dirtyweathercameon，andthenworseweather，andwhenweleastexpecteditwegotintotremendousdifficulties。Screwlooseinthechartperhaps-somethingcertainlywrongsomewhere-butherewewerewithbreakersahead，mylads，drivingheadon，slaponaleeshore！TheSkipperbroachedthisterrificannouncementinsuchgreatagitation，thatthesmallfifer，notfifeingnow，butstandinglookingonnearthewheelwithhisfifeunderhisarm，seemedforthemomentquiteunboyed，thoughhespeedilyrecoveredhispresenceofmind。Inthetryingcircumstancesthatensued，theSkipperandthecrewprovedworthyofoneanother。TheSkippergotdreadfullyhoarse，butotherwisewasmasterofthesituation。Themanatthewheeldidwonders；allhandsexceptthefiferwereturneduptowearship；andIobservedthefifer，whenwewereatourgreatestextremity，torefertosomedocumentinhiswaistcoat-
pocket，whichIconceivedtobehiswill。Ithinkshestruck。I
wasnotmyselfconsciousofanycollision，butIsawtheSkippersoveryoftenwashedoverboardandbackagain，thatIcouldonlyimputeittothebeatingoftheship。Iamnotenoughofaseamantodescribethemanoeuvresbywhichweweresaved，buttheymadetheSkipperveryhotFrenchpolishinghismahoganyfaceandthecrewverynimble，andsucceededtoamarvel；for，withinafewminutesofthefirstalarm，wehadworeshipandgotheroff，andwerealla-tauto-whichIfeltverygratefulfor:notthatIknewwhatitwas，butthatIperceivedthatwehadnotbeenalla-tautolately。Landnowappearedonourweather-bow，andweshapedourcourseforit，havingthewindabeam，andfrequentlychangingthemanatthehelm，inorderthateverymanmighthavehisspell。Weworkedintoharbourunderprosperouscircumstances，andfurledoursails，andsquaredouryards，andmadeallship-shapeandhandsome，andsoourvoyageended。WhenIcomplimentedtheSkipperatpartingonhisexertionsandthoseofhisgallantcrew，heinformedmethatthelatterwereprovidedfortheworst，allhandsbeingtaughttoswimanddive；andheaddedthattheableseamanatthemain-topmasttruckespecially，coulddiveasdeepashecouldgohigh。
ThenextadventurethatbefellmeinmyvisittotheShort-Timers，wasthesuddenapparitionofamilitaryband。Ihadbeeninspectingthehammocksofthecrewofthegoodship，whenIsawwithastonishmentthatseveralmusicalinstruments，brazenandofgreatsize，appearedtohavesuddenlydevelopedtwolegseach，andtobetrottingaboutayard。AndmyastonishmentwasheightenedwhenIobservedalargedrum，thathadpreviouslybeenleaninghelplessagainstawall，takingupastoutpositiononfourlegs。
Approachingthisdrumandlookingoverit，Ifoundtwoboysbehindititwastoomuchforone，andthenIfoundthateachofthebrazeninstrumentshadbroughtoutaboy，andwasgoingtodiscoursesweetsounds。Theboys-notomittingthefifer，nowplayinganewinstrument-weredressedinneatuniform，andstoodupinacircleattheirmusic-stands，likeanyotherMilitaryBand。
Theyplayedamarchortwo，andthenwehadCheerboys，Cheer，andthenwehadYankeeDoodle，andwefinished，asinloyaldutybound，withGodsavetheQueen。Theband’sproficiencywasperfectlywonderful，anditwasnotatallwonderfulthatthewholebodycorporateofShort-Timerslistenedwithfacesoftheliveliestinterestandpleasure。
WhathappenednextamongtheShort-Timers？Asifthebandhadblownmeintoagreatclass-roomoutoftheirbrazentubes，INagreatclass-roomIfoundmyselfnow，withthewholechoralforceofShort-Timerssingingthepraisesofasummer’sdaytotheharmonium，andmysmallbuthighlyrespectedfriendthefiferblazingawayvocally，asifhehadbeensavinguphiswindforthelasttwelvemonth；alsothewholecrewofthegoodshipNamelessswarmingupanddownthescaleasiftheyhadneverswarmedupanddowntherigging。Thisdone，wethrewourwholepowerintoGodblessthePrinceofWales，andblessedhisRoyalHighnesstosuchanextentthat，formyownUncommercialpart，Igaspedagainwhenitwasover。Themomentthiswasdone，weformed，withsurpassingfreshness，intohollowsquares，andfelltoworkatorallessonsasifweneverdid，andhadneverthoughtofdoing，anythingelse。
