"They might have taken the law into their own hands, and have punished him in their own rough and ready way.  But no; his conduct was too shameful for that.  It was looked upon as a serious disgrace to the whole school.  So the case was duly reported to the masters, and by them to the governors.  Witnesses were examined, and the offence proved.  And now, what was the defence of the poor lad?  He had borne shame, scorn, reproach, reviling; he had borne them all patiently, without murmur, without resentment.  What, then, was the reason for his strange conduct? what motive or inducement could make him thus brave the scorn and contempt, the daily jeers, and the cut direct from his schoolfellows? All was soon made plain.  This boy's parents were old and very poor--so poor, helpless, and friendless that they were often brought to the verge of starvation.  In those days, remember, there was not the same attention paid to the poor of all classes, nor loving provision made for their wants, as there is now.  So the noble son--for truly noble he was--submitted cheerfully to every trouble and shame that could fall upon himself, in order to get food from time to time for his almost famishing parents.  They were too respectable to beg, and would have never allowed their boy to beg for them; and yet so destitute were they that they were even glad of those miserable scraps, the after-dinner leavings on the boys' plates.  And these their son gathered for them, indifferent to the consequences which might happen to himself, while at the same time he added a portion of his own daily food to supply the wants of the old people.