Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER II. Early school-days at Dundas--Names of my school-teachers--Appearance of the village--Names of some of its then residents--What my father was doing--Some curious incidents that happened--Primitive habits of the people. We will now return to my home of 1816, near Dundas. Here my first school days were commenced and I learned to read, received my first prize and commendation for a recital of a Scotch tragedy. Whether I commenced to go to school in 1816 or early in 1817, I am not certain, but it was certainly in 1817 and the two following years. When I first attended school I thought it a great privilege and pleasure: all children should do so. My first school teacher was a very plain person, named Rice, an Englishman, with whom, I believe, I learned my A, B, C's, to spell and to read. I went there with my brother Henry, who was three years older than I was, and by nature quicker in his intellect, what may be called smarter, but not so steady or persevering. I was always jealous of his superior, intelligent ways. I loved him, but could not bear to see him or anyone excel me in learning or anything. I will have some things to say about him--some to his credit, more not so, as he often led me astray. We had to walk about three miles to our school through the beautiful woods and over hills, and had our noon lunch with us. I don't remember that my brother George went with us. James was kept at home, and perhaps George, to help on the farm. Maria, my sister, was at home, but got married early in 1816. Harriet went to a boarding-school in York, and visited and was patronized by all the best families in Little York in 1816-17. It was about this time that I commenced to look upon life as a real thing, as what might develop into manhood: ..