Letaveilbedrawnovertheself-committalsintowhichtheUncommercialTravellerwouldhavebeenbetrayedbutforadiscreetreticence，coupledwithanairofabsolutewisdomonthepartofthatartfulpersonage。Takethesquareoffive，multiplyitbyfifteen，divideitbythree，deducteightfromit，addfourdozentoit，givemetheresultinpence，andtellmehowmanyeggsI
couldgetforitatthreefarthingsapiece。Theproblemishardlystated，whenadozensmallboyspouroutanswers。Somewide，someverynearlyright，someworkedasfarastheygowithsuchaccuracy，asatoncetoshowwhatlinkofthechainhasbeendroppedinthehurry。Forthemoment，nonearequiteright；butbeholdalabouringspiritbeatingthebuttonsonitscorporealwaistcoat，inaprocessofinternalcalculation，andknittinganaccidentalbumponitscorporealforeheadinaconcentrationofmentalarithmetic！Itismyhonourablefriendifhewillallowmetocallhimsothefifer。Withrightarmeagerlyextendedintokenofbeinginspiredwithananswer，andwithrightlegforemost，thefifersolvesthemystery:thenrecallsbotharmandleg，andwithbumpinambushawaitsthenextposer。Takethesquareofthree，multiplyitbyseven，divideitbyfour，addfiftytoit，takethirteenfromit，multiplyitbytwo，doubleit，givemetheresultinpence，andsayhowmanyhalfpence。Wiseastheserpentisthefourfeetofperformeronthenearestapproachtothatinstrument，whoserightarminstantlyappears，andquenchesthisarithmeticalfire。TellmesomethingaboutGreatBritain，tellmesomethingaboutitsprincipalproductions，tellmesomethingaboutitsports，tellmesomethingaboutitsseasandrivers，tellmesomethingaboutcoal，iron，cotton，timber，tin，andturpentine。Thehollowsquarebristleswithextendedrightarms；buteverfaithfultofactisthefifer，everwiseastheserpentistheperformeronthatinstrument，everprominentlybuoyantandbrilliantareallmembersoftheband。Iobservetheplayerofthecymbalstodashatasoundinganswernowandthenratherthannotcutinatall；butItakethattobeinthewayofhisinstrument。Allthesequestions，andmanysuch，areputonthespurofthemoment，andbyonewhohasneverexaminedtheseboys。
TheUncommercial，invitedtoaddanother，falteringlydemandshowmanybirthdaysamanbornonthetwenty-ninthofFebruarywillhavehadoncompletinghisfiftiethyear？Ageneralperceptionoftrapandpitfallinstantlyarises，andthefiferisseentoretirebehindthecorduroysofhisnextneighbours，asperceivingspecialnecessityforcollectinghimselfandcommuningwithhismind。
Meanwhile，thewisdomoftheserpentsuggeststhatthemanwillhavehadonlyonebirthdayinallthattime，forhowcananymanhavemorethanone，seeingthatheisbornonceanddiesonce？TheblushingUncommercialstandscorrected，andamendstheformula。
Ponderingensues，twoorthreewronganswersareoffered，andCymbalsstrikesup’Six！’butdoesn’tknowwhy。ThenmodestlyemergingfromhisAcademicGroveofcorduroysappearsthefifer，rightarmextended，rightlegforemost，bumpirradiated。’Twelve，andtwoover！’
ThefeminineShort-Timerspassedasimilarexamination，andverycreditablytoo。Wouldhavedonebetterperhaps，withalittlemoregenialityonthepartoftheirpupil-teacher；foracoldeye，myyoungfriend，andahard，abruptmanner，arenotbyanymeansthepowerfulenginesthatyourinnocencesupposesthemtobe。Bothgirlsandboyswroteexcellently，fromcopyanddictation；bothcouldcook；bothcouldmendtheirownclothes；bothcouldcleanupeverythingabouttheminanorderlyandskilfulway，thegirlshavingwomanlyhouseholdknowledgesuperadded。OrderandmethodbeganinthesongsoftheInfantSchoolwhichIvisitedlikewise，andtheywereevenintheirdwarfdegreetobefoundintheNursery，wheretheUncommercialwalking-stickwascarriedoffwithacclamations，andwhere’theDoctor’-amedicalgentlemanoftwo，whotookhisdegreeonthenightwhenhewasfoundatanapothecary’sdoor-didthehonoursoftheestablishmentwithgreaturbanityandgaiety。
