"Shepard, a cadet who stood second in mathematics at the Academy, was
prepared by Mr Hostler for twelve months, and then sent to finish
details at Mr Rouse's for three months, during part of which time he
was ill with hooping-cough. He passed in well, and came out well.
Honour, then, is due to Mr Hostler for his excellent training, and
great credit is reflected on his school."
I saw my young acquaintance, who was sent for at my request, as I
declined to be made a parade of in the schoolroom, and bidding Mr
Hostler farewell, I left his establishment, which I never entered again,
and never saw Mr Hostler again, though the scenes through which I
passed at his school even now sometimes haunt me in the form of
nightmares, when I dream I am again a boy at that place, who has failed
in his Euclid, and cannot make the three sides of a triangle join, and
who is waiting for his three cuts on the hand.