Ah, there is nobody left who knows the real
Master Herbert as I know him."
As a boy at school, Herbert Kitchener was not very brilliant. Like
Wellington, whose mother called him "the fool of the family," Kitchener
did too much day-dreaming to make much headway with his studies. His
first teacher was a governess, who gave him up in despair. Then he was
sent to a private school where he did not do any better.
His father lost his patience. Just before an examination, he made a
dire threat.
"Young man," said the Colonel, "if you fail I'll make you toe the mark.
I'll send you to a girl's school."
Apparently the threat did not have the desired effect. He flunked and
was transferred to the other school. This time he was told that
failure meant that he would be taken out of school entirely and
apprenticed to a hatter.
The warning had the desired effect. Herbert buckled down to work and
not only passed his examinations, but even began to show a decided
liking for mathematics--which study was to be of good service in later
life.
By this time the family had moved into a more pretentious home, known
as the Crotta House. Little is related of his boyhood life there. It
was quiet and uneventful. The boy was of reserved nature, preferring
to sit quietly in the corner and listen while others did the talking.
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