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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/9254-0.txt b/9254-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7a53337 --- /dev/null +++ b/9254-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3078 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg E-text of Biographical Stories, by Nathaniel + Hawthorne + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Biographical Stories, by Nathaniel Hawthorne + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Biographical Stories + +Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne + + +Release Date: November, 2005 [EBook #9254] +First Posted: September 25, 2003 +Last Updated: December 15, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BIOGRAPHICAL STORIES *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger and Al Haines + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h4> + TRUE STORIES OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY<br /> + </h4> + <h3> + By Nathaniel Hawthorne<br /> + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + BIOGRAPHICAL STORIES<br /> + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="noindent"> + CONTENTS: <br /><br /> <a href="#west">BENJAMIN WEST.</a><br /> <a + href="#newton">SIR ISAAC NEWTON.</a><br /> <a href="#johnson">SAMUEL + JOHNSON.</a><br /> <a href="#cromwell">OLIVER CROMWELL.</a><br /> <a + href="#franklin">BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.</a><br /> <a href="#christina">QUEEN + CHRISTINA.</a><br /> + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + BIOGRAPHICAL STORIES + </h3> + <p> + This small volume and others of a similar character, from the same hand, + have not been composed without a deep sense of responsibility. The author + regards children as sacred, and would not, for the world, cast anything + into the fountain of a young heart that might imbitter and pollute its + waters. And, even in point of the reputation to be aimed at, juvenile + literature is as well worth cultivating as any other. The writer, if he + succeed in pleasing his little readers, may hope to be remembered by them + till their own old age,—a far longer period of literary existence + than is generally attained by those who seek immortality from the + judgments of full-grown men. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> <a name="chap01"></a> + </p> + <h4> + CHAPTER I. + </h4> + <p> + When Edward Temple was about eight or nine years old he was afflicted with + a disorder of the eyes. It was so severe, and his sight was naturally so + delicate, that the surgeon felt some apprehensions lest the boy should + become totally blind. He therefore gave strict directions to keep him in a + darkened chamber, with a bandage over his eyes. Not a ray of the blessed + light of heaven could be suffered to visit the poor lad. + </p> + <p> + This was a sad thing for Edward. It was just the same as if there were to + be no more sunshine, nor moonlight, nor glow of the cheerful fire, nor + light of lamps. A night had begun which was to continue perhaps for + months,—a longer and drearier night than that which voyagers are + compelled to endure when their ship is icebound, throughout the winter, in + the Arctic Ocean. His dear father and mother, his brother George, and the + sweet face of little Emily Robinson must all vanish and leave him in utter + darkness and solitude. Their voices and footsteps, it is true, would be + heard around him; he would feel his mother’s embrace and the kind pressure + of all their hands; but still it would seem as if they were a thousand + miles away. + </p> + <p> + And then his studies,—they were to be entirely given up. This was + another grievous trial; for Edward’s memory hardly went back to the period + when he had not known how to read. Many and many a holiday had he spent at + his hook, poring over its pages until the deepening twilight confused the + print and made all the letters run into long words. Then, would he press + his hands across his eyes and wonder why they pained him so; and when the + candles were lighted, what was the reason that they burned so dimly, like + the moon in a foggy night? Poor little fellow! So far as his eyes were + concerned he was already an old man, and needed a pair of spectacles + almost as much as his own grandfather did. + </p> + <p> + And now, alas! the time was come when even grandfather’s spectacles could + not have assisted Edward to read. After a few bitter tears, which only + pained his eyes the more, the poor boy submitted to the surgeon’s orders. + His eyes were bandaged, and, with his mother on one side and his little + friend Emily on the other, he was led into a darkened chamber. + </p> + <p> + “Mother, I shall be very miserable!” said Edward, sobbing. + </p> + <p> + “O no, my dear child!” replied his mother, cheerfully. “Your eyesight was + a precious gift of Heaven, it is true; but you would do wrong to be + miserable for its loss, even if there were no hope of regaining it. There + are other enjoyments besides what come to us through our eyes.” + </p> + <p> + “None that are worth having,” said Edward. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, but you will not think so long,” rejoined Mrs. Temple, with + tenderness. “All of us—your father, and myself, and George, and our + sweet Emily—will try to find occupation and amusement for you. We + will use all our eyes to make you happy. Will they not be better than a + single pair?” + </p> + <p> + “I will sit, by you all day long,” said Emily, in her low, sweet voice, + putting her hand into that of Edward. + </p> + <p> + “And so will I, Ned,” said George, his elder brother, “school time and + all, if my father will permit me.” + </p> + <p> + Edward’s brother George was three or four years older than himself,—a + fine, hardy lad, of a bold and ardent temper. He was the leader of his + comrades in all their enterprises and amusements. As to his proficiency at + study there was not much to be said. He had sense and ability enough to + have made himself a scholar, but found so many pleasanter things to do + that he seldom took hold of a book with his whole heart. So fond was + George of boisterous sports and exercises that it was really a great token + of affection and sympathy when he offered to sit all day long in a dark + chamber with his poor brother Edward. + </p> + <p> + As for little Emily Robinson, she was the daughter of one of Mr. Temple’s + dearest friends. Ever since her mother went to heaven (which was soon + after Emily’s birth) the little girl had dwelt in the household where we + now find her. Mr. and Mrs. Temple seemed to love her as well as their own + children; for they had no daughter except Emily; nor would the boys have + known the blessing of a sister had not this gentle stranger come to teach + them what it was. If I could show you Emily’s face, with her dark hair + smoothed away from her forehead, you would be pleased with her look of + simplicity and loving kindness, but might think that she was somewhat too + grave for a child of seven years old. But you would not love her the less + for that. + </p> + <p> + So brother George and this loving little girl were to be Edward’s + companions and playmates while he should be kept prisoner in the dark + chamber. When the first bitterness of his grief was over he began to feel + that, there might be some comforts and enjoyments in life even for a boy + whose eyes were covered with a bandage. + </p> + <p> + “I thank you, dear mother,” said he, with only a few sobs; “and you, + Emily; and you too, George. You will all be very kind to me, I know. And + my father,—will not he come and see me every day?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, my dear boy,” said Mr. Temple; for, though invisible to Edward, he + was standing close beside him. “I will spend some hours of every day with + you. And as I have often amused you by relating stories and adventures + while you had the use of your eves, I can do the same now that you are + unable to read. Will this please you, Edward?” + </p> + <p> + “O, very much,” replied Edward. + </p> + <p> + “Well, then,” said his father, “this evening we will begin the series of + Biographical Stories which I promised you some time ago.” + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> <a name="chap02"></a> + </p> + <h4> + CHAPTER II. + </h4> + <p> + When evening came, Mr. Temple found Edward considerably revived in spirits + and disposed to be resigned to his misfortune. Indeed, the figure of the + boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed + easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied + hun. When a man’s eyes have grown old with gazing at the ways of the + world, it does not seem such a terrible misfortune to have them bandaged. + </p> + <p> + Little Emily Robinson sat by Edward’s side with the air of an accomplished + nurse. As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched + all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to + anticipate her patient’s wishes before his tongue could utter them. Yet it + was noticeable that the child manifested an indescribable awe and + disquietude whenever she fixed her eyes on the bandage; for, to her simple + and affectionate heart, it seemed as if her dear friend Edward was + separated from her because she could not see his eyes. A friend’s eyes + tell us many things which could never be spoken by the tongue. + </p> + <p> + George, likewise, looked awkward and confused, as stout and healthy boys + are accustomed to do in the society of the sick or afflicted. Never having + felt pain or sorrow, they are abashed, from not knowing how to sympathize + with the sufferings of others. + </p> + <p> + “Well, my dear Edward,” inquired Mrs. Temple, “is Your chair quite + comfortable? and has your little nurse provided for all your wants? If so, + your father is ready to begin his stories.” + </p> + <p> + “O, I am very well now,” answered Edward, with a faint smile. “And my ears + have not forsaken me, though my eyes are good for nothing. So pray, dear + father, begin.” + </p> + <p> + It was Mr. Temple’s design to tell the children a series of true stories, + the incidents of which should be taken from the childhood and early life + of eminent people. Thus he hoped to bring George, and Edward, and Emily + into closer acquaintance with the famous persons who have lived in other + times by showing that they also had been children once. Although Mr. + Temple was scrupulous to relate nothing but what was founded on fact, yet + he felt himself at liberty to clothe the incidents of his narrative in a + new coloring, so that his auditors might understand them the better. + </p> + <p> + “My first story,” said he, “shall be about a painter of pictures.” + </p> + <p> + “Dear me!” cried Edward, with a sigh. “I am afraid I shall never look at + pictures any more.” + </p> + <p> + “We will hope for the best,” answered his father. “In the mean time, you + must try to see things within your own mind.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Temple then began the following story:— + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> <a name="west"></a> + </p> + <h3> + BENJAMIN WEST. + </h3> + <h4> + [BORN 1738. DIED 1820] + </h4> + <p> + In the year 1735 there came into the world, in the town of Springfield, + Pennsylvania, a Quaker infant, from whom his parents and neighbors looked + for wonderful things. A famous preacher of the Society of Friends had + prophesied about little Ben, and foretold that he would be one of the most + remarkable characters that, had appeared on the earth since the days of + William Penn. On this account the eyes of many people were fixed upon the + boy. Some of his ancestors had won great renown in the old wars of England + and France; but it was probably expected that Ben would become a preacher, + and would convert multitudes to the peaceful doctrines of the Quakers. + Friend West and his wife were thought to be very fortunate in having such + a son. + </p> + <p> + Little Ben lived to the ripe age of six years without doing anything that + was worthy to be told in history. But one summer afternoon, in his seventh + year, his mother put a fan into his hand and bade him keep the flies away + from the face of a little babe who lay fast asleep in the cradle. She then + left the room. + </p> + <p> + The boy waved the fan to and fro and drove away the buzzing flies whenever + they had the impertinence to come near the baby’s face. When they had all + flown out of the window or into distant parts of the room, he bent over + the cradle and delighted himself with gazing at the sleeping infant. It + was, indeed, a very pretty sight. The little personage in the cradle + slumbered peacefully, with its waxen hands under its chin, looking as full + of blissful quiet as if angels were singing lullabies in its ear. Indeed, + it must have been dreaming about heaven; for, while Ben stooped over the + cradle, the little baby smiled. + </p> + <p> + “How beautiful she looks!” said Ben to himself. “What a pity it is that + such a pretty smile should not last forever!” + </p> + <p> + Now Ben, at this period of his life, had never heard of that wonderful art + by which a look, that appears and vanishes in a moment, may be made to + last for hundreds of years. But, though nobody had told him of such an + art, he may be said to have invented it for himself. On a table near at + hand there were pens and paper, and ink of two colors, black and red. The + boy seized a pen and sheet of paper, and, kneeling down beside the cradle, + began to draw a likeness of the infant. While he was busied in this manner + he heard his mother’s step approaching, and hastily tried to conceal the + paper. + </p> + <p> + “Benjamin, my son, what hast thou been doing?” inquired his mother, + observing marks of confusion in his face. + </p> + <p> + At first Ben was unwilling to tell; for he felt as if there might be + something wrong in stealing the baby’s face and putting it upon a sheet of + paper. However, as his mother insisted, he finally put the sketch into her + hand, and then hung his head, expecting to be well scolded. But when the + good