ture, some of the sprays having been gilded on the
previous day for presentation to the young lady.

There was another great day called the "Treasurer's holiday." Once a
year the one of the Governors, who held that office, was entitled to ask
the Head Master to give us a whole holiday, which he was always pleased
to grant. The custom was for one of the senior boys to call upon, or
write to, the Treasurer, usually after some period of extra hard
scholastic work, asking him to exercise this privilege. The way in which
these holidays were spent varied. Sometimes we had a "Paper Chase," or
"Fox and Hounds." One boy was sent out as fox, sometimes accompanied by
another boy, both carrying in bags a supply of paper, torn into small
shreds, which formed the scent. In this sport the Doctor sometimes
offered a reward of five shillings to the "fox" who should manage to
elude his pursuers until he had reached the bank of the river Witham, a
distance of about six miles, but increased to 10 or more miles by the
different ruses practised to escape capture; a similar reward being
offered to the "hound" who should effect his capture after a run of a
stipulated number of miles.

Sometimes we had a picnic to the Tower-on-the-Moor, going there on foot,
through "the Wilderness," and other woods, and having our luncheon
brought to the Tower in the carrier's cart, which passed daily on its way
to Kirkstead wharf. This was usually a bird-nesting excursion. More
than one of us accomplished the hazardous feat of climbing to the top of
the tower, whence a fine view could be obtained, on a favourable day,
across the Wash into Norfolk. On one of these occasions we extended our
ramble to Kirkstead wharf, some adventurous spirits took forcible
possession of the ferry boat, and carried over women returning home, with
their marketings, free of charge. The owner of the boat was, however,
compensated by our calling at his small hostel close by, and patronising
his lemonade, bread and cheese. Sometimes the excursion was to
Tattershall Castle, and if this was in the winter we skated there in the
morning, along the canal, returning on our "runners" by moonlight; the
Doctor being himself a good skater, encouraged it in his boys. On these
occasions we sometimes amused ourselves on the return journey by firing
pistols, to disturb the inhabitants of houses near the canal; when, if
anyone put his head out of a bedroom window, some one of us would sho