Grandmother Dear: A Book for Boys and Girls

ike thee, D

why I can

Rh

kept her promise. That e

Jack and his younger brother Carlo, as somehow he had got to be

ia to Ralph and Molly; "you see grandmother's written it out like a regular stor

to see what all the

er, we'll be quite quiet now,"

when these same delightful holidays had begun. Jack had not very many more half-years to look forward to: he was to be a soldier, and before long must leave Ryeburn in preparation for what was before him, for he was fifteen past. Carlo was only thirteen and small of his age. He had known what it was to be homesick, even at Ryeburn, more than three years ago, when he had first come there. But with a big brother-above all a big brother like Jack, great strong fellow that he was, with the kindest of hearts for anything small or weak-

ou of, and that was the absence of a favourite master-one of the younger ones-who, an unexpe

ave instead of Wyngate,' said Jack to Carlo

ertain,' said Carlo, lugubriously. 'There

e usual legendary caution as to 'chumming' with them, till it should be proved what manner of persons they were; the adventures of the holidays to retail to one's special cronies; the anticipated triumphs in cricket and football and paper-chases of the forthcoming 'half' to discuss. Jac

ay their books, which they were arranging for next morning. His manner was short but ill-assured

idiot!' mu

frog!' sa

said Jack, looking up from

a tall boy beside him, who had arrived the day bef

said Jack quietly; 'perhap

Sawyer!' called out the boy, caring little apparently whether Mr. Sawy

k it in g

him,' he said. 'All I say is, wait a bit till you see wha

ey're not in his favour

, in which the boys saw nothing but cause for ridicule. He did not understand his pupils, and still less did they understand him. But all the same he was a capital teacher, patient and painstaking to the last degree, clear-headed himself, and with a great power, when he forgot his nervousness in the interest of his su

curred to shake Jack's opinion that not improbably the new master was better than his looks. But Sawyer was shy and reserved; he liked Jack, and was in his heart grateful to him for his respectful and friendly behaviour, and for the good example he thereby set to his companions, only, unfortunately, the junior master was no hand at expressing his appreciation of such conduct. Unfortunately too, Jack's lesso

ould say. 'He's a mean sneak, and thinks he can bully you without y

efield, a delicate and precocious boy, was the cleverest pupil in the school, his tasks always faultlessly prepared, and his power of taking in what he was taught wond

tended-believed indee

awyer's uncompromising censure exposed him, little imagining that the fault-finding was far more painful to the teacher than to himself, that the short, unsympathising manner in which it wa

s real feelings towards him arose the first clou

erning the younger boys, which came under the junior master's direction, and of them all, none was more universally practised than the feat of what was called 'jumping the bar.' The 'bar,'-short in reality for 'barrier,'-was a railing of five or six feet high, placed so as to prevent any of the junior boys, who were late in the morning, from getting round by a short cut to the chapel, where prayers we

onscientious to the last degree, but inexperienced. And I, being only an old woman, and never having been at school at all, do not feel myself able to give an opinion upon this or many other matters of which I, like poor Mr. Sawyer, have no experience. I

kingly one day, that he would take it as a personal favour, if, for once, Carlo would gratify him by coming to chapel by the regular entrance. As for being blamed for his bar-jumping, such an idea never entered Carlo's head; he would almost as soon have expected to be blamed for eating his breakfast, and, naturally enough, when Mr. Sawyer's reign began, it never occurred to him to alter his conduct. For some time things went on as usual, Mr.

rky fashion, 'that is not the proper way

od joke, after the manner of Mr

ed mischievously, 'I

e sometimes did when more nervous than usual, 'then will

y the next morning all remembrance of the junior master's remonstrance had faded from Carlo's thoughtless brain. Again he went bar-jumping to chapel, and this time no Mr. Sawyer

'have you forgotten what I sai

ade no difference, considering that he had never had the slightest intention of taking any notice of

I did or not. But I have always come this way

dly than he had ever been known to speak, 'and that is t

s next morning he happened to be in particularly good time he went round the proper way. The day after, however, he was late, decidedly late for once, and, throwing to the winds all considera

eyed me again. If this happens once m

at him in bl

eburn parlance meant a formal complaint to the head-master, when a boy had been convicted of aggravated disobedience to the juniors. And its results were very severe; it entirely prevented

port

o do it, but if you continue to diso

with his tale of wrongs. The

im dare to do such

u,' said another. 'Anything rather th

of forcible language, his brother's woes were related. Jack's fir

as report you for nothing worse

lo shook

lied. 'I believe he'll do it fast enough

pite him,' and as Carlo made no reply, the elder brother went away, satisfied that his

ole affair over again in their own fashion and according to their own lights-the result being that the following m

