ve
been natural; and yet he was truly sorry to part from his friends and
schoolfellows, and from the old familiar scenes he had known so long.
He had, however, plenty of work to keep his mind employed. There were
examinations to be gone through, speeches to be made, and prizes to be
bestowed. The parents of the boys, and the residents in the
neighbourhood who took an interest in the school, were invited to
attend. All the examinations which admitted of it were _viva voce_, and
took place in the lecture-halls, to which the visitors repaired as they
felt interested in the subject, or in the boys who were undergoing their
examinations. Several people followed Ernest through the whole course
of his examinations, and were much struck by the clear, ready way in
which he replied to all the questions put to him, and the evidence he
gave of having entirely mastered all the subjects he had studied. All
those capable of judging were convinced that, numerous as were the
subjects he had studied, he was in no way crammed, but was thoroughly
grounded in them all.

After the examinations, the visitors and the boys assembled under a
large awning, which had been spread for the purpose. At one end was a
raised platform, where several of the most influential gentlemen, many
of them clergymen, and others, as well as the head-master, took their
seats with the boys of the first class, while the rest were arranged
below. First an oration was spoken by several boys, candidates for a
prize, to be bestowed on the best orator. Ernest, Buttar, Ellis, and
several others tried for it. All spoke well, but Ernest was found to
have double as many votes as any other boy. Then the gentleman who had
been placed in the chair got up, and expressed his approbation of the
system on which the school was managed, and his satisfaction at finding
the very great progress it had made; and he concluded--"I consider those
boys truly fortunate who are under such a master, and in so delightful
an abode." Then the names of the boys who had gained prizes were called
over, and one after the other, with looks of satisfaction, ascended the
platform to receive them. Ernest came down literally loaded with
prizes. He looked surprised as well as pleased. He was first in
everything. The reason that he was so was simple enough. He had
bestowed the same attention and energy on all the subjects he had
studied; he had given them his entire mind; all his talents had be