those awe-inspiring
personages, termed in those days the school-trustees, and any other
friends of the school who might chance to be present. We all, even to
the teacher, had our fears lest Ned (who had not yet entirely
discontinued the practice) should give some of his comical answers when
questioned by our visitors; but the day came, and with it the
school-trustees and a number of other friends. The classes were first
examined in reading and spelling; and Ned acquitted himself much better
than we had dared to hope; and we began to think he might pass the
afternoon without making any serious blunder. After the reading and
spelling lessons, the class was summoned for examination in Geography.
Elated by his success in reading and spelling, Ned took his place with a
pompous consequential manner, as if expecting to win countless laurels
for his proficiency. He got along very well till some one put the
question, "What may the Island of Australia properly be called on
account of its vast size?" "One of the Pyramids," answered Ned in a loud
confident voice. The gentleman who was questioning us looked astounded,
and there fell an awkward silence, which was only broken by the
half-smothered laughter of the others in the class. The teacher wishing
to get over the matter in some way, at length said, "I am surprised,
Edward, that you should give so senseless an answer to so simple a
question." Now, one very striking peculiarity in Ned's character was his
unwillingness to acknowledge himself in the wrong, however ridiculous
his answer might be; and he was disposed to argue his point up on this
occasion. "Any way," said he, "the Pyramids are large, and so is
Australia; and I thought it might sometimes be called a pyramid for
convenience of description." The idea of Ned entering into an argument
with the trustees of the school, struck the rest of the boys as so
extremely ludicrous, that our long pent-up mirth found vent in a burst
of laughter through the whole class, and no one present had the heart to
chide us; for it was with intense difficulty that the elderly gentlemen
maintained their own gravity. The teacher was obliged to exercise his
authority before Ned could be silenced; and the remaining part of the
examination proved rather a failure. I know not how it happened, but
from that day there was a marked improvement in Edward Barton, in every
respect. He attended the school for two years; and when he left us it
was to accompany