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Hughes, Thomas, 1822-1896

"Tom Brown's School Days"

Don't be in a hurry about finding your work in the world for
yourself--you are not old enough to judge for yourself yet; but just
look about you in the place you find yourself in, and try to make things
a little better and honester there. You'll find plenty to keep your hand
in at Oxford, or wherever else you go. And don't be led away to think
this part of the world important and that unimportant. Every corner of
the world is important. No man knows whether this part or that is most
so, but every man may do some honest work in his own corner." And then
the good man went on to talk wisely to Tom of the sort of work which
he might take up as an undergraduate, and warned him of the prevalent
university sins, and explained to him the many and great differences
between university and school life, till the twilight changed into
darkness, and they heard the truant servants stealing in by the back
entrance.
"I wonder where Arthur can be," said Tom at last, looking at his watch;
"why, it's nearly half-past nine already."
"Oh, he is comfortably at supper with the eleven, forgetful of his
oldest friends," said the master. "Nothing has given me greater
pleasure," he went on, "than your friendship for him; it has been the
making of you both."
"Of me, at any rate," answered Tom; "I should never have been here now
but for him. It was the luckiest chance in the world that sent him to
Rugby and made him my chum.


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