atisfactorily answered in the order named, I
would then say to him: "Ah, what a large sturdy lad we are becoming, to
be sure!" or "Heigho, then, soon we shall be ready to don long trousers,
shall we not?" And I would also be particular to enquire regarding the
health and well-being of his parents, and so on, and to ascertain how
many little brothers and little sisters he had, if any; usually coupling
these passing pleasantries with some quotation aimed to inspire him to
thoughtful reflections and worthy deeds. Yet to me it seemed that the
lads actually sought to avoid these casual intercourses.

Attributing this to the excusable timidity of the young, I persisted,
being determined to put myself on a footing of complete understanding
with them. I sought them out in their hours of relaxation, there being a
large vacant lot or enclosure adjacent to the parish house where they
were wont to meet and mingle freely in their customary physical
exercises and recreations. Here again, from time to time, I proffered
certain timely hints and admonitions for their better guidance.

For example, I sought to discourage the habit so prevalent among them of
indulging in shrill, indiscriminate outcry when moved by the excitement
of the moment. Repeatedly I advised them to practise in concert three
hearty cheers, these to be immediately followed, should the exuberance
of the occasion warrant, by a ringing tiger. This I recall was the
invariable habit of the playfellows described in such works as "Sanford
and Merton" and "Thomas Brown's Schooldays." I also urged on them the
substitution of the fine old English game of cricket for baseball, to
which I found them generally addicted. It is true I had never found
either opportunity or inclination for perfecting myself in one or both
of these games; but the pictured representations of cricket games, as
depicted in books or prints, showing the participants dotted about over
a smooth greensward, all attired in neat white flannels and all in
graceful attitudes, convinced me it must be a much more orderly and
consequently a more alluring pastime than the other.

To me, if I may venture to say so, baseball has ever seemed most untidy.
Personally I can imagine few things more unseemly than the act of
sliding through the dust in order the more expeditiously to attain a
given base or station; and even more objectionable, because so
exceedingly unhygienic, is the custom, common among these youthful
dev