lady saw what was on the paper, in lines of red and black ink, she + uttered a scream of surprise and joy. + </p> + <p> + “Bless me!” cried she. “It is a picture of little Sally!” + </p> + <p> + And then she threw her arms round our friend Benjamin, and kissed him so + tenderly that he never afterwards was afraid to show his performances to + his mother. + </p> + <p> + As Ben grew older, he was observed to take vast delight in looking at the + lines and forms of nature. For instance, he was greatly pleased with the + blue violets of spring, the wild roses of summer, and the scarlet + cardinal-flowers of early autumn. In the decline of the year, when the + woods were variegated with all the colors of the rainbow, Ben seemed to + desire nothing better than to gaze at them from morn till night. The + purple and golden clouds of sunset were a joy to him. And he was + continually endeavoring to draw the figures of trees, men, mountains, + houses, cattle, geese, ducks, and turkeys, with a piece of chalk, on barn + doors or on the floor. + </p> + <p> + In these old times the Mohawk Indians were still numerous in Pennsylvania. + Every year a party of them used to pay a visit to Springfield, because the + wigwams of their ancestors had formerly stood there. These wild men grew + fond of little Ben, and made him very happy by giving him some of the red + and yellow paint with which they were accustomed to adorn their faces. His + mother, too, presented him with a piece of indigo. Thus he now had three + colors,—red, blue, and yellow,—and could manufacture green by + mixing the yellow with the blue. Our friend Ben was overjoyed, and + doubtless showed his gratitude to the Indians by taking their likenesses + in the strange dresses which they wore, with feathers, tomahawks, and bows + and arrows. + </p> + <p> + But all this time the young artist had no paint-brushes; nor were there + any to be bought, unless he had sent to Philadelphia on purpose. However, + he was a very ingenious boy, aid resolved to manufacture paint-brushes for + himself. With this design he laid hold upon—what do you think? Why, + upon a respectable old black cat, who was sleeping quietly by the + fireside. + </p> + <p> + “Puss,” said little Ben to the cat, “pray give me some of the fur from the + tip of thy tail?” + </p> + <p> + Though he addressed the black cat so civilly, yet Ben was determined to + have the fur whether she were willing or not. Puss, who had no great zeal + for the fine arts, would have resisted if she could; but the boy was armed + with his mother’s scissors, and very dexterously clipped off fur enough to + make a paint-brush. This was of so much use to him that be applied to + Madame Puss again and again, until her warm coat of fur had become so thin + and ragged that she could hardly keep comfortable through the winter. Poor + thing! she was forced to creep close into the chimney-corner, and eyed Ben + with a very rueful physiognomy. But Ben considered it more necessary that + he should have paint-brushes than that puss should be warm. + </p> + <p> + About this period friend West received a visit from Mr. Pennington, a + merchant of Philadelphia, who was likewise a member of the Society of + Friends. The visitor, on entering the parlor, was surprised to see it + ornamented with drawings of Indian chiefs, and of birds with beautiful + plumage, and of the wild flowers of the forest. Nothing of the kind was + ever seen before in the habitation of a Quaker farmer. + </p> + <p> + “Why, Friend West,” exclaimed the Philadelphia merchant, “what has + possessed thee to cover thy walls with all these pictures? Where on earth + didst then get them?” + </p> + <p> + Then Friend West explained that all these pictures were painted by little + Ben, with no better materials than red and yellow ochre and a piece of + indigo, and with brushes made of the black cat’s fur. + </p> + <p> + “Verily,” said Mr. Pennington, “the boy hath a wonderful faculty. Some of + our friends might look upon these matters as vanity; but little Benjamin + appears to have been born a painter; and Providence is wiser than we are.” + </p> + <p> + The good merchant patted Benjamin on the head, and evidently considered + him a wonderful boy. When his parents saw how much their son’s + performances were admired, they, no doubt, remembered the prophecy of the + old Quaker preacher respecting Ben’s future eminence. Yet they could not + understand how he was ever to become a very great and useful man merely by + making pictures. + </p> + <p> + One evening, shortly after Mr. Pennington’s return to Philadelphia, a + package arrived at Springfield, directed to our little friend Ben. + </p> + <p> + “What can it possibly be?” thought Ben, when it was put into his hands. + “Who can have sent me such a great square package as this?” + </p> + <p> + On taking off the thick brown paper which enveloped it, behold! there was + a paint-box, with a great many cakes of paint, and brushes of various + sizes. It was the gift of good Mr. Pennington. There were likewise several + squares of canvas such as artists use for painting pictures upon, and, in + addition to all these treasures, some beautiful engravings of landscapes. + These were the first pictures that Ben had ever seen, except those of his + own drawing. + </p> + <p> + What a joyful evening was this for the little artist! At bedtime he put + the paint-box under his pillow, and got hardly a wink of sleep; for, all + night long, his fancy was painting pictures in the darkness. In the + morning he hurried to the garret, and was seen no more till the + dinner-hour; nor did he give himself time to eat more than a mouthful or + two of food before he hurried back to the garret again. The next day, and + the next, he was just as busy as ever; until at last his mother thought it + time to ascertain what he was about. She accordingly followed him to the + garret. + </p> + <p> + On opening the door, the first object that presented itself to her eyes + was our friend Benjamin, giving the last touches to a beautiful picture. + He had copied portions of two of the engravings, and made one picture out + of both, with such admirable skill that it was far more beautiful than the + originals. The grass, the trees, the water, the sky, and the houses were + all painted in their proper colors. There, too, where the sunshine and the + shadow, looking as natural as life. + </p> + <p> + “My dear child, thou hast done wonders!” cried his mother. + </p> + <p> + The good lady was in an ecstasy of delight. And well might she be proud of + her boy; for there were touches in this picture which old artists, who had + spent a lifetime in the business, need not have been ashamed of. Many a + year afterwards, this wonderful production was exhibited at the Royal + Academy in London. + </p> + <p> + When Benjamin was quite a large lad he was sent to school at Philadelphia. + Not long after his arrival he had a slight attack of fever, which confined + him to his bed. The light, which would otherwise have disturbed him, was + excluded from his chamber by means of closed wooden shutters. At first it + appeared so totally dark that Ben could not distinguish any object in the + room. By degrees, however, his eyes became accustomed to the scanty light. + </p> + <p> + He was lying on his back, looking up towards the ceiling, when suddenly he + beheld the dim apparition of a white cow moving slowly over his head! Ben + started, and rubbed his eyes in the greatest amazement. + </p> + <p> + “What can this mean?” thought he. + </p> + <p> + The white cow disappeared; and next came several pigs, which trotted along + the ceiling and vanished into the darkness of the chamber. So lifelike did + these grunters look that Ben almost seemed to hear them squeak. + </p> + <p> + “Well, this is very strange!” said Ben to himself. + </p> + <p> + When the people of the house came to see him, Benjamin told them of the + marvellous circumstance which had occurred. But they would not believe + him. + </p> + <p> + “Benjamin, thou art surely out of thy senses!” cried they. “How is it + possible that a white cow and a litter of pigs should be visible on the + ceiling of a dark chamber?” + </p> + <p> + Ben, however, had great confidence in his own eyesight, and was determined + to search the mystery to the bottom. For this purpose, when he was again + left alone, he got out of bed and examined the window-shutters. He soon + perceived a small chink in one of them, through which a ray of light found + its passage and rested upon the ceiling. Now, the science of optics will + inform us that the pictures of the white cow and the pigs, and of other + objects out of doors, came into the dark chamber through this narrow + chink, and were painted over Benjamin’s head. It is greatly to his credit + that he discovered the scientific principle of this phenomenon, and by + means of it constructed a camera-obscura, or magic-lantern, out of a + hollow box. This was of great advantage to him in drawing landscapes. + </p> + <p> + Well, time went on, and Benjamin continued to draw and paint pictures + until he had now reached the age when it was proper that he should choose + a business for life. His father and mother were in considerable perplexity + about him. According to the ideas of the Quakers, it is not right for + people to spend their lives in occupations that are of no real and + sensible advantage to the world. Now, what advantage could the world + expect from Benjamin’s pictures? This was a difficult question; and, in + order to set their minds at rest, his parents determined to consult the + preachers and wise men of their society. Accordingly, they all assembled + in the meeting-house, and discussed the matter from beginning to end. + </p> + <p> + Finally they came to a very wise decision. It seemed so evident that + Providence had created Benjamin to be a painter, and had given him + abilities which would be thrown away in any other business, that the + Quakers resolved not to oppose his inclination. They even acknowledged + that the sight of a beautiful picture might convey instruction to the mind + and might benefit the heart as much as a good book or a wise discourse. + They therefore committed the youth to the direction of God, being well + assured that he best knew what was his proper sphere of usefulness. The + old men laid their hands upon Benjamin’s head and gave him their blessing, + and the women kissed him affectionately. All consented that he should go + forth into the world and learn to be a painter by studying the best + pictures of ancient and modern times. + </p> + <p> + So our friend Benjamin left the dwelling of his parents, and his native + woods and streams, and the good Quakers of Springfield, and the Indians + who had given him his first colors; he left all the places and persons + whom he had hitherto known, and returned to them no more. He went first to + Philadelphia, and afterwards to Europe. Here he was noticed by many great + people, but retained all the sobriety and simplicity which he had learned + among the Quakers. It is related of him, that, when he was presented at + the court of the Prince of Parma, he kept his hat upon his head even while + kissing the Prince’s hand. + </p> + <p> + When he was twenty-five years old he went to London and established + himself there as all artist. In due course of time he acquired great fame + by his pictures, and was made chief painter to King George III. and + president of the Royal Academy of Arts. When the Quakers of Pennsylvania + heard of his success, they felt that the prophecy of the old preacher as + to little Ben’s future eminence was now accomplished. It is true, they + shook their heads at his pictures of battle and bloodshed, such as the + Death of Wolfe, thinking that these terrible scene, should not be held up + to the admiration of the world. + </p> + <p> + But they approved of the great paintings in which he represented the + miracles and sufferings of the Redeemer of mankind. King George employed + him to adorn a large and beautiful chapel at Windsor Castle with pictures + of these sacred subjects. He likewise painted a magnificent picture of + Christ Healing the Sick, which he gave to the hospital at Philadelphia. It + was exhibited to the public, and produced so much profit that the hospital + was enlarged so as to accommodate thirty more patients. If Benjamin West + had done no other good deed than this, yet it would have been enough to + entitle him to an honorable remembrance forever. At this very day there + are thirty poor people in the hospital who owe all their comforts to that + same picture.. + </p> + <p> + We shall mention only a single incident more. The picture of Christ + Healing the Sick was exhibited at the Royal Academy in London, where it + covered a vast space and displayed a multitude of figures as large as + life. On the wall, close beside this admirable picture, hung a small and + faded landscape. It was the same that little Ben had painted in his + father’s garret, after receiving the paint-box and engravings from good + Mr. Pennington. + </p> + <p> + He lived many years in peace and honor, and died in 1820, at the age of + eighty-two. The story of his life is almost as wonderful as a fairy tale; + for there are few stranger transformations than that of a little unknown + Quaker boy, in the wilds of America, into the most distinguished English + painter of his day. Let us each make the best use of our natural abilities + as Benjamin West did; and, with the blessing of Providence, we shall + arrive at some good end. As for fame, it is but little matter whether we + acquire it or not. + </p> + <p> + “Thank you for the story, my dear father,” said Edward, when it was + finished. “Do you know that it seems as if I could see things without the + help of my eyes? While you were speaking I have seen little Bert, and the + baby in its cradle, and the Indians, and the white cow, and the pigs, and + kind Mr. Pennington, and all the good old Quakers, almost as plainly as if + they were in this very room.” + </p> + <p> + “It is because your attention was not disturbed by outward objects,” + replied Mr. Temple. “People, when deprived of