Lorna Doone | Page 5

to say that I never could have learned
[Illustration: greek2.jpg]
ten pages further on, being all he himself could manage, with plenty of
stripes to help him. I know that he hath more head than I--though never
will he have such body; and am thankful to have stopped betimes, with
a meek and wholesome head-piece.
[Illustration: 002.jpg John Ridd's School Desk]
But if you doubt of my having been there, because now I know so little,
go and see my name, "John Ridd," graven on that very form. Forsooth,
from the time I was strong enough to open a knife and to spell my
name, I began to grave it in the oak, first of the block whereon I sate,
and then of the desk in front of it, according as I was promoted from
one to other of them: and there my grandson reads it now, at this
present time of writing, and hath fought a boy for scoffing at it--"John
Ridd his name"--and done again in "winkeys," a mischievous but
cheerful device, in which we took great pleasure.
This is the manner of a "winkey," which I here set down, lest child of
mine, or grandchild, dare to make one on my premises; if he does, I
shall know the mark at once, and score it well upon him. The scholar
obtains, by prayer or price, a handful of saltpetre, and then with the
knife wherewith he should rather be trying to mend his pens, what does
he do but scoop a hole where the desk is some three inches thick. This
hole should be left with the middle exalted, and the circumference dug
more deeply. Then let him fill it with saltpetre, all save a little space in
the midst, where the boss of the wood is. Upon that boss (and it will be
the better if a splinter of timber rise upward) he sticks the end of his
candle of tallow, or "rat's tail," as we called it, kindled and burning
smoothly. Anon, as he reads by that light his lesson, lifting his eyes
now and then it may be, the fire of candle lays hold of the petre with a
spluttering noise and a leaping. Then should the pupil seize his pen, and,
regardless of the nib, stir bravely, and he will see a glow as of burning

mountains, and a rich smoke, and sparks going merrily; nor will it
cease, if he stir wisely, and there be a good store of petre, until the
wood is devoured through, like the sinking of a well-shaft. Now well
may it go with the head of a boy intent upon his primer, who betides to
sit thereunder! But, above all things, have good care to exercise this art
before the master strides up to his desk, in the early gray of the
morning.
Other customs, no less worthy, abide in the school of Blundell, such as
the singeing of nightcaps; but though they have a pleasant savour, and
refreshing to think of, I may not stop to note them, unless it be that
goodly one at the incoming of a flood. The school-house stands beside
a stream, not very large, called Lowman, which flows into the broad
river of Exe, about a mile below. This Lowman stream, although it be
not fond of brawl and violence (in the manner of our Lynn), yet is wont
to flood into a mighty head of waters when the storms of rain provoke
it; and most of all when its little co-mate, called the Taunton
Brook--where I have plucked the very best cresses that ever man put
salt on--comes foaming down like a great roan horse, and rears at the
leap of the hedgerows. Then are the gray stone walls of Blundell on
every side encompassed, the vale is spread over with looping waters,
and it is a hard thing for the day-boys to get home to their suppers.
And in that time, old Cop, the porter (so called because he hath copper
boots to keep the wet from his stomach, and a nose of copper also, in
right of other waters), his place is to stand at the gate, attending to the
flood-boards grooved into one another, and so to watch the torrents rise,
and not be washed away, if it please God he may help it. But long ere
the flood hath attained this height, and while it is only waxing, certain
boys of deputy will watch at the stoop of the drain-holes, and be apt to
look outside the walls when Cop is taking a cordial. And in the very
front of the gate, just without the archway, where the ground is paved
most handsomely, you may see in copy-letters done a great P.B. of
white pebbles. Now, it