Andthisfeelingcarriedhimthroughhisfirstpartingwithhismotherbetterthancouldhavebeenexpected。Theirlovewasasfairandwholeashumanlovecanbe——perfectself-sacrificeontheonesidemeetingayoungandtrueheartontheother。Itisnotwithinthescopeofmybook，however，tospeakoffamilyrelations，orIshouldhavemuchtosayonthesubjectofEnglishmothers——ay，andofEnglishfathers，andsisters，andbrotherstoo。NeitherhaveIroomtospeakofourprivateschools。WhatIhavetosayisaboutpublicschools——thosemuch-abusedandmuch-belaudedinstitutionspeculiartoEngland。
SowemusthurrythroughMasterTom’syearataprivateschoolasfastaswecan。
Itwasafairaveragespecimen，keptbyagentleman，withanothergentlemanassecondmaster；butitwaslittleenoughoftherealworktheydid——merelycomingintoschoolwhenlessonswerepreparedandallreadytobeheard。Thewholedisciplineoftheschooloutoflessonhourswasinthehandsofthetwoushers，oneofwhomwasalwayswiththeboysintheirplayground，intheschool，atmeals——infact，atalltimesandeverywhere，tilltheywerefairlyinbedatnight。
Nowthetheoryofprivateschoolsis(orwas)constantsupervisionoutofschool——thereindifferingfundamentallyfromthatofpublicschools。
Itmayberightorwrong；butifright，thissupervisionsurelyoughttobetheespecialworkofthehead-master，theresponsibleperson。TheobjectofallschoolsisnottoramLatinandGreekintoboys，buttomakethemgoodEnglishboys，goodfuturecitizens；andbyfarthemostimportantpartofthatworkmustbedone，ornotdone，outofschoolhours。Toleaveit，therefore，inthehandsofinferiormen，isjustgivingupthehighestandhardestpartoftheworkofeducation。WereIaprivateschool-master，Ishouldsay，Letwhowillheartheboystheirlessons，butletmelivewiththemwhentheyareatplayandrest。
ThetwoushersatTom’sfirstschoolwerenotgentlemen，andverypoorlyeducated，andwereonlydrivingtheirpoortradeofushertogetsuchlivingastheycouldoutofit。Theywerenotbadmen，buthadlittleheartfortheirwork，andofcoursewerebentonmakingitaseasyaspossible。Oneofthemethodsbywhichtheyendeavouredtoaccomplishthiswasbyencouragingtale-bearing，whichhadbecomeafrightfullycommonviceintheschoolinconsequence，andhadsappedallthefoundationsofschoolmorality。Anotherwas，byfavouringgrosslythebiggestboys，whoalonecouldhavegiventhemmuchtrouble；wherebythoseyounggentlemenbecamemostabominabletyrants，oppressingthelittleboysinallthesmallmeanwayswhichprevailinprivateschools。
PoorlittleTomwasmadedreadfullyunhappyinhisfirstweekbyacatastrophewhichhappenedtohisfirstletterhome。Withhugelabourhehad，ontheveryeveningofhisarrival，managedtofilltwosidesofasheetofletter-paperwithassurancesofhislovefordearmamma，hishappinessatschool，andhisresolvestodoallshewouldwish。Thismissive，withthehelpoftheboywhosatatthedesknexthim，alsoanewarrival，hemanagedtofoldsuccessfully；butthisdone，theyweresadlyputtoitformeansofsealing。Envelopeswerethenunknown；theyhadnowax，anddarednotdisturbthestillnessoftheeveningschool-roombygettingupandgoingtoasktheusherforsome。
AtlengthTom’sfriend，beingofaningeniousturnofmind，suggestedsealingwithink；andtheletterwasaccordinglystuckdownwithablobofink，anddulyhandedbyTom，onhiswaytobed，tothehousekeepertobeposted。Itwasnottillfourdaysafterwardsthatthegooddamesentforhim，andproducedthepreciousletterandsomewax，saying，“OMasterBrown，Iforgottotellyoubefore，butyourletterisn’tsealed。“PoorTomtookthewaxinsilenceandsealedhisletter，withahugelumprisinginhisthroatduringtheprocess，andthenranawaytoaquietcorneroftheplayground，andburstintoanagonyoftears。Theideaofhismotherwaitingdayafterdayfortheletterhehadpromisedheratonce，andperhapsthinkinghimforgetfulofher，whenhehaddoneallinhispowertomakegoodhispromise，wasasbitteragriefasanywhichhehadtoundergoformanyalongyear。Hiswrath，then，wasproportionatelyviolentwhenhewasawareoftwoboys，whostoppedclosebyhim，andoneofwhom，afatgabyofafellow，pointedathimandcalledhim“Youngmammy-sick！“WhereuponTomarose，andgivingventthustohisgriefandshameandrage，smotehisderideronthenose；andmadeitbleed；whichsentthatyoungworthyhowlingtotheusher，whoreportedTomforviolentandunprovokedassaultandbattery。Hittinginthefacewasafelonypunishablewithflogging，otherhittingonlyamisdemeanour——adistinctionnotaltogetherclearinprinciple。