sight, often have more vivid + ideas than those who possess the perfect use of their eyes. I will venture + to say that George has not attended to the story quite so closely.” + </p> + <p> + “No, indeed,” said George; “but it was a very pretty story for all that. + How I should have laughed to see Ben making a paint-brush out of the black + cat’s tail! I intend to try the experiment with Emily’s kitten.” + </p> + <p> + “O no, no, George!” cried Emily, earnestly. “My kitten cannot spare her + tail.” + </p> + <p> + Edward being an invalid, it was now time for him to retire to bed. When + the family bade him good night he turned his face towards them, looking + very loath to part. + </p> + <p> + “I shall not know when morning comes,” said he, sorrowfully. “And besides, + I want to hear your voices all the time; for, when nobody is speaking, it + seems as if I were alone in a dark world.” + </p> + <p> + “You must have faith, my dear child,” replied his mother. “Faith is the + soul’s eyesight; and when we possess it the world is never dark nor + lonely.” + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <h4> + CHAPTER III. + </h4> + <p> + The next day Edward began to get accustomed to his new condition of life. + Once, indeed, when his parents were out of the way and only Emily was left + to take care of him, he could not resist the temptation to thrust aside + the bandage and peep at the anxious face of his little nurse. But, in + spite of the dimness of the chamber, the experiment caused him so much + pain that he felt no inclination to take another look. So, with a deep + sigh, here signed himself to his fate. + </p> + <p> + “Emily, pray talk to me!” said he, somewhat impatiently. + </p> + <p> + Now, Emily was a remarkably silent little girl, and did not possess that + liveliness of disposition which renders some children such excellent + companions. She seldom laughed, and had not the faculty of making many + words about small matters. But the love and earnestness of her heart + taught her how to amuse poor Edward in his darkness. She put her + knitting-work into his hands. + </p> + <p> + “You must learn how to knit,” said she. + </p> + <p> + “What! without using my eyes?” cried Edward. + </p> + <p> + “I can knit with my eyes shut,” replied Emily. + </p> + <p> + Then with her own little hands she guided Edward’s fingers while he set + about this new occupation. So awkward were his first attempts that any + other little girl would have laughed heartily. But Emily preserved her + gravity, and showed the utmost patience in taking up the innumerable + stitches which he let down. In the course of an hour or two his progress + was quite encouraging. + </p> + <p> + When evening came, Edward acknowledged that the day had been far less + wearisome than he anticipated. But he was glad, nevertheless, when his + father and mother, and George and Emily, all took their seats around his + chair. He put out his hand to grasp each of their hands, and smiled with a + very bright expression upon his lips. + </p> + <p> + “Now I can see you all with my mind’s eye,” said he. “And now, father, + pray tell us another story.” + </p> + <p> + So Mr. Temple began. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> <a name="newton"></a> + </p> + <h3> + SIR ISAAC NEWTON. + </h3> + <h4> + [BORN 1642, DIED 1727] + </h4> + <p> + On Christmas day, in the year 1642, Isaac Newton was born at the small + village of Woolsthorpe, in England. Little did his mother think, when she + beheld her newborn babe, that he was destined to explain many matters + which had been a mystery ever since the creation of the world. + </p> + <p> + Isaac’s father being dead, Mrs. Newton was married again to a clergyman, + and went to reside at North Witham. Her son was left to the care of his + good old grandmother, who was very kind to him and sent him to school. In + his early years Isaac did not appear to be a very bright scholar, but was + chiefly remarkable for his ingenuity in all mechanical occupations. He had + a set of little tools and saws of various sizes manufactured by himself. + With the aid of these Isaac contrived to make many curious articles, at + which he worked with so much skill that he seemed to have been born with a + saw or chisel in hand. + </p> + <p> + The neighbors looked with vast admiration at the things which Isaac + manufactured. And his old grandmother, I suppose, was never weary of + talking about him. + </p> + <p> + “He’ll make a capital workman one of these days,” she would probably say. + “No fear but what Isaac will do well in the world and be a rich man before + he dies.” + </p> + <p> + It is amusing to conjecture what were the anticipations of his grandmother + and the neighbors about Isaac’s future life. Some of them, perhaps, + fancied that he would make beautiful furniture of mahogany, rosewood, or + polished oak, inlaid with ivory and ebony, and magnificently gilded. And + then, doubtless, all the rich people would purchase these fine things to + adorn their drawing-rooms. Others probably thought that little Isaac was + destined to be an architect, and would build splendid mansions for the + nobility and gentry, and churches too, with the tallest steeples that had + ever been seen in England. + </p> + <p> + Some of his friends, no doubt, advised Isaac’s grandmother to apprentice + him to a clock-maker; for, besides his mechanical skill, the boy seemed to + have a taste for mathematics, which would be very useful to him in that + profession. And then, in due time, Isaac would set up for himself, and + would manufacture curious clocks, like those that contain sets of dancing + figures, which issue from the dial-plate when the hour is struck; or like + those where a ship sails across the face of the clock, and is seen tossing + up and down on the waves as often as the pendulum vibrates. + </p> + <p> + Indeed, there was some ground for supposing that Isaac would devote + himself to the manufacture of clocks; since he had already made one, of a + kind which nobody had ever heard of before. It was set a-going, not by + wheels and weights like other clocks, but by the dropping of water. This + was an object of great wonderment to all the people round about; and it + must be confessed that there are few boys, or men either, who could + contrive to tell what o’clock it is by means of a bowl of water. + </p> + <p> + Besides the water-clock, Isaac made a sundial. Thus his grandmother was + never at a loss to know the hour; for the water-clock would tell it in the + shade, and the dial in the sunshine. The sundial is said to be still in + existence at Woolsthorpe, on the corner of the house where Isaac dwelt. If + so, it must have marked the passage of every sunny hour that has elapsed + since Isaac Newton was a boy. It marked all the famous moments of his + life; it marked the hour of his death; and still the sunshine creeps + slowly over it, as regularly as when Isaac first set it up. + </p> + <p> + Yet we must not say that the sundial has lasted longer than its maker; for + Isaac Newton will exist long after the dial—yes, and long after the + sun itself—shall have crumbled to decay. + </p> + <p> + Isaac possessed a wonderful faculty of acquiring knowledge by the simplest + means. For instance, what method do you suppose he took to find out the + strength of the wind? You will never guess how the boy could compel that + unseen, inconstant, and ungovernable wonder, the wind, to tell him the + measure of its strength. Yet nothing can be more simple. He jumped against + the wind; and by the length of his jump he could calculate the force of a + gentle breeze, a brisk gale, or a tempest. Thus, even in his boyish + sports, he was continually searching out the secrets of philosophy. + </p> + <p> + Not far from his grandmother’s residence there was a windmill which + operated on a new plan. Isaac was in the habit of going thither + frequently, and would spend whole hours in examining its various parts. + While the mill was at rest he pried into its internal machinery. When its + broad sails were set in motion by the wind, he watched the process by + which the mill-stones were made to revolve and crush the grain that was + put into the hopper. After gaining a thorough knowledge of its + construction he was observed to be unusually busy with his tools. + </p> + <p> + It was not long before his grandmother and all the neighborhood knew what + Isaac had been about. He had constructed a model of the windmill. Though + not so large, I suppose, as one of the box traps which boys set to catch + squirrels, yet every part of the mill and is machinery was complete. Its + little sails were neatly made of linen, and whirled round very swiftly + when the mill was placed in a draught of air. Even a puff of wind from + Isaac’s mouth or from a pair of bellows was sufficient to set the sails in + motion. And, what was most curious, if a handful of grains of wheat were + put into the little hopper, they would soon be converted into snow-white + flour. + </p> + <p> + Isaac’s playmates were enchanted with his new windmill. They thought that + nothing so pretty and so wonderful had ever been seen in the whole world. + </p> + <p> + “But, Isaac,” said one of them, “you have forgotten one thing that belongs + to a mill.” + </p> + <p> + “What is that?” asked Isaac; for he supposed that, from the roof of the + mill to its foundation, he had forgotten nothing. + </p> + <p> + “Why, where is the miller?” said his friend. + </p> + <p> + “That is true,—I must look out for one,” said Isaac; and he set + himself to consider how the deficiency should be supplied. + </p> + <p> + He might easily have made the miniature figure of a man; but then it would + not have been able to move about and perform the duties of a miller. As + Captain Lemuel Gulliver had not yet discovered the island of Lilliput, + Isaac did not know that there were little men in the world whose size was + just suited to his windmill. It so happened, however, that a mouse had + just been caught in the trap; and, as no other miller could be found, Mr. + Mouse was appointed to that important office. The new miller made a very + respectable appearance in his dark gray coat. To be sure, he had not a + very good character for honesty, and was suspected of sometimes stealing a + portion of the grain which was given him to grind. But perhaps some + two-legged millers are quite as dishonest as this small quadruped. + </p> + <p> + As Isaac grew older, it was found that he had far more important matters + in his mind than the manufacture of toys like the little windmill. All day + long, if left to himself, he was either absorbed in thought or engaged in + some book of mathematics or natural philosophy. At night, I think it + probable, he looked up with reverential curiosity to the stars, and + wondered whether they were worlds like our own, and how great was their + distance from the earth, and what was the power that kept them in their + courses. Perhaps, even so early in life, Isaac Newton felt a presentiment + that he should be able, hereafter, to answer all these questions. + </p> + <p> + When Isaac was fourteen years old, his mother’s second husband being now + dead, she wished her son to leave school and assist her in managing the + farm at Woolsthorpe. For a year or two, therefore, he tried to turn his + attention to farming. But his mind was so bent on becoming a scholar that + his mother sent him back to school, and afterwards to the University of + Cambridge. + </p> + <p> + I have now finished my anecdotes of Isaac Newton’s boyhood. My story would + be far too long were I to mention all the splendid discoveries which he + made after he came to be a man. He was the first that found out the nature + of light; for, before his day, nobody could tell what the sunshine was + composed of. You remember, I suppose, the story of an apple’s falling on + his head, and thus leading him to discover the force of gravitation, which + keeps the heavenly bodies in their courses. When he had once got hold of + this idea, he never permitted his mind to rest until he had searched out + all the laws by which the planets are guided through the sky. This he did + as thoroughly as if he had gone up among the stars and tracked them in + their orbits. The boy had found out the mechanism of a windmill; the man + explained to his fellow-men the mechanism of the universe. + </p> + <p> + While making these researches he was accustomed to spend night after night + in a lofty tower, gazing at the heavenly bodies through a telescope. His + mind was lifted far above the things of this world. He may be said, + indeed, to have spent the greater part of his life in worlds that lie + thousands and millions of miles away; for where the thoughts and the heart + are, there is our true existence. + </p> + <p> + Did you never hear the story of Newton and his little dog Diamond? One + day, when he was fifty years old, and had been hard at work more than + twenty years studying the theory of light, he went out of his chamber, + leaving his little dog asleep before the fire. On the table lay a heap of + manuscript papers, containing all the discoveries which Newton had made + during those twenty years. When his master was gone, up rose little + Diamond, jumped upon the table, and overthrew the lighted candle. The + papers immediately caught fire. + </p> + <p> + Just as the destruction was completed Newton opened the chamber door, and + perceived that the labors of twenty years were reduced to a heap of ashes. + There stood little Diamond, the author of all the mischief. Almost any + other man would have sentenced the dog to immediate death. But Newton + patted him on the head with his usual kindness, although grief was at his + heart. + </p> + <p> + “O Diamond, Diamond,” exclaimed he, “thou little knowest the mischief then + hast done!” + </p> + <p> + This incident affected his health and spirits for some time afterwards; + but, from his conduct towards the little dog, you may judge what was the + sweetness of his temper. + </p> + <p> + Newton lived to be a very old man, and acquired great renown, and was made + a member of Parliament, and received the honor of knighthood from the + king. But he cared little for earthly fame and honors, and felt no pride + in the vastness of his knowledge. All that he had learned only made him + feel how little he knew in comparison to what remained to be known. + </p> + <p> + “I seem to myself like a child,” observed he, “playing on the sea-shore, + and picking up here and there a curious shell or a pretty pebble, while + the boundless ocean of Truth lies undiscovered before me.” + </p> + <p> + At last, in 1727, when he was fourscore and five years old, Sir Isaac + Newton died,—or rather, he ceased to live on earth. We may be + permitted to believe that he is still searching out the infinite wisdom + and goodness of the Creator as earnestly, and with even more success, than + while his spirit animated a mortal body. He has left a fame behind him + which will be as endurable as if his name were written in letters of light + formed by the stars upon the midnight sky. + </p> + <p> + “I love to hear about mechanical contrivances, such as the water-clock and + the little windmill,” remarked George. “I suppose, if Sir Isaac Newton had + only thought of it, he might have found out the steam-engine, and + railroads, and all the other famous inventions that have come into use + since his day.” + </p> + <p> + “Very possibly he might,” replied Mr. Temple; “and no doubt a great many + people would think it more useful to manufacture steam-engines than to + search out the system of the universe. Other great astronomers besides + Newton have been endowed with mechanical genius. There was David + Rittenhouse, an American,—lie made a perfect little water-mill when + he was only seven or eight years old. But this sort of ingenuity is but a + mere trifle in comparison with the other talents of such men.” + </p> + <p> + “It must have been beautiful,” said Edward, “to spend whole nights in a + high tower as Newton did, gazing at the stars, and the comets, and the + meteors. But what would Newton have done had he been blind? or if his eyes + had been no better than mine?