'I never knew what it was to be a boy myself, and therefore I suppose I don't understand boys.

But if they could but see into my heart and read there how earnestly I wish to do my best by them, surely we could get on better together.' "'Well, Berkeley--glad to see you--what can I do for you ?' said Sawyer, with a little nervous attempt at off-hand friendliness of manner, in itself infinitely touching to any one with eyes to take in the whole situation and judge it and him accordingly.

But those eyes are not ours in early life, more especially in _boy_-life.

We must have our powers of mental vision quickened and cleared by the magic dew of sad experience--experience which alone can give sympathy worth having, ere we can understand the queer bits of pathos we constantly stumble upon in life, ere we can begin to judge our fellows with the large-hearted charity that alone can illumine the glass through which for so long we see so _very_ 'darkly.' "'I have come to ask you for a subscription for the fifth of November fireworks, Mr.Sawyer,' said Jack, plunging, as was his habit, right into the middle of things, with no beating about the bush.

'We've asked all the other masters, and every one in the school has subscribed, and I was to tell you, sir, from the committee that they'll be very much obliged by a subscription--and--and I really think they'll all be particularly pleased if you can give us something handsome.' "The message was civil, but hardly perhaps, coming from pupils to a master, 'of the most respectful,' as French people say.