e speedily did, he was at first ver

ted accordingly, and not trusted to his good feeling or good nature. But in his heart of hearts Jack did not believe the threat would be carried out, and, unknown to Carlo, he did for his brother what he would never have done for himself. As soon as morning school was

d any effect, Jack, at that time at least, had not the satisfaction

her, Berkeley, but what I have done I believe

crossed the threshold one word of unutterable contempt fell from between

aster was over; and throughout the school he was never spoke

it was managed I cannot exactly say, but Carlo was let off with a reprimand, and n

no doubt he took it in good part. For it was not zeal which actuated him-it was simple conscientiousness, misdirected perhaps by his inexperience. He could not endure hurting any o

regarded became more apparent. Yet he did not resent it-he worked on, hoping that in time it might be overcome,

posed of the boys felt ashamed of the tacit disrespect with which one so enduring and

ys, among them Jack, could hope to be present. Fireworks committees were formed and treasurers appointed, and nothing else was spoken of but the sums collected and promised, and the apportionment thereof in Catherine wheels, Chinese dragons, and so on. Jack was one of

o pounds more; we'd d

her, running his eye down the lists. 'Bless me, S

' said the first boy, s

thought st

's been very civil of late-I rather think he'd be glad of an opportunity to do something obliging to make up for that mean t

he had happened to be standing beside Mr. Sawyer, who, with an eager face, opened one that was handed to him. He was nervous as usual, more nervous than

it up and handed it to its owner-it had been impossible for him not to see what he did, but he had thought no more about it, beyond a passing wonder in his o

usness of his own magnanimity in 'giving old Sawyer a chance again,' that Jack m

painful eagerness the junior master bade him welcome; he liked Jack so much, and would so have rejoiced could the attraction have been mutual. And this was the first time that Jack had voluntarily sought Mr. Sawyer in his own quarters since the bar-jumping affair.

ew what it was to be a boy myself, and therefore I suppose I don't understand boys. But if they could but see i

m accordingly. But those eyes are not ours in early life, more especially in boy-life. We must have our powers of mental vision quickened and cleared by the magic dew of sad experience-experience which alone can give sympathy worth havin

things, with no beating about the bush. 'We've asked all the other masters, and every one in the school has subscribed, and I was to tell you, sir, from the c

erceptions were almost abnormally sharp; he read between the lines of Jack's rough-and-ready, boy-like manner, and understood perfectly that here was a chance for him-a chance

rimson wit

our request. At this moment unfortunately, I am very peculiarly out of pocket. Stay,'-with a momentary gl

own mind pronounced a final verdict upon Mr. Sawyer, already he had begun to tell himself what a fool he had been for having anythi

but decidedly. 'Half-a-crown, or five shillings perhaps, if you would take it,' he added hesitatingly, but stopped

a boy that I might speak out. I couldn't help seeing what came to you by post this morning-you know I couldn't-and yet on the face of that you tell me you're too hard-up to do what I came to ask like a gentleman-and

rath left the under-master, muttering again betw

erstood him too well to feel the indignation a more superficial person would have done at his passionate outburst, had it in his heart to take the hasty, impulsive, generous-spirited lad into his co

say to Sawyer that he could help, and that was all. He entered into no particulars, but there are occasions on which silence says more than words, and from

up,' he said. 'And both for myself and the boys the sooner the better, before there is any overt disrespect which would have to be noticed. It is no

n the neighbourhood, who had undertaken to fill for a few weeks the under-master's vacant place. The occurrence made some sensation-it was unusual for any change of the kind to take place during a term. 'Was Sawyer il

requested the head-master to supply his place and le

them. Not one syllable of complaint had fallen from the junior master's lips. He had simply repe

I shall say nothing to get any of

t no public intimation of hi

he Berkeley brothers. Late one cold evening, for winter had set in very early that ye

ken a good way with you boys, somehow, and-and the prejudice against me has been very strong. But some day-when you are older perhaps, you may com

f evil had taken possession of Jack-a

taking any notice of the out-stretched hand, and Carlo, ec

, very early the next morning he was up and on the watch. There was snow on

e its appearance, little imagining that not by the comfortable express, but third class in a slow 'parliamentary' Mr. Sawyer's journey was to be accomplished. And, when at la

, 'and I am sorry I didn't shake hands last night. And-and

ened as he shook the sma

id earnestly, how much I th

riosity, half by way of breaking the melancholy of the parti

ox by the carrier last Saturday. It would have been rather too big to carry.' He spoke in his usual commonplace

s intense determination to be above such weakness, stood watching the dark figure, c

about him,' he said to himsel

himself were glad, oh so glad, that he had 'come' that

N, MY BOY, AND