Thesehavelongbeenexcellentschools；longbeforethedaysoftheShort-Time。Ifirstsawthem，twelveorfifteenyearsago。ButsincetheintroductionoftheShort-Timesystemithasbeenprovedherethateighteenhoursaweekofbook-learningaremoreprofitablethanthirty-six，andthatthepupilsarefarquickerandbrighterthanofyore。Thegoodinfluencesofmusiconthewholebodyofchildrenhavelikewisebeensurprisinglyproved。ObviouslyanotheroftheimmenseadvantagesoftheShort-Timesystemtothecauseofgoodeducationisthegreatdiminutionofitscost，andoftheperiodoftimeoverwhichitextends。Thelastisamostimportantconsideration，aspoorparentsarealwaysimpatienttoprofitbytheirchildren’slabour。
Itwillbeobjected:Firstly，thatthisisallverywell，butspeciallocaladvantagesandspecialselectionofchildrenmustbenecessarytosuchsuccess。Secondly，thatthisisallverywell，butmustbeveryexpensive。Thirdly，thatthisisallverywell，butwehavenoproofoftheresults，sir，noproof。
Onthefirstheadoflocaladvantagesandspecialselection。WouldLimehouseHolebepickedoutforthesiteofaChildren’sParadise？
Orwouldthelegitimateandillegitimatepauperchildrenofthelong-shorepopulationofsuchariversidedistrict，beregardedasunusuallyfavourablespecimenstoworkwith？YettheseschoolsareatLimehouse，andarethePauperSchoolsoftheStepneyPauperUnion。
Onthesecondheadofexpense。Wouldsixpenceaweekbeconsideredaverylargecostfortheeducationofeachpupil，includingallsalariesofteachersandrationsofteachers？Butsupposingthecostwerenotsixpenceaweek，notfivepence？itisFOURPENCE-
Onthethirdheadofnoproof，sir，noproof。IsthereanyproofinthefactsthatPupilTeachersmoreinnumber，andmorehighlyqualified，havebeenproducedhereundertheShort-TimesystemthanundertheLong-Timesystem？ThattheShort-Timers，inawritingcompetition，beattheLong-Timersofafirst-classNationalSchool？
Thatthesailor-boysareinsuchdemandformerchantships，thatwhereas，beforetheyweretrained，10L。premiumusedtobegivenwitheachboy-toooftentosomegreedybruteofadrunkenskipper，whodisappearedbeforethetermofapprenticeshipwasout，iftheill-usedboydidn’t-captainsofthebestcharacternowtaketheseboysmorethanwillingly，withnopremiumatall？ThattheyarealsomuchesteemedintheRoyalNavy，whichtheyprefer，’becauseeverythingissoneatandcleanandorderly’？Or，isthereanyproofinNavalcaptainswriting’YourlittlefellowsareallthatIcandesire’？Or，isthereanyproofinsuchtestimonyasthis:’Theownerofavesselcalledattheschool，andsaidthatashisshipwasgoingdownChannelonherlastvoyage，withoneoftheboysfromtheschoolonboard，thepilotsaid，“Itwouldbeaswelliftheroyalwerelowered；Iwishitweredown。“
Withoutwaitingforanyorders，andunobservedbythepilot，thelad，whomtheyhadtakenonboardfromtheschool，instantlymountedthemastandloweredtheroyal，andatthenextglanceofthepilottothemasthead，heperceivedthatthesailhadbeenletdown。Heexclaimed，“Who’sdonethatjob？“Theowner，whowasonboard，said，“ThatwasthelittlefellowwhomIputonboardtwodaysago。“Thepilotimmediatelysaid，“Why，wherecouldhehavebeenbroughtup？“Theboyhadneverseentheseaorbeenonarealshipbefore’？Or，isthereanyproofintheseboysbeingingreaterdemandforRegimentalBandsthantheUnioncanmeet？Or，inninety-eightofthemhavinggoneintoRegimentalBandsinthreeyears？Or，intwelveofthembeinginthebandofoneregiment？