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, even then, my dear child,” observed Mrs. Temple, “he would have + found out some way of enlightening his mind and of elevating his soul. But + come; little Emily is waiting to bid you good night. You must go to sleep + and dream of seeing all our faces.” + </p> + <p> + “But how sad it will be when I awake!” murmured Edward. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> <a name="chap04"></a> + </p> + <h4> + CHAPTER IV. + </h4> + <p> + In the course of the next day the harmony of our little family was + disturbed by something like a quarrel between George and Edward. + </p> + <p> + The former, though he loved his brother dearly, had found it quite too + great a sacrifice of his own enjoyments to spend all his play-time in a + darkened chamber. Edward, on the other hand, was inclined to be despotic. + He felt as if his bandaged eyes entitled him to demand that everybody who + enjoyed the blessing of sight should contribute to his comfort and + amusement. He therefore insisted that George, instead of going out to play + at football, should join with himself and Emily in a game of questions and + answers. + </p> + <p> + George resolutely refused, and ran out of the house. He did not revisit + Edward’s chamber till the evening, when he stole in, looking confused, yet + somewhat sullen, and sat down beside his father’s chair. It was evident, + by a motion of Edward’s head and a slight trembling of his lips, that he + was aware of George’s entrance, though his footsteps had been almost + inaudible. Emily, with her serious and earnest little face, looked from + one to the other, as if she longed to be a messenger of peace between + them. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Temple, without seeming to notice any of these circumstances, began a + story. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> <a name="johnson"></a> + </p> + <h3> + SAMUEL JOHNSON + </h3> + <h4> + [BORN 1709 DIED 1784.] + </h4> + <p> + “Sam,” said Mr. Michael Johnson, of Lichfield, one morning, “I am very + feeble and ailing to-day. You must go to Uttoxeter in my stead, and tend + the bookstall in the market-place there.” + </p> + <p> + This was spoken above a hundred years ago, by an elderly man, who had once + been a thriving bookseller at Lichfield, in England. Being now in reduced + circumstances, he was forced to go every market-day and sell books at a + stall, in the neighboring village of Uttoxeter. + </p> + <p> + His son, to whom Mr. Johnson spoke, was a great boy, of very singular + aspect. He had an intelligent face; but it was seamed and distorted by a + scrofulous humor, which affected his eyes so badly that sometimes he was + almost blind. Owing to the same cause his head would often shake with a + tremulous motion as if he were afflicted with the palsy. When Sam was an + infant, the famous Queen Anne had tried to cure him of this disease by + laying her royal hands upon his head. But though the touch of a king or + queen was supposed to be a certain remedy for scrofula, it produced no + good effect upon Sam Johnson. + </p> + <p> + At the time which we speak of the poor lad was not very well dressed, and + wore shoes from which his toes peeped out; for his old father had barely + the means of supporting his wife and children. But, poor as the family + were, young Sam Johnson had as much pride as any nobleman’s son in + England. The fact was, he felt conscious of uncommon sense and ability, + which, in his own opinion, entitled him to great respect from the world. + Perhaps he would have been glad if grown people had treated him as + reverentially as his schoolfellows did. Three of them were accustomed to + come for him every morning; and while he sat upon the back of one, the two + others supported him on each side; and thus he rode to school in triumph. + </p> + <p> + Being a personage of so much importance, Sam could not bear the idea of + standing all day in Uttoxeter market offering books to the rude and + ignorant country people. Doubtless he felt the more reluctant on account + of his shabby clothes, and the disorder of his eyes, and the tremulous + motion of his head. + </p> + <p> + When Mr. Michael Johnson spoke, Sam pouted and made an indistinct + grumbling in his throat; then he looked his old father in the face and + answered him loudly and deliberately. + </p> + <p> + “Sir,” said he, “I will not go to Uttoxeter market!” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Johnson had seen a great deal of the lad’s obstinacy ever since his + birth; and while Sam was younger, the old gentleman had probably used the + rod whenever occasion seemed to require. But he was now too feeble and too + much out of spirits to contend with this stubborn and violent-tempered + boy. He therefore gave up the point at once, and prepared to go to + Uttoxeter himself. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Sam,” said Mr. Johnson, as he took his hat and staff, “if for the + sake of your foolish pride you can suffer your poor sick father to stand + all day in the noise and confusion of the market when he ought to be in + his bed, I have no more to say. But you will think of this, Sam, when I am + dead and gone.” + </p> + <p> + So the poor old man (perhaps with a tear in his eye, but certainly with + sorrow in his heart) set forth towards Uttoxeter. The gray-haired, feeble, + melancholy Michael Johnson! How sad a thing it was that he should be + forced to go, in his sickness, and toil for the support of an ungrateful + son who was too proud to do anything for his father, or his mother, or + himself! Sam looked after Mr. Johnson with a sullen countenance till he + was out of sight. + </p> + <p> + But when the old man’s figure, as he went stooping along the street, was + no more to be seen, the boy’s heart began to smite him. He had a vivid + imagination, and it tormented him with the image of his father standing in + the market-place of Uttoxeter and offering his books to the noisy crowd + around him. Sam seemed to behold him arranging his literary merchandise + upon the stall in such a way as was best calculated to attract notice. + Here was Addison’s Spectator, a long row of little volumes; here was + Pope’s translation of the Iliad and Odyssey; here were Dryden’s poems, or + those of Prior. Here, likewise, were Gulliver’s Travels, and a variety of + little gilt-covered children’s books, such as Tom Thumb, Jack the Giant + Queller, Mother Goose’s Melodies, and others which our great-grandparents + used to read in their childhood. And here were sermons for the pious, and + pamphlets for the politicians, and ballads, some merry and some dismal + ones, for the country people to sing. + </p> + <p> + Sam, in imagination, saw his father offer these books, pamphlets, and + ballads, now to the rude yeomen who perhaps could not read a word; now to + the country squires, who cared for nothing but to hunt hares and foxes; + now to the children, who chose to spend their coppers for sugar-plums or + gingerbread rather than for picture-books. And if Mr. Johnson should sell + a book to man, woman, or child, it would cost him an hour’s talk to get a + profit of only sixpence. + </p> + <p> + “My poor father!” thought Sam to himself. “How his head will ache! and how + heavy his heart will be! I am almost sorry that I did not do as he bade + me.” + </p> + <p> + Then the boy went to his mother, who was busy about the house. She did not + know of what had passed between Mr. Johnson and Sam. + </p> + <p> + “Mother,” said he, “did you think father seemed very ill to-day?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Sam,” answered his mother, turning with a flushed face from the + fire, where she was cooking their scanty dinner. “Your father did look + very ill; and it is a pity he did not send you to Uttoxeter in his stead. + You are a great boy now, and would rejoice, I am sure, to do something for + your poor father, who has done so much for you.” + </p> + <p> + The lad made no reply. But again his imagination set to work and conjured + up another picture of poor Michael Johnson. He was standing in the hot + sunshine of the market-place, and looking so weary, sick, and + disconsolate, that the eyes of all the crowd were drawn to him. “Had this + old man no son,” the people would say among themselves, “who might have + taken his place at the bookstall while the father kept his bed?” And + perhaps, but this was a terrible thought for Sam!—perhaps his father + would faint away and fall down in the marketplace, with his gray hair in + the dust and his venerable face as deathlike as that of a corpse. And + there would be the bystanders gazing earnestly at Mr. Johnson and + whispering, “Is he dead? Is he dead?” + </p> + <p> + And Sam shuddered as he repeated to himself, “Is he dead?” + </p> + <p> + “O, I have been a cruel son!” thought he, within his own heart. “God + forgive me! God forgive me!” + </p> + <p> + But God could not yet forgive him; for he was not truly penitent. Had he + been so, he would have hastened away that very moment to Uttoxeter, and + have fallen at his father’s feet, even in the midst of the crowded + market-place. There he would have confessed his fault, and besought Mr. + Johnson to go home and leave the rest of the day’s work to him. But such + was Sam’s pride and natural stubbornness that he could not bring himself + to this humiliation. Yet he ought to have done so, for his own sake, for + his father’s sake, and for God’s sake. + </p> + <p> + After sunset old Michael Johnson came slowly home and sat down in his + customary chair. He said nothing to Sam; nor do I know that a single word + ever passed between them on the subject of the son’s disobedience. In a + few years his father died, and left Sam to fight his way through the world + by himself. It would make our story much too long were I to tell you even + a few of the remarkable events of Sam’s life. Moreover, there is the less + need of this, because many books have been written about that poor boy, + and the fame that he acquired, and all that he did or talked of doing + after he came to be a man. + </p> + <p> + But one thing I must not neglect to say. From his boyhood upward until the + latest day of his life he never forgot the story of Uttoxeter market. + Often when he was a scholar of the University of Oxford, or master of an + academy at Edial, or a writer for the London booksellers,—in all his + poverty and toil and in all his success,—while he was walking the + streets without a shilling to buy food, or when the greatest men of + England were proud to feast him at their table,—still that heavy and + remorseful thought came back to him, “I was cruel to my poor father in his + illness!” Many and many a time, awake or in his dreams, he seemed to see + old Michael Johnson standing in the dust and confusion of the market-place + and pressing his withered hand to his forehead as if it ached. + </p> + <p> + Alas! my dear children, it is a sad thing to have such a thought as this + to bear us company through life. + </p> + <p> + Though the story was but half finished, yet, as it was longer than usual, + Mr. Temple here made a short pause. He perceived that Emily was in tears, + and Edward turned his half-veiled face towards the speaker with an air of + great earnestness and interest. As for George, he had withdrawn into the + dusky shadow behind his father’s chair. