parts of the country. A boy gets this
promotion in life by his own merits. For instance,
at the Norwood Pauper-School, the most apt
pupil becomes, as elsewhere, the monitor of
his form or class. When the day of
examination arrives, he distinguishes himself
before the Government Inspector of Schools.
This official is empowered thereupon to select
him as a "pupil-teacher," &c.; he becomes an
apprentice to the art of instruction. To
encourage the chief-master of the school to
help on his boys to this reward, an allowance
of three pounds a year is made to the master
for each boy who thus distinguishes himself,
and thus gains promotion. Thus, there being
twelve boys at Norwood so in training, Mr.
Imeson, their instructor, gains thirty-six
pounds a year for his success in bringing
forward that number of his scholars.

In appearance, the boys have little to
recommend them, and it is tolerably evident,
that if not raised a little in the social scale—
if not taught to do something and know some-
thing—they would inevitably belong to the
class of incurable paupers, who burden poor's-
rates and hang about workhouses all their
lives. Society must educate such boys, if
only in self-defence. Some of them are at
first most turbulent, but by patient
management they gradually subside into the orderly
arrangements of the place, and often those at
first most unruly become the quickest boys in
the school. The energy that would make
them nuisances, when rightly directed makes
them most useful.

When the hours of teaching are over, the
boys are assembled in one of the large open
yards belonging to the establishment, and are
there exercised by the drill-master. This
official is an ex-non-commissioned officer of
Guards, who in a short time makes the
metamorphosis seen on parade. The ungainly,
slouching, slow lout, is taught to march, wheel
right or left, in concert with others, punctually
and accurately. They answer the command,
"left wheel," "right form, four deep," and so
on, like little soldiers, and seem to like the fun.
This gives them at once exercise in the fresh
air, notions of regularity and prompt atten-
tion, and a habit of obedience to discipline.

There is also a naval class. Behind the
school is a play-ground, two acres in extent,
and in the centre of this stands a ship.
True, its deck is of earth, but there are
bulwarks, real bulwarks all round, and
rising up above are genuine lofty masts,
with rigging complete. Up these ropes the
boys swarm with great delight. At a given
signal they "man the yards," give three
miniature cheers, and then, all in chorus, sing
God save the Queen. They evidently like
the fun, pride themselves, boy-like, upon
their feline power of climbing, and one or two
of them show their expertness and bravery
by disdaining the rope-ladder—pardon us,
the shrouds—and slide down the main-stay
from the top of the foremast to the bowsprit.
All these things are evident sources of enjoyment;
for running, and climbing, and shouting
in the open air, are natural to the human
animal in a normal state of existence. Of
the climbing, there is a story told which
illustrates the character of a very worthy
man now passed away. Dr. Stanley, the late
Bishop of Norwich, paid many visits to this
school, and always looked on with evident
pleasure whilst the lads were enjoying
themselves with their ship. One day the good-
natured dignitary was looking on, when he
began to rub his hands together, and presently
turning to an officer of the place who stood
by, said in a genial, half confidential tone,
"If I were not a bishop I'd join in and
climb that pole myself!"

Besides this drill, or parade, and this exercise
aloft, the boys, on two days of the week,
are employed in the Industrial training of the
place. The smaller boys, in classes of about
thirty-five, are ranged on benches round a
large tailor's shop. Patterns decorate the
walls, and "corduroys" in all stages, from the
huge bale to the perfect breeches, are seen all
round the room. The boys stitch and sew,
and make and mend, under the instruction of
a master tailor, a large part of the clothes
worn in the place. When each boy grows
bigger he is drafted into a neighbouring shop,
where, also, under a competent master, he
learns the craft of St. Crispin. It is curious
to see thirty or forty little cobblers, all
in rows, waxing and stitching, and
hammering on lap-stones, and entering con amore
into the mysteries of sole and upper leathers,
brads, pegs, and sparrowbills. When they
have learned all these things, some of the lads
pass into a third shop, where they are made
acquainted with the forge, and anvil, and sledge
hammer, and where they help to shoe horses,
construct iron bedsteads, and make and mend
all the iron-work (and there is a great deal of
it) required by this family party of nearly a
thousand souls—pauper children, masters, and
servants, together. After going through all
these stages of training, with the incidental
knowledge picked up in the stables with the
horses, in the playground with the dogs, when
helping to feed the pigs, and whilst aiding
the operation of milking the twenty-five cows
which supply milk for the house, the boys have
acquired a great amount of useful knowledge.
The place is indeed a little colony in itself,
and if its inmates had not often to pass from it
back to the sinkholes of London, they might
leave Norwood almost with the certainty of
becoming good and prosperous citizens.

Monthly Supplement of "HOUSEHOLD WORDS,"
Conducted by CHARLES DICKENS.
Price 2d., Stamped, 3d.,
THE HOUSEHOLD NARRATIVE
OF
CURRENT EVENTS.
The Number, containing a history of the past month, was
issued with the Magazines.