Falling and driven and drifted
Into this dark world of ours.

DEFINITIONS.--1. Wold, a plain or open country, a country without wood
whether hilly or not. Spec'tral, ghostly. 2. Ban'ished, condemned to
exile, driven away.

LXXVIII. SQUEERS'S METHOD.

Charles Dickens (b. 1812, d. 1870). This celebrated novelist was born in
Portsmouth, England. He began his active life as a lawyer's apprentice, in
London; but soon became a reporter, and followed this occupation from 1831
to 1836. His first book was entitled "Sketches of London Society, by Boz."
In 1837 he published the "Pickwick Papers," a work which established his
reputation as a writer. His other works followed with great rapidity, and
his last, "Edwin Drood," was unfinished when he died. He visited America
in 1842 and in 1867. He is buried in Westminster Abbey. Mr. Dickens
excelled in humor and pathos, and was particularly successful in
delineating the joys and griefs of childhood. His writings have a tendency
to prompt to deeds of kindness and benevolence. The following extract is
taken from "Nicholas Nickleby," one of the best of his novels.

1. "Come," said Squeers, "let's go to the schoolroom; and lend me a hand
with my school coat, will you?"

Nicholas assisted his master to put on an old fustian shooting jacket,
which he took down from a peg in the passage; and Squeers, arming himself
with his cane, led the way across a yard to a door in the rear of the
house.

"There," said the schoolmaster, as they stepped in together; "this is our
shop, Nickleby."

2. It was such a crowded scene, and there were so many objects to attract
attention, that at first Nicholas stared about him, really without seeing
anything at all. By degrees, however, the place resolved itself into a
bare and dirty room with a couple of windows, whereof a tenth part might
be of glass, the remainder being stopped up with old copy books and paper.

3. There were a couple of long, old, rickety desks, cut and notched, and
inked and damaged in every possible way; two or three forms, a detached
desk for Squeers, and another for his assistant. The ceiling was supported
like that of a barn, by crossbeams and rafters, and the walls were so
stained and discolored that it was impossible to tell whether they had
ever been touched by paint or whitewash.

4. Pale and haggard faces, lank and bony figures, children with the
countenances of old men, deformities with irons upon their lim