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> <a name="chap05"></a> + </p> + <h3> + CHAPTER V. + </h3> + <p> + In a few moments Mr. Temple resumed the story, as follows:— + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + SAMUEL JOHNSON. + </h3> + <h4> + [CONTINUED] + </h4> + <p> + Well, my children, fifty years had passed away since young Sam Johnson had + shown himself so hard-hearted towards his father. It was now market-day in + the village of Uttoxeter. + </p> + <p> + In the street of the village you might see cattle-dealers with cows and + oxen for sale, and pig-drovers with herds of squeaking swine, and farmers + with cartloads of cabbages, turnips, onions, and all other produce of the + soil. Now and then a farmer’s red-faced wife trotted along on horseback, + with butter and cheese in two large panniers. The people of the village, + with country squires, and other visitors from the neighborhood, walked + hither and thither, trading, jesting, quarrelling, and making just such a + bustle as their fathers and grandfathers had made half a century before. + </p> + <p> + In one part of the street there was a puppet-show with a ridiculous + merry-andrew, who kept both grown people and children in a roar of + laughter. On the opposite side was the old stone church of Uttoxeter, with + ivy climbing up its walls and partly obscuring its Gothic windows. + </p> + <p> + There was a clock in the gray tower of the ancient church, and the hands + on the dial-plate had now almost reached the hour of noon. At this busiest + hour of the market a strange old gentleman was seen making his way among + the crowd, he was very tall and bulky, and wore a brown coat and + small-clothes, with black worsted stockings and buckled shoes. On his head + was a three cornered hat, beneath which a bushy gray wig thrust itself + out, all in disorder. The old gentleman elbowed the people aside, and + forced his way through the midst of them with a singular kind of gait, + rolling his body hither and thither, so that he needed twice as much room + as any other person there. + </p> + <p> + “Make way, sir!” he would cry out, in a loud, harsh voice, when somebody + happened to interrupt his progress. “Sir, you intrude your person into the + public thoroughfare!” + </p> + <p> + “What a queer old fellow this is!” muttered the people among themselves, + hardly knowing whether to laugh or to be angry. + </p> + <p> + But when they looked into the venerable stranger’s face, not the most + thoughtless among them dared to offer him the least impertinence. Though + his features were scarred and distorted with the scrofula, and though his + eyes were dim and bleared, yet there was something of authority and wisdom + in his look, which impressed them all with awe. So they stood aside to let + him pass; and the old gentleman made his way across the market-place, and + paused near the corner of the ivy-mantled church. Just as he reached it + the clock struck twelve. + </p> + <p> + On the very spot of ground where the stranger now stood some aged people + remembered that old Michael Johnson had formerly kept his book-stall. The + little children who had once bought picture-books of him were grandfathers + now. + </p> + <p> + “Yes; here is the very spot!” muttered the old gentleman to himself. + </p> + <p> + There this unknown personage took his stand and removed the three-cornered + hat from his head. It was the busiest hour of the day. What with the hum + of human voices, the lowing of cattle, the squeaking of pigs, and the + laughter caused by the merry-andrew, the marketplace was in very great + confusion. But the stranger seemed not to notice it any more than if the + silence of a desert were around him. He was rapt in his own thoughts. + Sometimes he raised his furrowed brow to heaven, as if in prayer; + sometimes he bent his head, as if an insupportable weight of sorrow were + upon him. It increased the awfulness of his aspect that there was a motion + of his head and an almost continual tremor throughout his frame, with + singular twitches and contortions of his features. + </p> + <p> + The hot sun blazed upon his unprotected head; but he seemed not to feel + its fervor. A dark cloud swept across the sky and rain-drops pattered into + the market-place; but the stranger heeded not the shower. The people began + to gaze at the mysterious old gentleman with superstitious fear and + wonder. Who could he be? Whence did he come? Wherefore was he standing + bareheaded in the market-place? Even the school-boys left the merry-andrew + and came to gaze, with wide-open eyes, at this tall, strange-looking old + man. + </p> + <p> + There was a cattle-drover in the village who had recently made a journey + to the Smithfield market, in London. No sooner had this man thrust his way + through the throng and taken a look at the unknown personage, than he + whispered to one of his acquaintances,— + </p> + <p> + “I say, Neighbor Hutchins, would ye like to know who this old gentleman + is?” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, that I would,” replied Neighbor Hutchins, “for a queerer chap I never + saw in my life. Somehow it makes me feel small to look at him. He’s more + than a common man.” + </p> + <p> + “You may well say so,” answered the cattle-drover. “Why, that’s the famous + Doctor Samuel Johnson, who they say is the greatest and learnedest man in + England. I saw him in London streets, walking with one Mr. Boswell.” + </p> + <p> + Yes; the poor boy, the friendless Sam, with whom we began our story, had + become the famous Doctor Samuel Johnson. He was universally acknowledged + as the wisest man and greatest writer in all England. He had given shape + and permanence to his native language by his Dictionary. Thousands upon + thousands of people had read his Idler, his Rambler, and his Rasselas. + Noble and wealthy men and beautiful ladies deemed it their highest + privilege to be his companions. Even the King of Great Britain had sought + his acquaintance, and told him what an honor he considered it that such a + man had been born in his dominions. He was now at the summit of literary + renown. + </p> + <p> + But all his fame could not extinguish the bitter remembrance which had + tormented him through life. Never never had he forgotten his father’s + sorrowful and upbraiding look. Never, though the old man’s troubles had + been over so many years, had he forgiven himself for inflicting such a + pang upon his heart. And now, in his old age, he had come hither to do + penance, by standing at noonday, in the market-place of Uttoxeter, on the + very spot where Michael Johnson had once kept his book-stall. The aged and + illustrious man had done what the poor boy refused to do. By thus + expressing his deep repentance and humiliation of heart, he hoped to gain + peace of conscience and the forgiveness of God. + </p> + <p> + My dear children, if you have grieved (I will not say your parents, but if + you have grieved) the heart of any human being who has a claim upon your + love, then think of Samuel Johnson’s penance. Will it not be better to + redeem the error now than to endure the agony of remorse for fifty years? + Would you not rather say to a brother, “I have erred; forgive me!” than + perhaps to go hereafter and shed bitter tears upon his grave? + </p> + <p> + Hardly was the story concluded when George hastily arose, and Edward + likewise, stretching forth his hands into the darkness that surrounded him + to find his brother. Both accused themselves of unkindness: each besought + the other’s forgiveness; and having done so, the trouble of their hearts + vanished away like a dream. + </p> + <p> + “I am glad! I am so glad!” said Emily, in a low, earnest voice. “Now I + shall sleep quietly to-night.” + </p> + <p> + “My sweet child,” thought Mrs. Temple as she kissed her, “mayest thou + never know how much strife there is on earth! It would cost thee many a + night’s rest.” + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> <a name="chap06"></a> + </p> + <h4> + CHAPTER VI. + </h4> + <p> + About this period Mr. Temple found it necessary to take a journey, which + interrupted the series of Biographical Stories for several evenings. In + the interval, Edward practised various methods of employing and amusing + his mind. + </p> + <p> + Sometimes he meditated upon beautiful objects which he had formerly seen, + until the intensity of his recollection seemed to restore him the gift of + sight and place everything anew before his eyes. Sometimes he repeated + verses of poetry which he did not know to be in his memory until he found + them there just at the time of need. Sometimes he attempted to solve + arithmetical questions which had perplexed him while at school. + </p> + <p> + Then, with his mother’s assistance, he learned the letters of the string + alphabet, which is used in some of the institutions for the blind in + Europe. When one of his friends gave him a leaf of St. Mark’s Gospel, + printed in embossed characters, he endeavored to read it by passing his + fingers over the letters as blind children do. + </p> + <p> + His brother George was now very kind, and spent so much time in the + darkened chamber that Edward often insisted upon his going out to play. + George told him all about the affairs at school, and related many amusing + incidents that happened among his comrades, and informed him what sports + were now in fashion, and whose kite soared the highest, and whose little + ship sailed fleetest on the Frog Pond. As for Emily, she repeated stories + which she had learned from a new book called THE FLOWER PEOPLE, in which + the snowdrops, the violets, the columbines, the roses, and all that lovely + tribe are represented as telling their secrets to a little girl. The + flowers talked sweetly, as flowers should; and Edward almost fancied that + he could behold their bloom and smell their fragrant breath. + </p> + <p> + Thus, in one way or another, the dark days of Edward’s confinement passed + not unhappily. In due time his father returned; and the next evening, when + the family were assembled, he began a story. + </p> + <p> + “I must first observe, children,” said he, “that some writers deny the + truth of the incident which I am about to relate to you. There certainly + is but little evidence in favor of it. Other respectable writers, however, + tell it for a fact; and, at all events, it is an interesting story, and + has an excellent moral.” + </p> + <p> + So Mr. Temple proceeded to talk about the early days of + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> <a name="cromwell"></a> + </p> + <h3> + OLIVER CROMWELL. + </h3> + <h4> + [BORN 1599 DIED 1658.] + </h4> + <p> + Not long after King James I. took the place of Queen Elizabeth on the + throne of England, there lived an English knight at a place called + Hinchinbrooke. His name was Sir Oliver Cromwell. He spent his life, I + suppose, pretty much like other English knights and squires in those days, + bunting hares and foxes and drinking large quantities of ale and wine. The + old house in which he dwelt had been occupied by his ancestors before him + for a good many years. In it there was a great hall, hang round with coats + of arms and helmets, cuirasses and swords, which his forefathers had used + in battle, and with horns of deer and tails of foxes which they or Sir + Oliver himself had killed in the chase. + </p> + <p> + This Sir Oliver Cromwell had a nephew, who had been called Oliver, after + himself, but who was generally known in the family by the name of little + Noll. His father was a younger brother of Sir Oliver. The child was often + sent to visit his uncle, who probably found him a troublesome little + fellow to take care of. He was forever in mischief, and always running + into some danger or other, from which he seemed to escape only by miracle. + </p> + <p> + Even while he was an infant in the cradle a strange accident had befallen + hum. A huge ape, which was kept in the family, snatched up little Noll in + his fore paws and clambered with him to the roof of the house. There this + ugly beast sat grinning at the affrighted spectators, as if it had done + the most praiseworthy thing imaginable. Fortunately, however, he brought + the child safe down again; and the event was afterwards considered an omen + that Noll would reach a very elevated station in the world. + </p> + <p> + One morning, when Noll was five or six years old a royal messenger arrived + at Hinchinbrooke with tidings that King James was coming to dine with Sir + Oliver Cromwell. This was a high honor, to be sure, but a very great + trouble; for all the lords and ladies, knights, squires, guards and + yeomen, who waited on the king, were to be feasted as well as himself; and + more provisions would be eaten and more wine drunk in that one day than + generally in a month. However, Sir Oliver expressed much thankfulness for + the king’s intended visit, and ordered his butler and cook to make the + best preparations in their power. So a great fire was kindled in the + kitchen; and the neighbors knew by the smoke which poured out of the + chimney that boiling, baking, stewing, roasting, and frying were going on + merrily. + </p> + <p> + By and by the sound of trumpets was heard approaching nearer and nearer; a + heavy, old-fashioned coach, surrounded by guards on horseback, drove up to + the house. Sir Oliver, with his hat in his hand, stood at the gate to + receive the king. His Majesty was dressed in a suit of green not very new; + he had a feather in his hat and a triple ruff round his neck, and over his + shoulder was slung a hunting-horn instead of a sword. Altogether he had + not the most dignified aspect in the world; but the spectators gazed at + him as if there was something superhuman and divine in his person. They + even shaded their eyes with their hands, as if they were dazzled by the + glory of his countenance. + </p> + <p> + “How are ye, man?” cried King James, speaking in a Scotch accent; for + Scotland was his native country. “By my crown, Sir Oliver, but I am glad + to see ye!” + </p> + <p> + The good knight thanked the king; at the same time kneeling down while his + Majesty alighted. When King James stood on the ground, he directed Sir + Oliver’s attention to a little boy who had come with him in the coach. He + was six or seven years old, and wore a hat and feather, and was more + richly dressed than the king himself. Though by no means an ill-looking + child, he seemed shy, or even sulky; and his cheeks were rather pale, as + if he had been kept moping within doors, instead of being sent out to play + in the sun and wind. + </p> + <p> + “I have brought my son Charlie to see ye,” said the king. “I hope, Sir + Oliver, ye have a son of your own to be his playmate.” + </p> + <p> + Sir Oliver Cromwell made a reverential bow to the little prince, whom one + of the attendants had now taken out of the coach. It was wonderful to see + how all the spectators, even