assistance. At last, he cried in a tone of apparent
distress: 'Come here, mun, an' help us, an' as sure as onything, I'll
give ye half I get.' This last solicitation had the desired effect. The
Duke went and lent a helping hand. 'And now,' said the Duke, as they
trudged along, 'how much do you think you will get for this job?' 'Oh,
dinna ken,' said the boy, 'but I am sure o' something, for the folk up at
the house are good to a' bodies.' As they approached the house, the Duke
darted from the boy, and entered by a different way. He called a
servant, and put a sovereign into his hand, saying, 'Give that to the boy
that has brought the cow.' The Duke returned to the avenue, and was soon
rejoined by the boy. 'Well, how much did you get?' said the Duke. 'A
shilling,' said the boy, 'an' there's the half o't to ye.' 'But, surely,
you got more than a shilling,' said the Duke. 'No,' said the boy, with
the utmost earnestness, 'as sure's death, that's a' I got--an' d'ye not
think it's a plenty?' 'I do not,' said the Duke; 'there must be some
mistake; and, as I am acquainted with the Duke, if you return, I think
I'll get you more.' The boy consented; back they went. The Duke rang
the bell, and ordered all the servants to be assembled. 'Now,' said the
Duke to the boy, 'point out the person who gave you the shilling.' 'It
was that chap, there, with the apron,' pointing to the butler. The
delinquent confessed, fell on his knees, and attempted an apology; but
the Duke interrupted him, indignantly ordered him to give the boy the
sovereign, and quit his service instantly. 'You have lost,' said the
Duke, 'your money, your situation, and your character, by your
covetousness; learn, henceforth, that honesty is the best policy.' The
boy, by this time, recognised his assistant, in the person of the Duke,
and the Duke was so delighted with the sterling worth and honesty of the
boy, that he ordered him to be sent to school, kept there, and provided
for at his own expense."

Eton "Montem" was abolished this year. It was a triennial custom, and
had for its purpose the presentation of a sum of money to the Captain of
the school on his departure to the University. Every third year, on
Whitsun Tuesday, some of the Eton boys, clad in fancy costume (as is here
given from the Montem of 1844), went to Salt Hill, and the neighbourhood
generally, and levied contributions, or "Salt," from all passers-by. The
custom led to grave abuses