s the strength
and help of all His people, it is dedicated.

"Be Thou alone exalted:
If there's a thought of favor placed on me--
THINE be it all!
Forgive its evil and accept its good--
I cast it at Thy feet."

E.J.M.

CHAPTER I.

Doleful were the accounts received from time to time of Louis Mortimer's
life with his tutor at Dashwood Rectory; and, if implicit credence might
be yielded to them, it would be supposed that no poor mortal was ever so
persecuted by Latin verses, early rising, and difficult problems, as our
hero. His eldest brother, to whom these pathetic relations were made,
failed not to stimulate him with exciting passages of school life--and
these, at last, had the desired effect, drawing from Louis the following
epistle:

"My dear Reginald,

"Your letter was as welcome as usual. You cannot imagine what
a treat it is to hear from you. Mr. Phillips is kind, but so
very different from dear Mr. Daunton. What I dislike most is,
that he says so often, 'What _did_ Mr. Daunton teach you? I
never saw a boy so ignorant in my life!' I do not care how
much he says of me, but I cannot bear to hear him accuse dear
Mr. Daunton of not teaching me properly. I believe I am really
idle often, but sometimes, when I try most, it seems to give
least satisfaction. The other day I was busy two hours at
some Latin verses, and I took so much pains with them--I had
written an 'Ode to the Rising Sun,' and felt quite interested,
and thought Mr. Phillips would be pleased; but when I took it
to him, he just looked at it, and taking a pen dashed out word
after word, and said, so disagreeably, 'Shocking! Shocking,
Louis! Disgraceful, after all that I said yesterday--the pains
that I took with you,' 'Indeed, sir,' I said, 'I tried a great
deal,' 'Fine ideas! fine ideas! no doubt,' he said, 'but I have
told you dozens of times that I do not want _ideas_--I want
_feet_.' I wish those same feet would run away to Clifton with
me, Reginald; I hope I have not been saying any thing wrong
about Mr. Phillips--I should be very sorry to do so, for he
is very kind in his way: he tells me I do not know what I am
wishing for, and that school will not suit me, and a great deal
about my having to fag much harder and getting into disgrace;
but never mind, I should like to m