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PREFACE
THERE is something so
pleasing to the author of this volume — the first of several which have
been kindly received by his American cousins — in the thought of being
accorded the privilege of appearing before a new audience in the “old
home,” that the impulse to indulge in a foreword or two cannot be
withstood.
And yet, after all, there would seem to be but two things necessary to
be said: — Firstly, that in attempting a picture of boy life in Nova
Scotia a fifth of a century ago, the writer had simply to fall back upon
the recollections of his own school-days, and that in so doing he has
striven to depart as slightly as possible from what came within the
range of personal experience; and, Secondly, while it is no doubt to be
regretted that Canada has not yet attained that stage of development
which would enable her to support a literature of her own, it certainly
is no small consolation for her children, however ardent their
patriotism, who would fain enter the literary arena, that not only
across the Border, but beyond the ocean in the Motherland, there are
doors of opportunity standing open through which they may find their way
before the greatest and kindliest audience in the world.
J. MACDONALD OXLEY.
Ottawa, Canada,
29th August, 1892.
CONTENTS
Chapter I. Bert is
Introduced
Chapter II. Fireman or Soldier
Chapter III. No. Five Fort Street
Chapter IV. Off to the Country
Chapter V. The Ride in the Coach
Chapter VI. At Grandfather's
Chapter VII. Country Experiences
Chapter VIII. Temptation and Triumph
Chapter IX. Lost and Found
Chapter X. Bert goes to School
Chapter XI. School Life at Mr. Garrison's
Chapter XII. A Question of Influence
Chapter XIII. Bert at Home
Chapter XIV. An Honourable Scar
Chapter XV. A Change of School
Chapter XVI. The First Days at Dr. Johnston's
Chapter XVII. The Hoisting
Chapter XVIII. School Experiences
Chapter XIX. Victory and Defeat
Chapter XX. A Narrow Escape
Chapter XXI. Learning to Swim
Chapter XXII. How Hoisting was Abolished
Chapter XXIII. Prize Winning and Losing
Chapter XXIV. A Chapter on Ponies
Chapter XXV. About two kinds of Ponies
Chapter XXVI. Victory won from Defeat
Chapter XXVII. About Literature and Law
Chapter XXVIII. Well Done, Boys!
Chapter XXIX. THE Valley of the Shadow
Chapter XXX. Home Missionary Work
Chapter XXXI. Not Dead, but Translated
Chapter XXXII. A Boy no Longer |
