way seventeen ushers and
second-masters in eleven years, and half as many French masters, I
suppose, since the departure of her FAVORITE, M. Grinche, with her gold
watch, &c.; but this is only surmise--that is, from hearsay, and from
Miss Rosa taunting her aunt, as she does sometimes, in her graceful way:
but besides this, I have another way of keeping her in order.

Whenever she is particularly odious or insolent to Miss Raby, I have but
to introduce raspberry jam into the conversation, and the woman holds
her tongue. She will understand me. I need not say more.

NOTE, 12th December. I MAY speak now. I have left the place and
don't mind. I say then at once, and without caring twopence for the
consequences, that I saw this woman, this MOTHER of the boys, EATING JAM
WITH A SPOON OUT OF MASTER WIGGINS'S TRUNK IN THE BOX-ROOM: and of this
I am ready to take an affidavit any day.

A TRAGEDY.

THE DRAMA OUGHT TO BE REPRESENTED IN ABOUT SIX ACTS.

[The school is hushed. LAWRENCE the Prefect, and Custos of the rods, is
marching after the DOCTOR into the operating-room. MASTER BACKHOUSE is
about to follow.]

Master Backhouse.--It's all very well, but you see if I don't pay you
out after school--you sneak you!

Master Lurcher.--If you do I'll tell again. [Exit BACKHOUSE.

[The rod is heard from the adjoining apartment.
Hwish--hwish--hwish--hwish--hwish--hwish--hwish! [Re-enter BACKHOUSE.

BRIGGS IN LUCK.

Enter the Knife-boy.--Hamper for Briggses! Master Brown.--Hurray, Tom
Briggs! I'll lend you my knife.

If this story does not carry its own moral, what fable does, I wonder?
Before the arrival of that hamper, Master Briggs was in no better repute
than any other young gentleman of the lower school; and in fact I had
occasion myself, only lately, to correct Master Brown for kicking his
friend's shins during the writing-lesson. But how this basket, directed
by his mother's housekeeper and marked "Glass with care," (whence I
conclude that it contains some jam and some bottles of wine, probably,
as well as the usual cake and game-pie, and half a sovereign for the
elder Master B., and five new shillings for Master Decimus Briggs)--how,
I say, the arrival of this basket alters all Master Briggs's
circumstances in life, and the estimation in which many persons regard
him!

If he is a good-hearted boy, as I have reason to think, the very first
thing he will do, before inspecting the contents of the hamper, o