down with the head up. It was considered low by the
big boys to employ halfpence on such occasions. Blackall looked daggers
at his opponent. Bracebridge took the ball, and placed it about a third
of the distance away from his line. His side were arranged behind and
on either hand of him. He planted his feet firmly, and lifting his
stick above his head, cried "Play!" and, looking first at the point to
which he intended to send it, gave a steady blow to the ball. Blackall
and his side watched its approach, and rushed forward "to take it up,"
or, in other words, to impede its progress, and to send it back in the
direction whence it had come. They were boldly met by Ernest's party,
who once more "took up" the ball and drove it energetically back.

All Ernest's party were young boys. Few were more than a year or two
older than he was, and scarcely any were taller or more active; indeed,
he was the acknowledged best player of his set. On Blackall's side, on
the contrary, were a number of big fellows, and all those who had
undertaken to act as fags, as well as other hangers-on and chums of the
big fellows, patronised especially by them because they were well
supplied by injudicious friends at home with hampers of cakes and game,
and hams and tongues. I've heard people say, "I'll send poor Tom a
basket of good things, because it will enable him to gain the friendship
of some of the bigger boys." Now, I will tell those silly friends that
it will do no such thing. It will make some of the worst boys make up
to him as long as his grub lasts, or while they think that he is likely
to get any more; but they will do him much more harm than good, and
their friendship he will not get. No; send a boy to school fitted as
much as he can be, and let him win friends and work his way onward by
his own intrinsic merits; but never let him think of buying favour with
gifts of any sort. But we are in the middle of a game of hockey. It
was, however, necessary to explain the class of boys who were ranged on
either side. Those hockey-sticks looked formidable weapons as they were
flourished about in the hands of the opposing parties. Again Blackall's
party met the ball; a dozen hockey-sticks were at it, and one boy,
calling off the others, struck it so clear a blow that he nearly sent it
up to the goal across Ernest's line. However, he, Buttar, Bouldon, and
some other of the most fearless and active boys rushed at it with their
stic