o a superior luminary. He was a magnificent paymaster to his
sneaks; and bound them to him with the strongest of all ties--his
purse-strings.

Mr. Moncton, allowed this lad a handsome sum monthly for his own
private expenses; and fond as he was of money, he never inquired of the
haughty arrogant boy, the manner in which he disposed of his
pocket-money. He might save or spend it as inclination prompted--he
considered it a necessary outlay to give his son weight and influence
with others; and never troubled himself about it again.

Theophilus soon won over Mr. Jones to his interest, by a few judicious
presents; while he fostered his dislike to me, by informing him of
circumstances regarding my birth and family, with which I never became
acquainted until some years afterwards. At this distance of time, I can
almost forgive Mr. Jones, for the indifference and contempt he felt for
his junior pupil.

Influenced by these feelings, he taught me as little as he could; but I
had a thirst for knowledge, and he could not hinder me from listening
and profiting by his instructions to my cousin. Fortunately for me,
Theophilus did not possess either a brilliant or inquiring mind.
Learning was very distasteful to him; and Mr. Jones had to repeat his
instructions so often, that it enabled me to learn them by heart. Mr.
Jones flattered and coaxed his indolent pupil; but could not induce him
to take any interest in his studies, so that I soon shot far ahead of
him, greatly to the annoyance of both master and pupil; the former
doing his best to throw every impediment in my way.

I resented the injustice of this conduct with much warmth, and told
him, "that I would learn in spite of him; I had mastered the first
rudiments of Latin and Mathematics, and I could now teach myself all I
wanted to know."

This boast was rather premature. I found the task of self-instruction
less easy than I anticipated. I was in Mr. Jones's power--and he meanly
withheld from me the books necessary to my further advancement. I now
found myself at a stand-still. I threatened Mr. Jones that I would
complain to my uncle of his unjustifiable conduct. The idea seemed
greatly to amuse him and my cousin--they laughed in my face, and dared
me to make the experiment.

I flew to my aunt.

She told me to be patient and conceal my resentment; and she would
supply the books and stationery I required, from her own purse.

I did not like this. I was a blunt straight-for