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they met at the gas…works； sitting opposite the retorts on a
bench supported at each end with bricks。 They did not penetrate
far into the mysteries of Welsh shorthand； they soon abandoned
the attempt； and induced the village schoolmaster to open a night
school。
This； however； did not last long。 The young Crispin was
returning late one night from Llanrwst in company with a lad of
the same age； and both having heard much of the blessings of
education from a Scotch lady who took a kindly interest in them；
their ambition was inflamed； and they entered into a solemn
compact that they would thenceforward devote themselves body and
soul to the attainment of an academical degree。 Yet they were
both poor。 One was but a shoemaker's apprentice； while the other
was a pupil teacher earning but a miserable weekly pittance。 One
could do the parts of speech； the other could not。 One had
struggled with the pans asinorum； the other had never seen it。 I
may mention that the young pupil teacher is now a curate in the
Church of England。 He is a graduate of Cambridge University and
a prizeman of Clare College。 But to return to the little
shoemaker。
〃After returning home from Llanrwst； he disburthened his heart to
his mother； and told her that shoemaking； which until now he had
pursued with extraordinary zest； could no longer interest him。
His mother； who was equal to the emergency； sent the boy to a
teacher of the old school； who had himself worked his way from
the plough。 After the exercise of considerable diplomacy； an
arrangement was arrived at whereby the youth was to go to school
on Mondays； Wednesdays； and Fridays； and make shoes during the
remaining days of the week。 This suited him admirably。 That
very night he seized upon a geography； and began to learn the
counties of England and Wales。 The fear of failure never left
him for two hours together； except when he slept。 The plan of
work was faithfully kept； though by this time shoemaking had lost
its charms。 He shortened his sleeping hours； and rose at any
moment that he awokeat two； three； or four in the morning。 He
got his brother； who had been plodding with him over shorthand；
to study horticulture； and fruit and vegetable culture； and that
brother shortly after took a high place in an examination held by
the Royal Horticultural Society。 For a time； however； they
worked together； and often did their mother get up at four
o'clock in the depth of winter； light their fire； and return to
bed after calling them up to the work of self…culture。 Even this
did not satisfy their devouring ambition。 There was a bed in the
workshop； and they obtained permission to sleep there。 Then they
followed their own plans。 The young gardener would sit up till
one or two in the morning； and wake his brother； who had gone to
bed as soon as he had given up work the night before。
Now he got up and studied through the small hours of the morning
until the time came when he had to transfer his industry to
shoemaking； or go to school on the appointed days after the
distant eight o'clock had come。 His brother had got worn out。
Early sleep seemed to be the best。 They then both went to bed
about eight o'clock； and got the policeman to call them up before
retiring himself。
〃So the struggle went on； until the faithful old schoolmaster
thought that his young pupil might try the examination at the
Bangor Normal College。 He was now eighteen years of age； and it
was eighteen months since the time when he began to learn the
counties of England and Wales。 He went to Bangor； rigged out in
his brother's coat and waistcoat； which were better than his own；
and with his brother's watch in his pocket to time himself in his
examinations。 He went through his examination； but returned home
thinking he had failed。 Nevertheless； he had in the meantime； on
the strength of a certificate which he had obtained six months
before； in an examination held by the Society of Arts and
Sciences in Liverpool； applied for a situation as teacher in a
grammar…school at Ormskirk in Lancashire。 He succeeded in his
application； and had been there for only eight days when he
received a letter from Mr。 Rowlands； Principal of the Bangor
Normal College； informing him that he had passed at the head of
the list； and was the highest non…pupil teacher examined by the
British and Foreign Society。 Having obtained permission from his
master to leave； he packed his clothes and his few books。 He had
not enough money to carry him home； but； unasked； the master of
the school gave him 10s。 He arrived home about three o'clock on
a Sunday morning； after a walk of eleven miles over a lonely road
from the place where the train had stopped。 He reeled on the
way； and found the country reeling too。 He had been sleeping
eight nights in a damp bed。 Six weeks of the Bangor Session
passed； and during that time he had been delirious； and was too
weak to sit up in bed。 But the second time he crossed the
threshold of his home he made for Bangor and got back his
〃position；〃 which was all important to him； and he kept it all
through。
〃Having finished his course at Bangor he went to keep a school at
Brynaman； he endeavoured to study but could not。 After two years
he gave up the school； and with 60L。 saved he faced the world
once more。 There was a scholarship of the value of 40L。 a year；
for three years； attached to one of the Scotch Universities； to
be competed for。 He knew the Latin Grammar； and had； with help；
translated one of the books of Caesar。 Of Greek he knew nothing；
save the letters and the first declension of nouns； but in May he
began to read in earnest at a farmhouse。 He worked every day
from 6 A。M。 to 12 P。M。 with only an hour's intermission。 He
studied the six Latin and two Greek books prescribed； he did some
Latin composition unaided； brushed up his mathematics； and learnt
something of the history of Greece and Rome。 In October； after
five months of hard work； he underwent an examination for the
scholarship； and obtained it； beating his opponent by
twenty…eight marks in a thousand。 He then went up to the Scotch
University and passed all the examinations for his ordinary M。A。
degree in two years and a half。 On his first arrival at the
University he found that he could not sleep； but he wearily yet
victoriously plodded on； took a prize in Greek； then the first
prize in philosophy； the second prize in logic； the medal in
English literature； and a few other prizes。
〃He had 40L。 when he first arrived in Scotland； and he carried
away with him a similar sum to Germany； whither he went to study
for honours in philosophy。 He returned home with little in his
pocket； borrowing money to go to Scotland； where he sat for
honours and for the scholarship。 He got his first honours； and
what was more important at the time； money to go on with。 He now
lives on the scholarship which he took at th