station,

The two hours' journey passed quickly away, and the train was now slackening speed previous to stopping at the B from which St. Aubrey's was about a mile distant.

Frank and the old gentleman had become immense friends; and previous to parting, the latter gave him his address, and told him to be sure to come and see him at the first opportunity, which, as he shook hands, he promised to do most faithfully, and we believe sincerely also.

There was the usual bustle and confusion at the B- station, consequent on the influx of a large number of school-boys. "Back again, confound it," cried one; and "Slap Bang," rang out in full chorus, greatly to the edification of the worthy station-master and the porters who were in a fair way of being bothered out of their senses.

"Gently, gentlemen, please do be quiet a bit, and let us get your luggage away," cried the aforementioned individual, puffing and blowing with his unwonted exertions.

"All right, old buffer," was the irreverent reply; "do look sharp, and not keep us waiting all day," "here Jones, Smith, what's your name, haul off this box."

At last, everything was duly settled, and nothing remained for the porters to do but lament the extent to which the Company's rules with regard to gratuities, had been broken.

"Hastings," cried a fellow whose name was Harvey, "its no use going to the house yet, come and have a pull on the river; Selwyn and Trelawney are both coming, and my young brother can steer like a book, so we can have a stunning row."

"All right” replied Frank, "anything to please you, let's send up the luggage first, and then we can drop in at any time. I'm not in a very particular hurry to get up there."

This having been done, they walked to the river, which ran about half a mile from St. Aubrey's, and choosing the lightest fouroar they could find, started on their pull.

All went on capitally, and Harvey had not overrated the steering capabilities of his brother who was now coming to St. Aubrey's for the first time, and looked with considerable awe on his more experienced companions.

All four were at the same house, the Rev. Mr. Bedoe's; Selwyn, the oldest, high up in the sixth; Trelawney somewhat lower down in the same class, and Harvey and Hastings in the fifth together.

"What a joke, if we were to upset," cried Harvey, "my young brother can't swim, and it would be rather awkward, its precious deep here."

"It wouldn't be the first time," said Trelawney. "I think it is rather a spree getting turned out comfortably; but I can't say I feel inclined just now. By jove, it's time we are getting back, or old Bedoe will blow up like fun. Now Hastings, let's have a good spurt."

Hastings readily complied, and every sinew was strained to the utmost, when suddenly a loud crack was heard, and before they had time to ascertain the cause-which was the breaking of Harvey's oar-they were all in the water.

Harvey naturally hastened to his brother's aid, and as all the rest were capital swimmers, they felt no anxiety on each other's

account.

Trelawney helped Harvey to take his brother to land, which was not far off, and Selwyn was following leisurely behind, when suddenly he cried out "Where's Hastings?"

A moment's glance sufficed to shew him he was not above water, and loudly calling to the others, he swam back with all possible haste. Nothing could be seen of Frank, but fancying he saw something rise to the surface and sink again immediately, he dived several times in succession without finding anything. At last, when nearly giving up in despair, he caught hold of a head of hair, and slowly brought it up to the surface. Exhausted as he was, he could hardly have made way with it to the bank, had not Trelawney and Harvey instantly come to his assistance, and in a short time they had brought both safe to land.

To the consternation of all, Frank shewed no signs of returning animation, and Selwyn suggested taking him to a cottage, which luckily happened to be close at hand, and there to their great relief, they found that an old woman, who had seen the accident, and was not without experience in these matters, had prepared some simple restoratives which she immediately proceeded to

use.

Everyone said afterwards they never passed a more anxious ten minutes in their lives than till Frank began to revive; and the first sigh he uttered was, Harvey declared, the sweetest music he ever heard. Gradually, under the skilful treatment of the old lady, he became completely restored to consciousness, and explained what before had seemed incomprehensible, how it was he made no effort to save himself, as he thought he must have been struck on the head by one of the iron rowlocks, and rendered all but insensible. On hearing that Selwyn had been his rescuer, and that but for his timely aid he must have been drowned, he turned to him and said, "I can't express my thanks in words, Selwyn, but believe me I shall

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always remember you saved my life, and have laid on me an obligation which I can never fully repay." Selwyn made no reply, but extended his hand, which Frank shook heartily, and from that moment commenced a friendship between the two which never grew cold, and increased rather than diminished as time went on.

Little did Mr. Hastings imagine that night how nearly his son had come to an untimely end, and that while he thought him safe back at St. Aubrey's, he was being dragged from a watery grave.

Superstitions regarding Christmas Day.

Though for our own part we disclaim any such feelings, yet we think that many of our readers will be interested in learning the future events of the present year, as foretold by a stanza taken from an ancient poem of the fifteenth century.

