2 Chapter 2

is absolutely necessary, as you will soon learn; and he who cannot obey will never be fit to command. As to your studies, your father will doubtless look after your navigation; and I will write to him and tell him what other subjects will, in my opinion, best repay your continued attention. Now I do not suppose you can pay much attention to your work, so you may tell Mr. Stone that as you are going to leave us so soon, I have excused you from further attendance in the school-room, and you may gather all your things together, in readiness for packing up."

"Thank you, sir," I said; and then, nerved to boldness by the kindness of Mr. Poynter's manner, I begged that he would grant my comrades a holiday.

"That's a big request, Baldwin. You must remember that they are not all going to sea, and have to fit themselves by study for their future callings; besides, in three weeks the examination takes place, and they want every moment to prepare themselves, so that they may do credit to the school before the examiners."

"Yes, sir; but if I leave in two days I shall not be able to play in the cricket-match between the first eleven and the next fifteen, while if you gave us a holiday to-morrow we could play then."

"That is, no doubt, a most important matter in your mind, but it is not so important to me. However, I will think about it. Now I have lots to do, so you must run away.{16}"

I left the study rather slowly, and was almost about to urge my request again, when Mr. Poynter said, "Remember obedience;" and I at once saw that the ultimate granting of the holiday would depend on my being promptly obedient, and left without saying another word.

Old Abe was by the double doors to let me back into the school, and I said,—

"All right, old Abe; there are no more lessons for me."

He looked at me and smiled, and answered,—

"No more lessons! why, my poor lad, you will find that all this life is one long lesson. You will have many a one to learn which will not be so easy as the tasks which they set you here. Now Mr. Stone won't want you in the schoolroom, I'll warrant; so if you go and tell him what the head has said, and then come back to me, I'll just help you to get your box up, ready to pack your clothes and things in."

I thought this was very good of old Abe, and did not think that all the boxes had to be got from the cellar, where they were kept by old Abe and his assistants. I went into the classroom, where I went up to Mr. Stone and said,—

"Please, sir, the head-master has told me I need do no more lessons, but that I may begin to get my things together, ready for going away."

"Going away, are you! that is why you were so inattentive this morning, I suppose.{17}"

"Yes, sir. My brother Willie is coming for me the day after to-morrow, and I am to go to sea with him and my father in the Petrel."

"Very well, my lad; but you must not make a noise here, for there are boys who are not going to sea. So get away, and you can tell all about it when we come out of school at half-past twelve. Now don't speak to any one, but go at once."

I remembered "obedience," and did as I was told. Leaving the room, I found old Abe waiting for me with the key of the cellar, and followed him down, and soon found my box, which with him I carried up into the dormitory which I shared with nine of my school-fellows. Here I found the matron and one of the maids busy getting my clothes ready for packing up.

When the matron, Mrs. Stevens, saw Abe and me carrying in my box, she said,—

"Now, Abe, don't you know how particular Mr. Poynter is that none of the young gentlemen should carry their boxes about?"

"Why, ma'am," he answered, "Master Baldwin's going to sea, and he'll have more hard work to do than help an old man to carry an empty box."

"That will do, Abe. Mind, if I find you disobeying orders again, I shall tell Mr. Poynter.—Now, Master Baldwin, I do not think you can be any use here. I will leave out your best suit for you to go away in, and will have a place for your books. You had better go to the room and get all your belongings together in the{18} way of bats and balls, and pack them in your play-box."

Old Abe and I left the room at once, and he said to me,—

"Now that's done. She can't abear an old man getting a bit of help. But, Master Baldwin, there are your rabbits and pigeons. Now, there's not a boy among them all who takes care of their pets like you do. I wonder what will become of them!"

I certainly was flattered by what old Abe said, for I believed my white Himalayan rabbits, with their black noses and ears, and my pair of tumbler pigeons, to be the best of all the pets which were kept by the boys in the school playground; and I also prided myself that the rabbit-hutch and dove-cot, which I had made with my own hands, were superior to the various receptacles of the pets of my schoolfellows. I therefore fell into the trap which he had set for me.

"Why, Abe, I don't know. There's Jones Major, he has some pigeons, and looks well after them; and Brown too, he has lost his two carriers; and Smith, he has been wanting to buy my rabbits this long time."

"Surely, sir, a gentleman like you, a-leaving school and going to sea, and all, can't be thinking of selling his rabbits. Sailors are fine generous fellows, and they always give away things. I mind one I saw not a fortnight agone as gave an old man a ten-shilling bit. But don't you be after giving them lovely rabbits to that young Smith; he don't know how to feed or look{19} after them, and they'll be dead in a week with him. And as for Master Brown, it's my opinion he kept his carriers so dirty and half-starved, that when he let them out they made up their minds not to come back again. Now, sir, I could keep them nicely. I do love a good pigeon and a handsome rabbit; and I can warrant you that they'd be well taken care of."

I had certainly had an idea of selling both pigeons and rabbits to pay some small schoolboy debts; but I felt my character as a generous sailor was at stake, and not to be outdone by the anonymous sailor who gave an old man a ten-shilling bit, I gave rabbits and pigeons to old Abe. He then asked me to come and look at my boots and shoes, and would soon have begged all from me if Mrs. Stevens had not arrived upon the scene and sent him about his work, grumbling sadly at being sent away from a young gentleman whom he always said "was the nicest lad he had ever set his eyes on."

Mrs. Stevens told me I must learn not to be taken in; and when I said I had given my rabbits and pigeons to old Abe because he would look after them, she said, "Why, you must be foolish. Master Baldwin. He will sell them before you have left the place."