CHAPTER XX.
THE TUTOR'S PROPOSAL--A TEACHERS' MEETING I think it was Mr.Clerke who first suggested that we should take the Sunday scholars and teachers for a holiday trip.

Such things are matters of course now in every parish, but in my childhood it was considered a most marvellous idea by our rustic population.

The tutor had heard of some extraordinarily active parson who had done the like by his schools, and partly from real kindness, and partly in the spirit of emulation which intrudes even upon schemes of benevolence, he was most anxious that we at Dacrefield should not "be behindhand" in good works.

Competition is a feeling with which children have great sympathy, and I warmly echoed Mr.Clerke's resolve that we would not "be behindhand." "Let us go to the Rectory at once," said I; "Mr.Andrewes said we might have some of those big yellow raspberries, and we must ask him about it.

It's a splendid idea.