ere's nothing like coming to school--you've learn't
manners already; and now, to go back again, as to why Johnny Target had
the rap on the head, which brought tears into his eyes? I'll just tell
you, it was for talking; you see, the first thing for a boy to learn, is
to hold his tongue, and that shall be your lesson for the day; you'll
just sit down there and if you say one word during the whole time you
are in the school, it will end in a blow-up; that means, on the present
occasion, that I'll skin you alive as they do the eels, which being
rather keen work, will just suit your constitution." I had wit enough
to feel assured that Mr O'Gallagher was not to be trifled with, so I
took my seat, and amused myself with listening to the various lessons
which the boys came up to say, and the divers punishments inflicted--few
escaped. At last, the hour of recreation and dinner arrived, the boys
were dismissed, each seized his basket, containing his provisions, or
ran home to get his meal with his parents: I found myself sitting in the
school-room _tete-a-tete_ with Mr O'Gallagher, and feeling very well
inclined for my dinner I cast a wistful eye at my basket, but I said
nothing; Mr O'Gallagher, who appeared to have been in thought, at last
said--

"Mr Keene, you may now go out of school, and scream till you're hoarse,
just to make up for lost time."

"May I take my dinner, sir?" inquired I.

"Is it your dinner you mane?--to be sure you may; but, first, I'll just
look into the basket and its contents; for you see, Mr Keene, there's
some victuals that don't agree with larning; and if you eat them, you'll
not be fit for your work when your play-hours are over. What's easy of
digestion will do; but what's bad for little boys' stomachs may get you
into a scrape, and then it will end in a blow-up; that is, you'll have a
taste of the ferrule or the rod--two assistants of mine, to whom I've
not yet had the pleasure of introducing you--all in good time. If what
I've hear of you be true, you and they will be better acquainted afore
long."

Mr O'Gallagher then examined the contents of my basket; my aunt Milly
had taken care that I should be well provided: there was a large paper
of beef sandwiches, a piece of bread and cheese, and three or four
slices of seed-cake. Mr O'Gallagher opened all the packages, and,
after a pause, said--

"Now, Master Keene, d'ye think you would ever guess how I came by all my
larning, and what I fed