d the limit of our
domain; beyond it we saw but thrice a week--once every Saturday
afternoon, when, attended by two ushers, we were permitted to take
brief walks in a body through some of the neighboring fields--and
twice during Sunday, when we were paraded in the same formal manner to
the morning and evening service in the one church of the village. Of
this church the principal of our school was pastor. With how deep a
spirit of wonder and perplexity was I wont to regard him from our
remote pew in the gallery, as, with step solemn and slow, he ascended
the pulpit! This reverend man with countenance so demurely benign,
with robes so glossy, and so clerically flowing, with wig so minutely
powdered, so rigid and so vast,--could this be he who, of late, with
sour visage, and in snuffy habiliments, administered, ferule in hand,
the Draconian Laws of the academy? Oh, gigantic paradox, too utterly
monstrous for solution! At an angle of the ponderous wall frowned a
more ponderous gate. It was riveted and studded with iron bolts, and
surmounted with jagged iron spikes. What impressions of deep awe did
it inspire! It was never opened save for the three periodical
egressions and ingressions already mentioned; then, in every creak of
its mighty hinges, we found a plenitude of mystery--a world of matter
for solemn remark, or for more solemn meditation. The extensive
inclosure was irregular in form, having many capacious recesses. Of
these, three or four of the largest constituted the play-ground. It
was level, and covered with fine hard gravel. I well remember it had
no trees, nor benches, nor anything similar within it. Of course it
was in the rear of the house. In front lay a small parterre, planted
with box and other shrubs; but through this sacred division we passed
only upon rare occasions indeed--such as a first advent to school or
final departure thence, or perhaps, when a parent or friend having
called for us, we joyfully took our way home for the Christmas or
Midsummer holidays. But the house!--how quaint an old building was
this!--to me how veritably a palace of enchantment! There was really
no end to its windings--to its incomprehensible subdivisions. It was
difficult, at any given time, to say with certainty upon which of its
two stories one happened to be. From each room to every other there
were sure to be found three or four steps either in ascent or