Tickleus’satEalingSchoolinRussellSquare。George’sgrandfathergavetheboyacoupleofsovereignsforthatfeatandpromisedtorewardhimfurtherforeveryboyabovehisownsizeandagewhomhewhoppedinasimilarmanner。Itisdifficulttosaywhatgoodtheoldmansawinthesecombats；hehadavaguenotionthatquarrellingmadeboyshardy，andthattyrannywasausefulaccomplishmentforthemtolearn。Englishyouthhavebeensoeducatedtimeoutofmind，andwehavehundredsofthousandsofapologistsandadmirersofinjustice，misery，andbrutality，asperpetratedamongchildren。FlushedwithpraiseandvictoryoverMasterToffy，Georgewishednaturallytopursuehisconquestsfurther，andonedayashewasstruttingaboutinprodigiouslydandifiednewclothes，nearSt。Pancras，andayoungbaker’sboymadesarcasticcommentsuponhisappearance，theyouthfulpatricianpulledoffhisdandyjacketwithgreatspirit，andgivingitinchargetothefriendwhoaccompaniedhimMasterTodd，ofGreatCoramStreet，RussellSquare，sonofthejuniorpartnerofthehouseofOsborneandCo。，Georgetriedtowhopthelittlebaker。Butthechancesofwarwereunfavourablethistime，andthelittlebakerwhoppedGeorgy，whocamehomewitharuefulblackeyeandallhisfineshirtfrilldabbledwiththeclaretdrawnfromhisownlittlenose。Hetoldhisgrandfatherthathehadbeenincombatwithagiant，andfrightenedhispoormotheratBromptonwithlong，andbynomeansauthentic，accountsofthebattle。
ThisyoungTodd，ofCoramStreet，RussellSquare，wasMasterGeorge’sgreatfriendandadmirer。Theybothhadatasteforpaintingtheatricalcharacters；forhardbakeandraspberrytarts；forslidingandskatingintheRegent’sParkandtheSerpentine，whentheweatherpermitted；forgoingtotheplay，whithertheywereoftenconducted，byMr。Osborne’sorders，byRowson，MasterGeorge’sappointedbody-servant，withwhomtheysatingreatcomfortinthepit。
Inthecompanyofthisgentlemantheyvisitedalltheprincipaltheatresofthemetropolis；knewthenamesofalltheactorsfromDruryLanetoSadler’sWells；andperformed，indeed，manyoftheplaystotheToddfamilyandtheiryouthfulfriends，withWest’sfamouscharacters，ontheirpasteboardtheatre。Rowson，thefootman，whowasofagenerousdisposition，wouldnotunfrequently，whenincash，treathisyoungmastertooystersaftertheplay，andtoaglassofrum-shrubforanight-cap。
WemaybeprettycertainthatMr。Rowsonprofitedinhisturnbyhisyoungmaster’sliberalityandgratitudeforthepleasurestowhichthefootmaninductedhim。
AfamoustailorfromtheWestEndofthetown——