me. Charles Lamb, who tells the story, which is a true one,
was himself one of these Bluecoat boys. Among his schoolfellows was
this boy, my present moral hero. He was dull and taciturn, and no
favourite with the other lads; but no one could bring any charge of
improper conduct against him. There was one thing, however, about him
which none of the other boys could understand. He always lingered
behind all the rest after dinner was over, and came out of the dining-
hall hiding something under his dress, and looking about him
suspiciously. What did it mean? Had he an unnaturally large appetite,
so that he was led by it to steal food and eat it by himself after the
meal was over? At any rate, if it was so, his extra provision did not
improve his personal appearance, for he was still thin and hungry-
looking.

"Some questioned him roughly on the subject, but they could get nothing
out of him. He stopped for a while the practice which had drawn
attention to him, but resumed it again when he thought that curiosity
had died out, and that he could follow his old ways unobserved. But
there were boys on the watch, and at last it was fairly ascertained that
the poor lad used to gather, as far as he had opportunity, scraps of
meat, pieces of fat, and fragments of bread and potatoes, which had been
left on the boys' plates. These he collected and carried off. But
then, what did he do with them? It was not likely that he ate them.
No. Then he must sell them when he went home, for his parents lived in
London, and he was a day boy. No doubt he disposed of them to people
who were ready to give a few pence for refuse food, and thus the little
miser was making money in this mean and underhand way. When this
conclusion had been arrived at, the whole school was in a state of
boiling indignation against the culprit.

"They might have taken the law into their own hands, and have punished
him in their own rough and ready way. But no; his conduct was too
shameful for that. It was looked upon as a serious disgrace to the
whole school. So the case was duly reported to the masters, and by them
to the governors. Witnesses were examined, and the offence proved. And
now, what was the defence of the poor lad? He had borne shame, scorn,
reproach, reviling; he had borne them all patiently, without murmur,
without resentment. What, then, was the reason for his strange conduct?
what motive or inducement could make him thus brave th