the aged men with their gray beards, humbled + themselves before this child. They bent their bodies till their beards + almost swept the dust: They looked as if they were ready to kneel down and + worship him. + </p> + <p> + The poor little prince! From his earliest infancy not a soul had dared to + contradict him; everybody around him had acted as if he were a superior + being; so that, of course, he had imbibed the same opinion of himself. He + naturally supposed that the whole kingdom of Great Britain and all its + inhabitants had been created solely for his benefit and amusement. This + was a sad mistake; and it cost him dear enough after he had ascended his + father’s throne. + </p> + <p> + “What a noble little prince he is!” exclaimed Sir Oliver, lifting his + hands in admiration. “No, please your Majesty, I have no son to be the + playmate of his royal highness; but there is a nephew of mine somewhere + about the house. He is near the prince’s age, and will be but too happy to + wait upon his royal highness.” + </p> + <p> + “Send for him, man! send for him!” said the king. + </p> + <p> + But, as it happened, there was no need of sending for Master Noll. While + King James was speaking, a rugged, bold-faced, sturdy little urchin thrust + himself through the throng of courtiers and attendants and greeted the + prince with a broad stare. His doublet and hose (which had been put on new + and clean in honor of the king’s visit) were already soiled and torn with + the rough play in which he had spent the morning. He looked no more + abashed than if King James were his uncle and the prince one of his + customary playfellows. + </p> + <p> + This was little Noll himself. + </p> + <p> + “Here, please your Majesty, is my nephew,” said Sir Oliver, somewhat + ashamed of Noll’s appearance and demeanor. “Oliver, make your obeisance to + the king’s majesty.” + </p> + <p> + The boy made a pretty respectful obeisance to the king; for in those days + children were taught to pay reverence to their elders. King James, who + prided himself greatly on his scholarship, asked Noll a few questions in + the Latin grammar, and then introduced him to his son. The little prince, + in a very grave and dignified manner, extended his hand, not for Noll to + shake, but that he might kneel down and kiss it. + </p> + <p> + “Nephew,” said Sir Oliver, “pay your duty to the prince.” + </p> + <p> + “I owe him no duty,” cried Noll, thrusting aside the prince’s hand with a + rude laugh. “Why should I kiss that boy’s hand?” + </p> + <p> + All the courtiers were amazed and confounded, and Sir Oliver the most of + all. But the king laughed heartily, saying, that little Noll had a + stubborn English spirit, and that it was well for his son to learn betimes + what sort of a people he was to rule over. + </p> + <p> + So King James and his train entered the house; and the prince, with Noll + and some other children, was sent to play in a separate room while his + Majesty was at dinner. The young people soon became acquainted; for boys, + whether the sons of monarchs or of peasants, all like play, and are + pleased with one another’s society. What games they diverted themselves + with I cannot tell. Perhaps they played at ball, perhaps at + blind-man’s-buff, perhaps at leap-frog, perhaps at prison-bars. Such games + have been in use for hundreds of years; and princes as well as poor + children have spent some of their happiest hours in playing at them. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile King James and his nobles were feasting with Sir Oliver in the + great hall. The king sat in a gilded chair, under a canopy, at the head of + a long table. Whenever any of the company addressed him, it was with the + deepest reverence. If the attendants offered him wine or the various + delicacies of the festival, it was upon their bended knees. You would have + thought, by these tokens of worship, that the monarch was a supernatural + being; only he seemed to have quite as much need of those vulgar matters, + food and drink, as any other person at the table. But fate had ordained + that good King James should not finish his dinner in peace. + </p> + <p> + All of a sudden there arose a terrible uproar in the room where the + children were at play. Angry shouts and shrill cries of alarm were mixed + up together; while the voices of elder persons were likewise heard, trying + to restore order among the children. The king and everybody else at table + looked aghast; for perhaps the tumult made them think that a general + rebellion had broken out. + </p> + <p> + “Mercy on us!” muttered Sir Oliver; “that graceless nephew of mine is in + some mischief or other. The naughty little whelp!” + </p> + <p> + Getting up from table, he ran to see what was the matter, followed by many + of the guests, and the king among them. They all crowded to the door of + the playroom. + </p> + <p> + On looking in, they beheld the little Prince Charles, with his rich dress + all torn and covered with the dust of the floor. His royal blood was + streaming from his nose in great abundance. He gazed at Noll with a + mixture of rage and affright, and at the same time a puzzled expression, + as if he could not understand how any mortal boy should dare to give him a + beating. As for Noll, there stood his sturdy little figure, bold as a + lion, looking as if he were ready to fight, not only the prince, but the + king and kingdom too. + </p> + <p> + “You little villain!” cried his uncle. “What have you been about? Down on + your knees, this instant, and ask the prince’s pardon. How dare you lay + your hands on the king’s majesty’s royal son?” + </p> + <p> + “He struck me first,” grumbled the valiant little Noll; “and I’ve only + given him his due.” + </p> + <p> + Sir Oliver and the guests lifted up their hands in astonishment and + horror. No punishment seemed severe enough for this wicked little varlet, + who had dared to resent a blow from the king’s own son. Some of the + courtiers were of opinion that Noll should be sent prisoner to the Tower + of London and brought to trial for high treason. Others, in their great + zeal for the king’s service, were about to lay hands on the boy and + chastise him in the royal presence. + </p> + <p> + But King James, who sometimes showed a good deal of sagacity, ordered them + to desist. + </p> + <p> + “Thou art a bold boy,” said he, looking fixedly at little Noll; “and, if + thou live to be a man, my son Charlie would do wisely to be friends with + thee.” + </p> + <p> + “I never will!” cried the little prince, stamping his foot. + </p> + <p> + “Peace, Charlie, peace!” said the king; then addressing Sir Oliver and the + attendants, “Harm not the urchin; for he has taught my son a good lesson, + if Heaven do but give him grace to profit by it. Hereafter, should he be + tempted to tyrannize over the stubborn race of Englishmen, let him + remember little Noll Cromwell and his own bloody nose.” + </p> + <p> + So the king finished his dinner and departed; and for many a long year the + childish quarrel between Prince Charles and Noll Cromwell was forgotten. + The prince, indeed, might have lived a happier life, and have met a more + peaceful death, had he remembered that quarrel and the moral which his + father drew from it. But when old King James was dead, and Charles sat + upon his throne, he seemed to forget that he was but a man, and that his + meanest subjects were men as well as he. He wished to have the property + and lives of the people of England entirely at his own disposal. But the + Puritans, and all who loved liberty, rose against him and beat him in many + battles, and pulled him down from his throne. + </p> + <p> + Throughout this war between the king and nobles on one side and the people + of England on the other there was a famous leader, who did more towards + the ruin of royal authority than all the rest. The contest seemed like a + wrestling-match between King Charles and this strong man. And the king was + overthrown. + </p> + <p> + When the discrowned monarch was brought to trial, that warlike leader sat + in the judgment hall. Many judges were present besides himself; but he + alone had the power to save King Charles or to doom him to the scaffold. + After sentence was pronounced, this victorious general was entreated by + his own children, on their knees, to rescue his Majesty from death. + </p> + <p> + “No!” said he, sternly. “Better that one man should perish than that the + whole country should be ruined for his sake. It is resolved that he shall + die!” + </p> + <p> + When Charles, no longer a king, was led to the scaffold, his great enemy + stood at a window of the royal palace of Whitehall. He beheld the poor + victim of pride, and an evil education, and misused power, as he laid his + head upon the block. He looked on with a steadfast gaze while a + black-veiled executioner lifted the fatal axe and smote off that anointed + head at a single blow. + </p> + <p> + “It is a righteous deed,” perhaps he said to himself. + </p> + <p> + “Now Englishmen may enjoy their rights.” + </p> + <p> + At night, when the body of Charles was laid in the coffin, in a gloomy + chamber, the general entered, lighting himself with a torch. Its gleams + showed that he was now growing old; his visage was scarred with the many + battles in which he had led the van; his brow was wrinkled with care and + with the continual exercise of stern authority. Probably there was not a + single trait, either of aspect or manner, that belonged to the little Noll + who had battled so stoutly with Prince Charles. Yet this was he! + </p> + <p> + He lifted the coffin-lid, and caused the light of his torch to fall upon + the dead monarch’s face. Then, probably, his mind went back over all the + marvellous events that had brought the hereditary King of England to this + dishonored coffin, and had raised himself, a humble individual, to the + possession of kingly power. He was a king, though without the empty title + or the glittering crown. + </p> + <p> + “Why was it,” said Cromwell to himself, or might have said, as he gazed at + the pale features in the coffin,—“why was it that this great king + fell, and that poor Noll Cromwell has gained all the power of the realm?” + </p> + <p> + And, indeed, why was it? + </p> + <p> + King Charles had fallen, because, in his manhood the same as when a child, + he disdained to feel that every human creature was his brother. He deemed + himself a superior being, and fancied that his subjects were created only + for a king to rule over. And Cromwell rose, because, in spite of his many + faults, he mainly fought for the rights and freedom of his fellow-men; and + therefore the poor and the oppressed all lent their strength to him. + </p> + <p> + “Dear father, how I should hate to be a king!” exclaimed Edward. + </p> + <p> + “And would you like to be a Cromwell?” inquired his father. + </p> + <p> + “I should like it well,” replied George; “only I would not have put the + poor old king to death. I would have sent him out of the kingdom, or + perhaps have allowed him to live in a small house near the gate of the + royal palace. It was too severe to cut off his head.” + </p> + <p> + “Kings are in such an unfortunate position,” said Mr. Temple, “that they + must either be almost deified by their subjects, or else be dethroned and + beheaded. In either case it is a pitiable lot.” + </p> + <p> + “O, I had rather be blind than be a king!” said Edward. + </p> + <p> + “Well, my dear Edward,” observed his mother, with a smile, “I am glad you + are convinced that your own lot is not the hardest in the world.” + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> <a name="chap07"></a> + </p> + <h4> + CHAPTER VII. + </h4> + <p> + It was a pleasant sight, for those who had eyes, to see how patiently the + blinded little boy now submitted to what he had at first deemed an + intolerable calamity. The beneficent Creator has not allowed our comfort + to depend on the enjoyment of any single sense. Though he has made the + world so very beautiful, yet it is possible to be happy without ever be + holding the blue sky, or the green and flowery earth, or the kind faces of + those whom we love. Thus it appears that all the external beauty of the + universe is a free gift from God over and above what is necessary to our + comfort. How grateful, then, should we be to that divine Benevolence, + which showers even superfluous bounties upon us! + </p> + <p> + One truth, therefore, which Edward’s blindness had taught him was, that + his mind and soul could dispense with the assistance of his eyes. + Doubtless, however, he would have found this lesson far more difficult to + learn had it not been for the affection of those around him. His parents, + and George and Emily, aided him to bear his misfortune; if possible, they + would have lent him their own eyes. And this, too, was a good lesson for + him. It taught him how dependent on one another God has ordained us to be, + insomuch that all the necessities of mankind should incite them to mutual + love. + </p> + <p> + So Edward loved his friends, and perhaps all the world, better than he + ever did before. And he felt grateful towards his father for spending the + evenings in telling him stories,—more grateful, probably, than any + of my little readers will feel towards me for so carefully writing these + same stories down. + </p> + <p> + “Come, dear father,” said he, the next evening, “now tell us about some + other little boy who was destined to be a famous man.” + </p> + <p> + “How would you like a story of a Boston boy?” asked his father. + </p> + <p> + “O, pray let us have it!” cried George, eagerly. “It will be all the + better if he has been to our schools, and has coasted on the Common, and + sailed boats in the Frog Pond. I shall feel acquainted with him. then.