But that would have been, as I now perceive, an ambition beyond a farmer's son; for there is but one form above it, and that made of masterful scholars, entitled rightly "monitors".

So it came to pass, by the grace of God, that I was called away from learning, whilst sitting at the desk of the junior first in the upper school, and beginning the Greek verb [Illustration: greek1.jpg] My eldest grandson makes bold to say that I never could have learned [Illustration: greek2.jpg] ten pages further on, being all he himself could manage, with plenty of stripes to help him.

I know that he hath more head than I--though never will he have such body; and am thankful to have stopped betimes, with a meek and wholesome head-piece.
[Illustration: 002.jpg John Ridd's School Desk] But if you doubt of my having been there, because now I know so little, go and see my name, "John Ridd," graven on that very form.

Forsooth, from the time I was strong enough to open a knife and to spell my name, I began to grave it in the oak, first of the block whereon I sate, and then of the desk in front of it, according as I was promoted from one to other of them: and there my grandson reads it now, at this present time of writing, and hath fought a boy for scoffing at it--"John Ridd his name"-- and done again in "winkeys," a mischievous but cheerful device, in which we took great pleasure.
This is the manner of a "winkey," which I here set down, lest child of mine, or grandchild, dare to make one on my premises; if he does, I shall know the mark at once, and score it well upon him.

The scholar obtains, by prayer or price, a handful of saltpetre, and then with the knife wherewith he should rather be trying to mend his pens, what does he do but scoop a hole where the desk is some three inches thick.