Tom，however，escapedthepenaltybypleadingprimumtempus；andhavingwrittenasecondlettertohismother，inclosingsomeforget-me-nots，whichhepickedontheirfirsthalf-holidaywalk，feltquitehappyagain，andbegantoenjoyvastlyagooddealofhisnewlife。
Thesehalf-holidaywalkswerethegreateventsoftheweek。ThewholefiftyboysstartedafterdinnerwithoneoftheushersforHazeldown，whichwasdistantsomemileorsofromtheschool。
Hazeldownmeasuredsomethreemilesround，andintheneighbourhoodwereseveralwoodsfullofallmannerofbirdsandbutterflies。Theusherwalkedslowlyroundthedownwithsuchboysaslikedtoaccompanyhim；therestscatteredinalldirections，beingonlyboundtoappearagainwhentheusherhadcompletedhisround，andaccompanyhimhome。Theywereforbidden，however，togoanywhereexceptonthedownandintothewoods；thevillagehadbeenespeciallyprohibited，wherehugebull’s-eyesandunctuoustoffymightbeprocuredinexchangeforcoinoftherealm。
Variousweretheamusementstowhichtheboysthenbetookthemselves。Attheentranceofthedowntherewasasteephillock，likethebarrowsofTom’sowndowns。Thismoundwastheweeklysceneofterrificcombats，atagamecalledbythequeernameof“mud-patties。“Theboyswhoplayeddividedintosidesunderdifferentleaders，andonesideoccupiedthemound。
Then，allpartieshavingprovidedthemselveswithmanysodsofturf，cutwiththeirbread-and-cheeseknives，thesidewhichremainedatthebottomproceededtoassaultthemound，advancinguponallsidesundercoverofaheavyfireofturfs，andthenstrugglingforvictorywiththeoccupants，whichwastheirsassoonastheycould，evenforamoment，clearthesummit，whentheyinturnbecamethebesieged。Itwasagood，rough，dirtygame，andofgreatuseincounteractingthesneakingtendenciesoftheschool。Thenothersoftheboysspreadoverthedowns，lookingfortheholesofhumble-beesandmice，whichtheydugupwithoutmercy，often(Iregrettosay)killingandskinningtheunluckymice，and(Idonotregrettosay)gettingwellstungbythebumble-bees。Otherswentafterbutterfliesandbirds’eggsintheirseasons；andTomfoundonHazeldown，forthefirsttime，thebeautifullittlebluebutterflywithgoldenspotsonhiswings，whichhehadneverseenonhisowndowns，anddugouthisfirstsand-martin’snest。Thislatterachievementresultedinaflogging，forthesand-martinsbuiltinahighbankclosetothevillage，consequentlyoutofbounds；butoneofthebolderspiritsoftheschool，whonevercouldbehappyunlesshewasdoingsomethingtowhichriskwasattached，easilypersuadedTomtobreakboundsandvisitthemartins’bank。Fromwhenceitbeingonlyasteptothetoffyshop，whatcouldbemoresimplethantogoonthereandfilltheirpockets；orwhatmorecertainthanthatontheirreturn，adistributionoftreasurehavingbeenmade，theushershouldshortlydetecttheforbiddensmellofbull’s-eyes，and，asearchensuing，discoverthestateofthebreeches-pocketsofTomandhisally？
ThisallyofTom’swasindeedadesperateherointhesightoftheboys，andfearedasonewhodealtinmagic，orsomethingapproachingthereto。Whichreputationcametohiminthiswise。
