spect; criticise. No, commence rather, if you please, with the
copy-book of Madelaine; then _p'oceed_ to the copy-book of Claude, and
finally conclude at the copy-book of Sidonie; thus rising by degrees:
good, more good, most good."

"How about," asked the stranger, with a smile, as he turned the
leaves, "about Toutou and Crebiche; don't they write?"

"Ah! sir," said Bonaventure, half to the stranger and half to the
assemblage, "they write, yes; but--they ah yet in the pot-hook and
chicken-track stage. And now, chil'run, in honor of our eminent
friend's visitation, and of the excellence with which you have been
examine', I p'onounce the _exhibition_ finish'--dispensing with
'Twink', twink' lil stah.' And now, in the book of the best writing
scholar in the school--you, sir, deciding that intricacy--shall now be
written the name of the eminent frien' of learning hereinbefo'
confronting.--Claude! a new pen!"

The stranger made his choice among the books.

"Chil'run, he has select' the book of Sidonie!" Bonaventure reached
and swung a chair into place at his desk. The visitor sat down.
Bonaventure stood over him, gazing down at the hand that poised the
pen. The silence was profound.

"Chil'run--sh-sh-sh!" said the master, lifting his left arm but not
his eyes. The stranger wrote a single initial.

"G! chil'run; G!--Sir, does it not signify George?"

"Yes," murmured the writer; "it stands for George." He wrote another.

"W! my chil'run; George W!--Sir, does it not sig--_My_ chil'run!
George Washington! George Washington, my chil'run! George Washington,
the father of his country! My chil'run and fellow-citizen' of Gran'
Point', he is nominated for George Washington, the father of his
country! Sir, ah you not a relation?"

"I really can't tell you," said the writer, with a calm smile. "I've
always been too busy to look it up." He finished his signature as he
talked. Bonaventure bent over it.

"Tar-box. Chil'run and friends and fellow-citizen', I have the
p'oudness to int'oduce you the hono'able George Washington Tarbox! And
now the exhibition is dismiss'; but stop! Sir, if some--aw all--desire
gratefully to shake hand'?"

"I should feel honored."

"Attention, everybody! Make rank! Everybody by two by two, the
school-chil'run coming last,--Claude and Sidonie resting till the
end,--pass 'round--shake hand'--walk out--similah a fu-nial."

So came, shook hands, and passed out and to their simple homes, the
manhood