SCHOOL DAYS
by some of the big fellows, who wrote their verses for them, taught them to drink and use bad language, and did all they could to spoil them for everything[1] in this world and the next. One of the avocations in which these young gentlemen took particular delight was in going about and getting fags for their protectors, when those heroes were playing any game. They carried about pencil and paper with them, putting down the names of all the boys they sent, always sending five times as many as were wanted, and getting all those thrashed who didn't go. The present youth belonged to a house which was very jealous of the School-house, and always picked out School-house fags when he could find them. However, this time he'd got the wrong sow by the ear. His captors slammed the great door of the hall, and East put his back against it, while Tom gave the prisoner a shake-up, took away his list, and stood him up on the floor, while he proceeded leisurely to examine that document.
"Let me out, let me go!" screamed the boy, in a furious passion. "I'll go and tell Jones this minute, and he'll give you both the thrashing you ever had."
"Pretty little dear," said East, patting the top of his hat; "hark how he swears, Tom. Nicely brought-up young man, ain't he? I don't think."
"Let me alone, you," roared he boy, foaming with rage, and kicking at East, who quietly tripped him up, and deposited him on the floor in a place of safety.
"Gently, young fellow," said he; "'taint improving for little whippersnappers like you to be indulging in blasphemy; so you stop that, or you'll get something you won't like."
"I'll have you both licked when I get out, that I will, rejoined the boy, beginning to snivel.
"Two can play at that game, mind you," said Tom, who had
- ↑ A kind and wise critic, an old Rugbæan, notes here in the margin: "The small friend system was not so utterly bad from 1841–1847." Before that, too, there were many noble friendships between big and little boys, but I can't strike out the passage; many boys will know why it is left in.
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