Chapter I: Preface

There is something so pleasing to the author of this volume--the first of several which have been kindly received by his American cousins--in the thought of being accorded the privilege of appearing before a new audience in the "old home," that the impulse to indulge in a foreword or two cannot be withstood.

And yet, after all, there would seem to be but two things necessary to be said:--Firstly, that in attempting a picture of boy life in Nova Scotia a fifth of a century ago, the writer had simply to fall back upon the recollections of his own school-days, and that in so doing he has striven to depart as slightly as possible from what came within the range of personal experience; and, Secondly, while it is no doubt to be regretted that Canada has not yet attained that stage of development which would enable her to support a literature of her own, it certainly is no small consolation for her children, however ardent their patriotism, who would fain enter the literary arena, that not only across the Border, but beyond the ocean in the Motherland, there are doors of opportunity standing open through which they may find their way before the greatest and kindliest audience in the world.

J. MACDONALD OXLEY.

OTTAWA, CANADA,
_29th August, 1892_.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I. BERT IS INTRODUCED, 5

II. FIREMAN OR SOLDIER, 11

III. NO. FIVE FORT STREET, 17

IV. OFF TO THE COUNTRY, 21

V. THE RIDE IN THE COACH, 29

VI. AT GRANDFATHER'S, 39

VII. COUNTRY EXPERIENCES, 47

VIII. TEMPTATION AND TRIUMPH, 57

IX. LOST AND FOUND, 67

X. BERT GOES TO SCHOOL, 81

XI. SCHOOL LIFE AT MR. GARRISON'S, 93

XII. A QUESTION OF INFLUENCE, 107

XIII. BERT AT HOME, 117

XIV. AN HONOURABLE SCAR, 127

XV. A CHANGE OF SCHOOL, 139

XVI. THE FIRST DAYS AT DR. JOHNSTON'S, 151

XVII. THE HOISTING, 163

XVIII. SCHOOL EXPERIENCES, 175

XIX. VICTORY AND DEFEAT, 187

XX. A NARROW ESCAPE, 203

XXI. LEARNING TO SWIM, 217

XXII. HOW HOISTING WAS ABOLISHED, 227

XXIII. PRIZE WINNING AND LOSING, 239

XXIV. A CHAPTER ON PONIES, 253

XXV. ABOUT TWO KINDS OF PONIES, 263

XXVI. VICTORY WON FROM DEFEAT, 273

XXVII. ABOUT LITERATURE AND LAW, 287

XXVIII. WELL DONE, BOYS! 301

XXIX. THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW, 315

XXX. HOME MISSIONARY WORK, 325

XXXI. NOT DEAD, BUT TRANSLATED, 335

XXXII. A BOY NO LONGER, 349