Had our space permitted, we should have inserted the whole poem, as affording some idea of the superstitious dread with which the advent of Christmas Day must have been regarded in these early times, not merely by the vulgar, but by all classes of our forefathers.

However, we may briefly say that judging from the frequent allusions throughout the poem to the risks that those who steal ⚫ subject themselves to, thieving seems to have been the fashionable vice of the age, practised alike by rich and poor.

The following is the stanza to which reference was made above:

If Christmas day, the truth to say,

Fall upon the Wednesday,

There shall be a hard winter and strong,

With many hideous winds among.

The summer merry and good shall be,
And that year wheat in great plenty :
Young folk shall die that year also,
And ships at sea shall have great war.
Whatever child that day born is,
He shall be doughty and gay, I wis,
And wise and crafty also of deed,
And find many in clothes and bread..

Summary of Ebents during 1866.

Although "The Cheltonian" did not see the beginning of the year which has just passed from us, we must be allowed some license, if in giving a summary, we begin from the commencement of the Midsummer half. Fortunately before "The Cheltonian' dawned on the School, there are very few important circumstances to note, and these principally connected with Racquets, and the first Cricket Matches, which, although important in themselves, are not generally looked upon with so much interest as perhaps they are entitled to.

That time of the year which lies between the beginning of the half and Easter, is emphatically the Racquet season. There is but little else to do. Football is not played-it is too cold for cricket, and boys do not seem to take to Hockey, Fives, Rounders, &c., probably because the senior fellows do not bother themselves to indulge in such rude and elementary games. Everyone, therefore, who can, plays Racquets, that is, provided it does not rain too much; if the weather is moderately fair, those who have any hope of winning the Champion Racquets or Silver Cup may generally be seen practising between twelve and one. These two trophies have both to be competed for during this time. This year Humphrys occupied the position of champion, whilst Farquharson, who ran him rather close, was the winner of the Cup presented by five old Collegians. With regard to the Cricket before the May number of "The Cheltonian" appeared, there were only two matches, the Eleven playing a scratch match against Sixteen, and Reading Desk v. Pulpit. For the Sixteen, both Lillywhites were playing, and it does the Eleven much credit that they scored so well against such bowling, and so early in the season.

From this time, we have some record of the doings of Collegians both past and present. Looking back through the eight numbers of "The Cheltonian," which have as yet appeared, no one can fail to be struck by the tale which they have to tell. They tell of much prosperity and well-being in the school, they tell of the successes of old Collegians at the Universities and elsewhere; and amidst all these, they tell of the death of some whose memories will long live in the minds of all connected with the College. These dispensations of an all-merciful Providence, must tend to cast a certain gloom over our feelings: but from them we may gather much to refresh us and strengthen us in the work of another year,

If the prosperity of a school is to be judged of by the number of boys enrolled on its lists, we have no reason to think that the College is on the decline. If the successes at the great seats of learning, in scholarships, by boys passing into Woolwich, is a criterion, here again, we must own that there has been no lack. But the prosperity of a school depends altogether on neither. It is the average work done by each class; by each boy of the school, and not by its shining lights, that we must take as the standard by which to judge. It is hardly for us to give any opinion on this subject; but we may safely say, from what we heard from the examiners' reports, that we have no cause to be ashamed, but may congratulate ourselves on having reached the requisite standard.

Passing from this subject, to one which must be always of interest to readers of "The Cheltonian," we will consider how the respective games have flourished during the past year. Cricket is, we believe, the game in which the school takes most interest, the members of the Eleven are, next to the Prefects, those on whom the boys look with most reverence. Of the eleven foreign matches that have been played, the College has been successful in six; in three we have been vanquished, and two were left drawn. Among our defeats, the first was by the "Old" fellows. Up to that time the Eleven had never scored under 200 in any innings; but Grey's slow round arm seemed to be too much for the present, the "Old Uns" winning by six wickets. Of the two unfinished matches, the great match of the season was one. Unfortunately for both sides, time would not allow of the Marlborough match being finished. After such a brilliant display of cricket on both sides, it seemed very hard that there was not another day to test which side was the better. Next year the match is played on our opponent's ground. There, it is generally easier to finish the match, but if it be found impossible to do so in the two days, we have no doubt that the two head masters would have no objection to giving a little extra time to accomplish so desirable an end.

Unfortunately, the Eleven was unable to make its appearance in London. The "Old" match could not be changed of course, and so we lookers-on were unable to hear of the fine cricket displayed by the Cheltenham Eleven in town. This year, however, we hope the two matches will not interfere with one another, but, like every other public school, we may send our representatives to try their skill with Marylebone or the Surrey Clubs.

Of late years, a branch of physical training has been commenced, which certainly does honour to the pluck and enterprise of the boys of Cheltenham College, at least a portion of them.