" Now, one very striking peculiarity in Ned's character was his
unwillingness to acknowledge himself in the wrong, however ridiculous
his answer might be; and he was disposed to argue his point up on this
occasion. "Any way," said he, "the Pyramids are large, and so is
Australia; and I thought it might sometimes be called a pyramid for
convenience of description." The idea of Ned entering into an argument
with the trustees of the school, struck the rest of the boys as so
extremely ludicrous, that our long pent-up mirth found vent in a burst
of laughter through the whole class, and no one present had the heart to
chide us; for it was with intense difficulty that the elderly gentlemen
maintained their own gravity. The teacher was obliged to exercise his
authority before Ned could be silenced; and the remaining part of the
examination proved rather a failure. I know not how it happened, but
from that day there was a marked improvement in Edward Barton, in every
respect. He attended the school for two years; and when he left us it
was to accompany his parents to one of the far Western States. His
father had relatives residing in the West, and had received from them
such glowing accounts of the country, that he decided upon removing
thither.
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