row of teeth
white as ivory, and his mild blue eye was the _ne plus ultra_ of
beneficence. He was the beau-ideal of a preceptor, and it was
impossible to see him and hear his mild pleasing voice, without wishing
that all your sons were under his protection. He was a ripe scholar,
and a good one, and at the time we speak of had the care of upwards of
one hundred boys. He was celebrated for turning them out well, and many
of his pupils were rising fast in the senate, as well as distinguishing
themselves in the higher professions.

Dr Middleton, who was on intimate terms with Bonnycastle, rose as he
entered the room, and they shook hands. Middleton then turned to where
Jack sat, and pointing to him, said, "Look there."

Bonnycastle smiled. "I cannot say that I have had worse, but I have
almost as bad. I will apply the Promethean torch, and soon vivify that
rude mass. Come, sit down, Middleton."

"But," said the doctor, as he resumed his chair, "tell me, Bonnycastle,
how you will possibly manage to lick such a cub into shape, when you do
not resort to flogging?"

"I have no opinion of flogging, and therefore I do not resort to it.
The fact is, I was at Harrow myself, and was rather a pickle. I was
called up as often as most boys in the school, and I perfectly recollect
that eventually I cared nothing for a flogging. I had become
case-hardened. It is the least effective part that you can touch a boy
upon. It leaves nothing behind to refresh their memory."

"I should have thought otherwise."

"My dear Middleton, I can produce more effect by one caning than twenty
floggings. Observe, you flog upon a part for the most part quiescent;
but you cane upon all parts, from the head to the heels. Now, when once
the first sting of the birch is over, then a dull sensation comes over
the part, and the pain after that is nothing; whereas a good sound
caning leaves sores and bruises in every part, and on all the parts
which are required for muscular action. After a flogging, a boy may run
out in the hours of recreation, and join his playmates as well as ever,
but a good caning tells a very different tale; he cannot move one part
of his body without being reminded for days by the pain of the
punishment he has undergone, and he is very careful how he is called up
again."

"My dear sir, I really had an idea that you were excessively lenient,"
replied Middleton, laughing; "I am glad that I am under a mistake."

"Look a