A boy is probably of considerable interest to himself, and a man looks back at his own boyhood with some pathos.

But in his actuality a boy has very little to commend him to the toleration of other human beings.

Tom was very well, as boys go; but now his contribution to the common enjoyment was to venture as near as possible to all perilous edges; to throw stones into the water, and to make as if to throw them over precipices on the people below; to pepper his father with questions, and to collect cumbrous mementos of the vegetable and mineral kingdoms.

He kept the carriage waiting a good five minutes, while he could cut his initials on a band-rail.

"You can come back and see 'em on your bridal tower," said the driver.