he first time, and a watch
in his pocket. _In_ his pocket, did I say? I was hardly ever so lucky.
Every five minutes he whipped me out to see how the time was going. If
he polished me up once with his handkerchief, he did it twenty times,
and each time with such vigour that I was nearly red-hot under the
operation. And no sooner was he tired of polishing me, than he took to
paying his hat the same attention, till that wretched article of
decoration must have trembled for its nap. Then he would take to
whistling and singing (what boy can help doing one or the other in a
train?) and as I heard all his little artless songs and gay chirping, I
thought it the pleasantest music one could possibly listen to. And, not
to let his hands be less busy than his throat, he would bring out the
wonderful six-bladed knife his uncle had given him, and exploring all
its wonders, and opening all its blades at the same time, together with
the corkscrew, the gimlet, the pincers, and the button-hook, at
different angles, would terrify the lives out of his fellow-passengers
by twirling the awful bristling weapon in his fingers within a foot or
so of their faces.

"Mind, dear," said an old lady on the seat opposite, "you'll cut your
fingers off, I'm certain."

"Oh, no, I won't," exclaimed he, taking out his handkerchief, and
beginning to polish the blades one after another.

The old lady trembled as she watched him, and sighed with relief when
the operation was over.

Presently, having nothing particular to do, he stared at her. "Would
you like to know the time, ma'am?" he inquired.

"If you please," replied the good old soul.

"Well, it's just seventeen minutes and nineteen seconds past three by my
watch. Would you like to see for yourself, ma'am?"

And, pleased to have a confidant of his possessions, he loosed my chain,
and flourished me bodily before the eyes of his new friend.

She took me kindly, and said, "What a fine watch you've got, dear?"

"Yes," replied he, with lofty condescension; "like to see his works?"

"You should be careful, you know," she said, "watches so easily get out
of order."

"Oh, I won't hurt it," said he, proceeding to take off my coat and
waistcoat. "There! there are his works. Don't breathe hard, or you'll
damp them."

So the old lady held her breath and peeped in, much to my young master's
gratification.

"And so you're going to school, my man?" said she presently.

"Yes; who told you!