CHAPTER VI


Three years--Lilly's grammar--Proficiency--Ignorant of figures--The
school bell--Order of succession--Persecution--What are we to
do?--Northward--A goodly scene--Haunted ground--Feats of
chivalry--Rivers--Over the brig.

Years passed on, even three years; during this period I had increased
considerably in stature and in strength, and, let us hope, improved in
mind; for I had entered on the study of the Latin language. The very
first person to whose care I was intrusted for the acquisition of Latin
was an old friend of my fathers, a clergyman who kept a seminary at a
town the very next we visited after our departure from 'the Cross.' Under
his instruction, however, I continued only a few weeks, as we speedily
left the place. 'Captain,' said this divine, when my father came to take
leave of him on the eve of our departure, 'I have a friendship for you,
and therefore wish to give you a piece of advice concerning this son of
yours. You are now removing him from my care; you do wrong, but we will
let that pass. Listen to me: there is but one good school-book in the
world--the one I use in my seminary--Lilly's Latin grammar, in which your
son has already made some progress. If you are anxious for the success
of your son in life, for the correctness of his conduct and the soundness
of his principles, keep him to Lilly's grammar. If you can by any means,
either fair or foul, induce him to get by heart Lilly's Latin grammar,
you may set your heart at rest with respect to him; I, myself, will be
his warrant. I never yet knew a boy that was induced, either by fair
means or foul, to learn Lilly's Latin grammar by heart, who did not turn
out a man, provided he lived long enough.'