THE RIDING SCHOOL;

OR,

A CURE FOR CONCEIT.

BY MRS. HOFLAND.

EVERY school is an epitome of the world: large ones resemble the bustle and mixture to be found in the metropolis; small societies, of ten or twelve young gentlemen, may be compared to the narrow circle of a village. The smaller party is frequently found to be a good preparative for the larger; but hard indeed is the fate of that boy, who plunges at once from the retirement of his father's house, to the bustling, anxious turmoil attendant on so new a state of existence as a large community of schoolboys presents.

Mr. and Mrs. Appleby did not apprehend that their fondly petted and only son could experience any difficulties, when they agreed, at the instiga

tion of a friend, to send him to a far distant school in the neighbourhood of London; nor did the boy himself experience that repugnance to the scheme which might have been expected. He was courageous by nature; and having been praised for all he did, and much which he did not, became naturally desirous of exhibiting his powers beyond the circle of his admirers at home. The principal of these were the groom and the stable-boy, who were never weary of extolling his talents, and of informing him, that "sitch gentlemen as he was need not bother their heads about larnin:" in short, as the old gardener said, "he had been so capitally eddicated, he was come to be a parfit lump of consate."

The finishing stroke to the system was given by a maiden aunt of his father's, when she rode over to take leave of the hope of the family. "My dear Joey," said she, "I am quite grieved to tell you, that Captain Tresham has the presumption to send his son James to the very same school where you are going, for no reason whatever but because he turns out a sharp boy. What a fool he must be, to venture on such an expense, with three girls to portion, and his property not to be named with your papa's. But I hope you'll take

care that all the young gentlemen know who he is, and who you are too. Never forget you may hold up your head with any body: you are come of one of the oldest families in all Craven; remember that."

This precious nonsense was backed by a present of two sovereigns: and the poor boy held both so valuable, that the kind hints of his travelling companion were entirely thrown away upon him, and he arrived at the gates of Mapleton House with the full persuasion that no person of equal importance had lately passed them; and, at any rate, that his neighbour, James Tresham, was his inferior, not only because his father was poorer, and, of course, in his opinion, less of a gentleman, but the boy was less than himself, though of the same age, and by no means his equal either as a huntsman or a shot.

It so happened, that our travellers arrived just as Captain Tresham was bidding his son farewell; an affair of an equally painful nature to both. James sprang forward to hail the arrival of his neighbour, with that delight natural to boys so situated. His overtures were repelled with such haughtiness, that James, though a mild boy, instantly recoiled, and determined to seek his

friends among strangers. He had been at school before, and knew how to make acquaintance.

When, in the evening, the boys all sallied into the play-ground, Tresham was soon engaged, whilst Appleby stood alone, unnoticed, and, of course, melancholy; for no flattering dependant was at hand to soothe or cheer him. It was not long, however, before a good-humoured boy came up to him, and inquired if he would not join his friend's set of cricketers.

"I have no friend here, I'm sure.

"I mean Tresham. I did not know there was any difference between you.”

"But there be a good deal of difference. I be the eldest son, and the only son, of Joseph Appleby, Es-qui-er, of Appleby Hall, an' the ouldest family or thereabout i' the county o' Craven; an' his father's a second son, an' has four childer."

Whilst this speech was making, more than a score of auditors had gathered round the speaker; and partly from the pompous tone, partly from the provincialisms (which are inevitable even to a gentleman's son who never leaves home), of poor Joe, the whole group burst into laughter, except one, who was a leading person in the community,