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then,” said Mr. Temple, “I will introduce you to a Boston boy whom + all the world became acquainted with after he grew to be a man.” + </p> + <p> + The story was as follows:— + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> <a name="franklin"></a> + </p> + <h3> + BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. + </h3> + <h4> + [BORN 1706, DIED 1790] + </h4> + <p> + In the year 1716, or about that period, a boy used to be seen in the + streets of Boston who was known among his schoolfellows and playmates by + the name of Ben Franklin. Ben was born in 1706; so that he was now about + ten years old. His father, who had come over from England, was a + soap-boiler and tallow-chandler, and resided in Milk Street, not far from + the Old South Church. + </p> + <p> + Ben was a bright boy at his book, and even a brighter one when at play + with his comrades. He had some remarkable qualities which always seemed to + give him the lead, whether at sport or in more serious matters. I might + tell you a number of amusing anecdotes about him. You are acquainted, I + suppose, with his famous story of the WHISTLE, and how he bought it, with + a whole pocketful of coppers and afterwards repented of his bargain. But + Ben had grown a great boy since those days, and had gained wisdom by + experience; for it was one of his peculiarities, that no incident ever + happened to him without teaching him some valuable lesson. Thus he + generally profited more by his misfortunes than many people do by the most + favorable events that could befall them. + </p> + <p> + Ben’s face was already pretty well known to the inhabitants of Boston. The + selectmen and other people of note often used to visit his father, for the + sake of talking about the affairs of the town or province. Mr. Franklin + was considered a person of great wisdom and integrity, and was respected + by all who knew him, although he supported his family by the humble trade + of boiling soap and making tallow candles. + </p> + <p> + While his father and the visitors were holding deep consultations about + public affairs, little Ben would sit on his stool in a corner, listening + with the greatest interest, as if he understood every word. Indeed, his + features were so full of intelligence that there could be but little + doubt, not only that he understood what was said, but that he could have + expressed some very sagacious opinions out of his own mind. But in those + days boys were expected to be silent in the presence of their elders. + However, Ben Franklin was looked upon as a very promising lad, who would + talk and act wisely by and by. + </p> + <p> + “Neighbor Franklin,” his father’s friends would sometimes say, “you ought + to send this boy to college and make a minister of him.” + </p> + <p> + “I have often thought of it,” his father would reply; “and my brother + Benjamin promises to give him a great many volumes of manuscript sermons, + in case he should be educated for the church. But I have a large family to + support, and cannot afford the expense.” + </p> + <p> + In fact, Mr. Franklin found it so difficult to provide bread for his + family, that, when the boy was ten years old, it became necessary to take + him from school. Ben was then employed in cutting candle-wicks into equal + lengths and filling the moulds with tallow; and many families in Boston + spent their evenings by the light of the candles which he had helped to + make. Thus, you see, in his early days, as well as in his manhood, his + labors contributed to throw light upon dark matters. + </p> + <p> + Busy as his life now was, Ben still found time to keep company with his + former schoolfellows. He and the other boys were very fond of fishing, and + spent many of their leisure hours on the margin of the mill-pond, catching + flounders, perch, eels, and tomcod, which came up thither with the tide. + The place where they fished is now, probably, covered with stone pavements + and brick buildings, and thronged with people and with vehicles of all + kinds. But at that period it was a marshy spot on the outskirts of the + town, where gulls flitted and screamed overhead and salt-meadow grass grew + under foot. + </p> + <p> + On the edge of the water there was a deep bed of clay, in which the boys + were forced to stand while they caught their fish. Here they dabbled in + mud and mire like a flock of ducks. + </p> + <p> + “This is very uncomfortable,” said Ben Franklin one day to his comrades, + while they were standing mid-leg deep in the quagmire. + </p> + <p> + “So it is,” said the other boys. “What a pity we have no better place to + stand!” + </p> + <p> + If it mad not been for Ben, nothing more would have been done or said + about, the matter. Butt it was not in his nature to be sensible of an + inconvenience without using his best efforts to find a remedy. So, as he + and his comrades were returning from the water-side, Ben suddenly threw + down his string of fish with a very determined air. + </p> + <p> + “Boys,” cried he, “I have thought of a scheme which will be greatly for + our benefit and for the public benefit.” + </p> + <p> + It was queer enough, to be sure, to hear this little chap—this + rosy-cheeked, ten-year-old boy—talking about schemes for the public + benefit! Nevertheless, his companions were ready to listen, being assured + that Ben’s scheme, whatever it was, would be well worth their attention. + They remembered how sagaciously he had conducted all their enterprises + ever since he had been old enough to wear small-clothes. + </p> + <p> + They remembered, too, his wonderful contrivance of sailing across the + mill-pond by lying flat on his back in the water and allowing himself to + be drawn along by a paper kite. If Ben could do that, he might certainly + do anything. + </p> + <p> + “What is your scheme, Ben?—what is it?” cried they all. + </p> + <p> + It so happened that they had now come to a spot of ground where a new + house was to be built. Scattered round about lay a great many large stones + which were to be used for the cellar and foundation. Ben mounted upon the + highest of these stones, so that he might speak with the more authority. + </p> + <p> + “You know, lads,” said he, “what a plague it is to be forced to stand in + the quagmire yonder,—over shoes and stockings (if we wear any) in + mud and water. See! I am bedaubed to the knees of my small-clothes; and + you are all in the same pickle. Unless we can find some remedy for this + evil, our fishing business must be entirely given up. And, surely, this + would be a terrible misfortune!” + </p> + <p> + “That it would! that it would!” said his comrades, sorrowfully. + </p> + <p> + “Now, I propose,” continued Master Benjamin, “that we build a wharf, for + the purpose of carrying on our fisheries. You see these stones. The + workmen mean to use them for the underpinning of a house; but that would + be for only one man’s advantage. My plan is to take these same stones and + carry them to the edge of the water and build a wharf with them. This will + not only enable us to carry on the fishing business with comfort and to + better advantage, but it will likewise be a great convenience to boats + passing up and down the stream. Thus, instead of one man, fifty, or a + hundred, or a thousand, besides ourselves, may be benefited by these + stones. What say you, lads? shall we build the wharf?” + </p> + <p> + Bell’s proposal was received with one of those uproarious shouts wherewith + boys usually express their delight at whatever completely suits their + views. Nobody thought of questioning the right and justice of building a + wharf with stones that belonged to another person. + </p> + <p> + “Hurrah! hurrah!” shouted they. “Let’s set about it.” + </p> + <p> + It was agreed that they should all be on the spot that evening and + commence their grand public enterprise by moonlight. Accordingly, at the + appointed time, the whole gang of youthful laborers assembled, and eagerly + began to remove the stones. They had not calculated how much toil would be + requisite in this important part of their undertaking. The very first + stone which they laid hold of proved so heavy that it almost seemed to be + fastened to the ground. Nothing but Ben Franklin’s cheerful and resolute + spirit could have induced them to persevere. + </p> + <p> + Ben, as might be expected, was the soul of the enterprise. By his + mechanical genius, he contrived methods to lighten the labor of + transporting the stones, so that one boy, under his directions, would + perform as much as half a dozen if left to themselves. Whenever their + spirits flagged he had some joke ready, which seemed to renew their + strength, by setting them all into a roar of laughter. And when, after an + hour or two of hard work, the stones were transported to the water-side, + Bell Franklin was the engineer to superintend the construction of the + wharf. + </p> + <p> + The boys, like a colony of ants, performed a great deal of labor by their + multitude, though the individual strength of each could have accomplished + but little. Finally, just as the moon sank below the horizon, the great + work was finished. + </p> + <p> + “Now, boys,” cried Ben, “let’s give three cheers and go home to bed. + To-morrow we may catch fish at our ease.” + </p> + <p> + “Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!” shouted his comrades. + </p> + <p> + Then they all went home in such an ecstasy of delight that they could + hardly get a wink of sleep. + </p> + <p> + The story was not yet finished; but George’s impatience caused him to + interrupt it. + </p> + <p> + “How I wish that I could have helped to build that wharf!” exclaimed he. + “It must have been glorious fun. Ben Franklin forever, say I.” + </p> + <p> + “It was a very pretty piece of work,” said Mr. Temple. “But wait till you + hear the end of the story.” + </p> + <p> + “Father,” inquired Edward, “whereabouts in Boston was the mill-pond on + which Ben built his wharf?” + </p> + <p> + “I do not exactly know,” answered Mr. Temple; “but I suppose it to have + been on the northern verge of the town, in the vicinity of what are now + called Merrimack and Charlestown Streets. That thronged portion of the + city was once a marsh. Some of it, in fact, was covered with water.” + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> <a name="chap08"></a> + </p> + <h4> + CHAPTER VIII. + </h4> + <p> + As the children had no more questions to ask, Mr. Temple proceeded to + relate what consequences ensued from the building of Bell Franklin’s + wharf. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. + </h3> + <h4> + [CONTINUED] + </h4> + <p> + In the morning, when the early sunbeams were gleaming on the steeples and + roofs of the town and gilding the water that surrounded it, the masons + came, rubbing their eyes, to begin their work at the foundation of the new + house. But, on reaching the spot, they rubbed their eyes so much the + harder. What had become of their heap of stones? + </p> + <p> + “Why, Sam,” said one to another, in great perplexity, “here’s been some + witchcraft at work while we were asleep. The stones must have flown away + through the air!” + </p> + <p> + “More likely they have been stolen!” answered Sam. + </p> + <p> + “But who on earth would think of stealing a heap of stones?” cried a + third. “Could a man carry them away in his pocket?” + </p> + <p> + The master mason, who was a gruff kind of man, stood scratching his head, + and said nothing at first. But, looking carefully on the ground, he + discerned innumerable tracks of little feet, some with shoes and some + barefoot. Following these tracks with his eye, he saw that they formed a + beaten path towards the water-side. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, I see what the mischief is,” said he, nodding his head. “Those little + rascals, the boys,—they have stolen our stones to build a wharf + with!” + </p> + <p> + The masons immediately went to examine the new structure. And to say the + truth, it was well worth looking at, so neatly and with such admirable + skill had it been planned and finished. The stones were put together so + securely that there was no danger of their being loosened by the tide, + however swiftly it might sweep along. There was a broad and safe platform + to stand upon, whence the little fishermen might cast their lines into + deep water and draw up fish in abundance. Indeed, it almost seemed as if + Ben and his comrades might be forgiven for taking the stones, because they + had done their job in such a workmanlike manner. + </p> + <p> + “The chaps that built this wharf understood their business pretty well,” + said one of the masons. “I should not be ashamed of such a piece of work + myself.” + </p> + <p> + But the master mason did not seem to enjoy the joke. He was one of those + unreasonable people who care a great deal more for their own rights and + privileges than for the convenience of all the rest of the world. + </p> + <p> + “Sam,” said he, more gruffly than usual, “go call a constable.” + </p> + <p> + So Sam called a constable, and inquiries were set on foot to discover the + perpetrators of the theft. In the course of the day warrants were issued, + with the signature of a justice of the peace, to take the bodies of + Benjamin Franklin and other evil-disposed persons who had stolen a heap of + stones. If the owner of the stolen property had not been more merciful + than the master mason, it might have gone hard with our friend Benjamin + and his fellow-laborers. But, luckily for them, the gentleman had a + respect for Ben’s father, and, moreover, was amused with the spirit of the + whole affair. He therefore let the culprits off pretty easily. + </p> + <p> + But, when the constables were dismissed, the poor boys had to go through + another trial, and receive sentence, and suffer execution, too, from their + own fathers. Many a rod, I grieve to say, was worn to the stump on that + unlucky night. + </p> + <p> + As for Ben, he was less afraid of a whipping than of his father’s + disapprobation. Mr. Franklin, as I have mentioned before, was a sagacious + man, and also an inflexibly upright one. He had read much for a person in + his rank of life, and had pondered upon the ways of the world, until he + had gained more wisdom than a whole library of books could have taught + him. Ben had a greater reverence for his father than for any other person + in the world, as well on account of his spotless integrity as of his + practical sense and deep views of things. + </p> + <p> + Consequently, after being released from the clutches of the law, Ben came + into his father’s presence with no small perturbation of mind. + </p> + <p> + “Benjamin, come hither,” began Mr. Franklin, in his customary solemn and + weighty tone. + </p> + <p> + The boy approached and stood before his father’s chair, waiting reverently + to hear what judgment this good man would pass upon his late offence. He + felt that now the right and wrong of the whole matter would be made to + appear. + </p> + <p> + “Benjamin!” said his father, “what could induce you to take property which + did not belong to you?