SO LONG A JOURNEY, I AM BOUND "'PRENTICE
TO A WATERMAN."

Ignorant of what had passed, I slept soundly; and the next morning found
the matron very grave with me, which I did not comprehend. The Dominie
also took no notice of my morning salute: but supposing him to be wrapt
in Euclid at the time, I thought little of it. The breakfast passed
over, and the bell rang for school. We were all assembled; the Dominie
walked in with a very magisterial air, followed by Mr Knapps, who,
instead of parting company when he arrived at his own desk, continued
his course with the Dominie to his pulpit. We all knew that there was
something in the wind; but of all, perhaps, I was the least alarmed.
The Dominie unfolded his large handkerchief, waved it, and blew his
nose, and the school was into profound silence. "Jacob Faithful, draw
near," said he, in a tone which proved that the affair was serious. I
drew near, wondering. "Thou hast been accused by Mr Knapps of
caricaturing, and holding up to the ridicule of the school, me--thy
master. Upon any other boy such disrespect should be visited severely;
but from thee, Jacob, I must add in the words of Caesar, `_Et tu
Brute_,' I expected, I had a right to expect, otherwise. _In se animi
ingrati crimen vitia omnia condit_. Thou understandest me, Jacob--
guilty or not guilty?"

"Not guilty, sir," replied I, firmly.

"He pleadeth net guilty, Mr Knapps; proceed, then, to prove thy
charge."

Mr Knapps then went to his desk, and brought out the drawings with
which he had been supplied by Barnaby Bracegirdle and the other boys.
"These drawings, sir, which you will please to look over, have all been
given up to me as the performance of Jacob Faithful. At first I could
not believe it to be true; but you will perceive, at once, that they are
all by the same hand."

"That I acknowledge," said the Dominie; "and all reflect upon my nose.
It is true that my nose is of large dimensions, but it was the will of
Heaven that I should be so endowed; yet are the noses of these figures
even larger than mine own could warrant, if the limner were correct, and
not malicious. Still have they merit," continued the Dominie, looking
at some of them; and I heard a gentle _cluck, cluck_, in his throat, as
he laughed at his own mis-representations. "_Artis adumbratae meruit
cum sedula laudem_, as Prudentius hath it. I have no time to finish the
quotation."

"Here is one drawing, sir," continued Mr Knapp