Middleton
was a clever, sensible man, who had no wish to impose upon any one. As
for his taking a guinea for putting on a piece of sticking-plaster, his
conscience was very easy on that score. His time was equally valuable,
whether he were employed for something or nothing; and, moreover, he
attended the poor gratis. Constantly in the house, he had seen much of
Mr John Easy, and perceived that he was a courageous, decided boy, of a
naturally good disposition; but from the idiosyncrasy of the father and
the doting folly of the mother, in a sure way of being spoiled. As
soon, therefore, as the lady was out of hearing, he took a chair, and
made the query at the commencement of the chapter, which we shall now
repeat.

"Have you no idea of putting the boy to school, Mr Easy?"

Mr Easy crossed his legs, and clasped his hands together over his
knees, as he always did when he was about to commence an argument.

"The great objection that I have to sending a boy to school, Dr
Middleton, is, that I conceive that the discipline enforced is, not only
contrary to the rights of man, but also in opposition to all sound sense
and common judgment. Not content with punishment, which is in itself
erroneous and an infringement of social justice, they even degrade the
minds of the boys still more by applying punishment to the most degraded
part, adding contumely to tyranny. Of course it is intended that a boy
who is sent to school should gain by precept and example but is he to
learn benevolence by the angry look and the flourish of the vindictive
birch--or forbearance by the cruelty of the ushers--or patience, when
the masters over him are out of all patience--or modesty, when his
nether parts are exposed to general examination? Is he not daily
reading a lesson at variance with that equality which we all possess,
but of which we are unjustly deprived? Why should there be a
distinction between the flogger and the flogged? Are they not both
fashioned alike after God's image, endowed with the same reason, having
an equal right to what the world offers, and which was intended by
Providence to be equally distributed? Is it not that the sacred
inheritance of all, which has tyrannously and impiously been ravished
from the many for the benefit of the few, and which ravishment, from
long custom of iniquity and inculcation of false precepts, has too long
been basely submitted to? Is it not the duty of a father to preserve
his only son