Theboyswenttobedateight，and，ofcourse，consequentlylayawakeinthedarkforanhourortwo，tellingghost-storiesbyturns。Onenightwhenitcametohisturn，andhehaddrieduptheirsoulsbyhisstory，hesuddenlydeclaredthathewouldmakeafieryhandappearonthedoor；andtotheastonishmentandterroroftheboysinhisroom，ahand，orsomethinglikeit，inpalelight，didthenandthereappear。Thefameofthisexploithavingspreadtotheotherrooms，andbeingdiscreditedthere，theyoungnecromancerdeclaredthatthesamewonderwouldappearinalltheroomsinturn，whichitaccordinglydid；andthewholecircumstanceshavingbeenprivatelyreportedtooneoftheushersasusual，thatfunctionary，afterlisteningaboutatthedoorsoftherooms，byasuddendescentcaughttheperformerinhisnight-shirt，withaboxofphosphorusinhisguiltyhand。
Lucifer-matchesandallthepresentfacilitiesforgettingacquaintedwithfirewerethenunknown——theverynameofphosphorushadsomethingdiabolicinittotheboy-mind；soTom’sally，atthecostofasoundflogging，earnedwhatmanyolderfolkcovetmuch——theverydecidedfearofmostofhiscompanions。
Hewasaremarkableboy，andbynomeansabadone。Tomstucktohimtillheleft，andgotintomanyscrapesbysodoing。Buthewasthegreatopponentofthetale-bearinghabitsoftheschool，andtheopenenemyoftheushers；andsoworthyofallsupport。
TomimbibedafairamountofLatinandGreekattheschool，butsomehow，onthewhole，itdidn’tsuithim，orheit，andintheholidayshewasconstantlyworkingtheSquiretosendhimatoncetoapublicschool。Greatwashisjoythen，wheninthemiddleofhisthirdhalf-year，inOctober183-，afeverbrokeoutinthevillage，andthemasterhavinghimselfslightlysickenedofit，thewholeoftheboysweresentoffataday’snoticetotheirrespectivehomes。
TheSquirewasnotquitesopleasedasMasterTomtoseethatyounggentleman’sbrown，merryfaceappearathome，sometwomonthsbeforethepropertime，fortheChristmasholidays；andso，afterputtingonhisthinkingcap，heretiredtohisstudyandwroteseveralletters，theresultofwhichwasthat，onemorningatthebreakfast-table，aboutafortnightafterTom’sreturn，headdressedhiswifewith——“Mydear，IhavearrangedthatTomshallgotoRugbyatonce，forthelastsixweeksofthishalf-year，insteadofwastingtheminridingandloiteringabouthome。Itisverykindofthedoctortoallowit。WillyouseethathisthingsareallreadybyFriday，whenIshalltakehimuptotown，andsendhimdownthenextdaybyhimself。“
Mrs。Brownwaspreparedfortheannouncement，andmerelysuggestedadoubtwhetherTomwereyetoldenoughtotravelbyhimself。However，findingbothfatherandsonagainstheronthispoint，shegavein，likeawisewoman，andproceededtoprepareTom’skitforhislaunchintoapublicschool。
“Letthesteam-pothisstillit’shot；
GivemethespeedoftheTantivytrot。“
CoachingSong，byR。E。E。Warburton，Esq。
“Now，sir，timetogetup，ifyouplease。Tally-hocoachforLeicester’llberoundinhalfanhour，anddon’twaitfornobody。“SospakethebootsofthePeacockInnIslington，athalf-pasttwoo’clockonthemorningofadayintheearlypartofNovember183-，givingTomatthesametimeashakebytheshoulder，andthenputtingdownacandle；andcarryingoffhisshoestoclean。
TomandhisfatherarrivedintownfromBerkshirethedaybefore，andfinding，oninquiry，thattheBirminghamcoacheswhichranfromthecitydidnotpassthroughRugby，butdepositedtheirpassengersatDunchurch，avillagethreemilesdistantonthemainroad，wheresaidpassengershadtowaitfortheOxfordandLeicestercoachintheevening，ortotakeapost-chaise，hadresolvedthatTomshouldtraveldownbytheTally-ho，whichdivergedfromthemainroadandpassedthroughRugbyitself。AndastheTally-howasanearlycoach，theyhaddrivenouttothePeacocktobeontheroad。
TomhadneverbeeninLondon，andwouldhavelikedtohavestoppedattheBelleSavage，wheretheyhadbeenputdownbytheStar，justatdusk，thathemighthavegonerovingaboutthoseendless，mysterious，gas-litstreets，which，withtheirglareandhumandmovingcrowds，excitedhimsothathecouldn’ttalkeven。ButassoonashefoundthatthePeacockarrangementwouldgethimtoRugbybytwelveo’clockintheday，whereasotherwisehewouldn’tbetheretilltheevening，allotherplansmeltedaway，hisoneabsorbingaimbeingtobecomeapublicschool-boyasfastaspossible，andsixhourssoonerorlaterseemingtohimofthemostalarmingimportance。
