twice as big, but not half so brave, as yourself; -then, flogged for fighting, because you, at first, aimed one blow, which, however, did not reach the long-armed rascal. 14. (Tom T.) 8. At dinner-the joint lasting only as low down as the boy immediately above you :-you are too stout to eat bread, and so go starved, and brokenhearted, into school. 15. (Tom T.) 9. Fagging for a niggardly glutton, who does not leave you even the scraps of what you have stolen and dressed for him. 16. (Tom T.) 10. Staying in on a whole holiday, for another boy's fault, falsely charged upon yourself:-very fine day; and the distant noise of all the other boys at play continually in your ears, as you mope, alone, in the house:— "Sternitur infelix alieno vulnere, coelumque Aspicit, et dulces moriens reminiscitur Argos." VIRG. Sen. Well said, my noble boy !—we will ་ |