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, father,” replied Ben, hanging his head at first, but then lifting + eyes to Mr. Franklin’s face, “if it had been merely for my own benefit, I + never should have dreamed of it. But I knew that the wharf would be a + public convenience. If the owner of the stones should build a house with + them, nobody will enjoy any advantage except himself. Now, I made use of + them in a way that was for the advantage of many persons. I thought it + right to aim at doing good to the greatest number.” + </p> + <p> + “My son,” said Mr. Franklin, solemnly, “so far as it was in your power, + you have done a greater harm to the public than to the owner of the + stones.” + </p> + <p> + “How can that he, father?” asked Ben. + </p> + <p> + “Because,” answered his father, “in building your wharf with stolen + materials, you have committed a moral wrong. There is no more terrible + mistake than to violate what is eternally right for the sake of a seeming + expediency. Those who act upon such a principle do the utmost in their + power to destroy all that is good in the world.” + </p> + <p> + “Heaven forbid!” said Benjamin. + </p> + <p> + “No act,” continued Mr. Franklin, “can possibly be for the benefit of the + public generally which involves injustice to any individual. It would be + easy to prove this by examples. But, indeed, can we suppose that our + all-wise and just Creator would have so ordered the affairs of the world + that a wrong act should be the true method of attaining a right end? It is + impious to think so. And I do verily believe, Benjamin, that almost all + the public and private misery of mankind arises from a neglect of this + great truth,—that evil can produce only evil,—that good ends + must be wrought out by good means.” + </p> + <p> + “I will never forget it again,” said Benjamin, bowing his head. + </p> + <p> + “Remember,” concluded his father, “that, whenever we vary from the highest + rule of right, just so far we do an injury to the world. It may seem + otherwise for the moment; but, both in time and in eternity, it will be + found so.” + </p> + <p> + To the close of his life Ben Franklin never forgot this conversation with + his father; and we have reason to suppose that, in most of his public and + private career, he endeavored to act upon the principles which that good + and wise man had then taught him. + </p> + <p> + After the great event of building the wharf, Ben continued to cut + wick-yarn and fill candle-moulds for about two years. But, as he had no + love for that occupation, his father often took him to see various + artisans at their work, in order to discover what trade he would prefer. + Thus Ben learned the use of a great many tools, the knowledge of which + afterwards proved very useful to him. But he seemed much inclined to go to + sea. In order to keep him at home, and likewise to gratify his taste for + letters, the lad was bound apprentice to his elder brother, who had lately + set up a printing-office in Boston. + </p> + <p> + Here he had many opportunities of reading new books and of hearing + instructive conversation. He exercised himself so successfully in writing + compositions, that, when no more than thirteen or fourteen years old, he + became a contributor to his brother’s newspaper. Ben was also a versifier, + if not a poet. He made two doleful ballads,—one about the shipwreck + of Captain Worthilake; and the other about the pirate Black Beard, who, + not long before, infested the American seas. + </p> + <p> + When Ben’s verses were printed, his brother sent him to sell them to the + townspeople wet from the press. “Buy my ballads!” shouted Benjamin, as he + trudged through the streets with a basketful on his arm. “Who’ll buy a + ballad about Black Beard? A penny apiece! a penny apiece! Who’ll buy my + ballads?” + </p> + <p> + If one of those roughly composed and rudely printed ballads could be + discovered now, it would be worth more than its weight in gold. + </p> + <p> + In this way our friend Benjamin spent his boyhood and youth, until, on + account of some disagreement with his brother, he left his native town and + went to Philadelphia. He landed in the latter city, a homeless and hungry + young man, and bought three-pence worth of bread to satisfy his appetite. + Not knowing where else to go, he entered a Quaker meeting-house, sat down, + and fell fast asleep. He has not told us whether his slumbers were visited + by any dreams. But it would have been a strange dream, indeed, and an + incredible one, that should have foretold how great a man he was destined + to become, and how much he would be honored in that very city where he was + now friendless and unknown. + </p> + <p> + So here we finish our story of the childhood of Benjamin Franklin. One of + these days, if you would know what he was in his manhood, you must read + his own works and the history of American independence. + </p> + <p> + “Do let us hear a little more of him!” said Edward; “not that I admire him + so much as many other characters; but he interests me, because he was a + Yankee boy.” + </p> + <p> + “My dear son,” replied Mr. Temple, “it would require a whole volume of + talk to tell you all that is worth knowing about Benjamin Franklin. There + is a very pretty anecdote of his flying a kite in the midst of a + thunder-storm, and thus drawing down the lightning from the clouds and + proving that it was the same thing as electricity. His whole life would be + an interesting story, if we had time to tell it.” + </p> + <p> + “But, pray, dear father, tell us what made him so famous,” said George. “I + have seen his portrait a great many tines. There is a wooden bust of him + in one of our streets; and marble ones, I suppose, in some other places. + And towns, and ships of war, and steamboats, and banks, and academies, and + children are often named after Franklin. Why should he have grown so very + famous?” + </p> + <p> + “Your question is a reasonable one, George,” answered his father. “I doubt + whether Franklin’s philosophical discoveries, important as they were, or + even his vast political services, would have given him all the fame which + he acquired. It appears to me that Poor Richard’s Almanac did more than + anything else towards making him familiarly known to the public. As the + writer of those proverbs which Poor Richard was supposed to utter, + Franklin became the counsellor and household friend of almost every family + in America. Thus it was the humblest of all his labors that has done the + most for his fame.” + </p> + <p> + “I have read some of those proverbs,” remarked Edward; “but I do not like + them. They are all about getting money or saving it.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said his father, “they were suited to the condition of the + country; and their effect, upon the whole, has doubtless been good, + although they teach men but a very small portion of their duties.” + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + CHAPTER IX. + </h3> + <p> + Hitherto Mr. Temple’s narratives had all been about boys and men. But, the + next evening, he bethought himself that the quiet little Emily would + perhaps be glad to hear the story of a child of her own sex. He therefore + resolved to narrate the youthful adventures of Christina, of Sweden, who + began to be a queen at the age of no more than six years. If we have any + little girls among our readers, they must not suppose that Christina is + set before them as a pattern of what they ought to be. On the contrary, + the tale of her life is chiefly profitable as showing the evil effects of + a wrong education, which caused this daughter of a king to be both useless + and unhappy. Here follows the story. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> <a name="christina"></a> + </p> + <h3> + QUEEN CHRISTINA. + </h3> + <h4> + [BORN 1626 DIED 1689] + </h4> + <p> + In the royal palace at Stockholm, the capital city of Sweden, there was + horn, in 1626, a little princess. The king, her father; gave her the name + of Christina, in memory of a Swedish girl with whom he had been in love. + His own name was Gustavus Adolphus; and he was also called the Lion of the + North, because he had gained greater fame in war than any other prince or + general then alive. + </p> + <p> + With this valiant king for their commander, the Swedes had made themselves + terrible to the Emperor of Germany and to the king of France, and were + looked upon as the chief defence of the Protestant religion. + </p> + <p> + The little Christina was by no means a beautiful child. To confess the + truth, she was remarkably plain. The queen, her mother, did not love her + so much as she ought; partly, perhaps, on account of Christina’s want of + beauty, and also because both the king and queen had wished for a son, who + might have gained as great renown in battle as his father had. + </p> + <p> + The king, however, soon became exceedingly fond of the infant princess. + When Christina was very young she was taken violently sick. Gustavus + Adolphus, who was several hundred miles from Stockholm, travelled night + and day, and never rested until he held the poor child in his arms. On her + recovery he made a solemn festival, in order to show his joy to the people + of Sweden and express his gratitude to Heaven. After this event he took + his daughter with him in all the journeys which he made throughout his + kingdom. + </p> + <p> + Christina soon proved herself a bold and sturdy little girl. When she was + two years old, the king and herself, in the course of a journey, came to + the strong fortress of Colmar. On the battlements were soldiers clad in + steel armor, which glittered in the sunshine. There were likewise great + cannons, pointing their black months at Gustavus and little Christina, and + ready to belch out their smoke and thunder; for, whenever a king enters a + fortress, it is customary to receive him with a royal salute of artillery. + </p> + <p> + But the captain of the fortress met Gustavus and his daughter as they were + about to enter the gateway. + </p> + <p> + “May it please your Majesty,” said he, taking off his steel cap and bowing + profoundly, “I fear that, if we receive you with a salute of cannon, the + little princess will be frightened almost to death.” + </p> + <p> + Gustavus looked earnestly at his daughter, and was indeed apprehensive + that the thunder of so many cannon might perhaps throw her into + convulsions. He had almost a mind to tell the captain to let them enter + the fortress quietly, as common people might have done, without all this + head-splitting racket. But no; this would not do. + </p> + <p> + “Let them fire,” said he, waving his hand. “Christina is a soldier’s + daughter, and must learn to bear the noise of cannon.” + </p> + <p> + So the captain uttered the word of command, and immediately there was a + terrible peal of thunder from the cannon, and such a gush of smoke that it + enveloped the whole fortress in its volumes. But, amid all the din and + confusion, Christina was seen clapping her little hands and laughing in an + ecstasy of delight. Probably nothing ever pleased her father so much as to + see that his daughter promised to be fearless as himself. He determined to + educate her exactly as if she had been a boy, and to teach her all the + knowledge needful to the ruler of a kingdom and the commander of an army. + </p> + <p> + But Gustavus should have remembered that Providence had created her to be + a woman, and that it was not for him to make a man of her. + </p> + <p> + However, the king derived great happiness from his beloved Christina. It + must have been a pleasant sight to see the powerful monarch of Sweden + playing in some magnificent hall of the palace with his merry little girl. + Then he forgot that the weight of a kingdom rested upon his shoulders. He + forgot that the wise Chancellor Oxenstiern was waiting to consult with him + how to render Sweden the greatest nation of Europe. He forgot that the + Emperor of Germany and the King of France were plotting together how they + might pull him down from his throne. + </p> + <p> + Yes; Gustavus forgot all the perils, and cares, and pompous irksomeness of + a royal life; and was as happy, while playing with his child, as the + humblest peasant in the realm of Sweden. How gayly did they dance along + the marble floor of the palace, this valiant king, with his upright, + martial figure, his war-worn visage, and commanding aspect, and the small, + round form of Christina, with her rosy face of childish merriment! Her + little fingers were clasped in her father’s hand, which had held the + leading staff in many famous victories. His crown and sceptre were her + playthings. She could disarm Gustavus of his sword, which was so terrible + to the princes of Europe. + </p> + <p> + But, alas! the king was not long permitted to enjoy Christina’s society. + When she was four years old Gustavus was summoned to take command of the + allied armies of Germany, which were fighting against the emperor. His + greatest affliction was the necessity of parting with his child; but + people in such high stations have but little opportunity for domestic + happiness. He called an assembly of the senators of Sweden and confided + Christina to their care, saying, that each one of them must be a father to + her if he himself should fall in battle. + </p> + <p> + At the moment of his departure Christina ran towards him and began to + address him with a speech which somebody had taught her for the occasion. + Gustavus was busied with thoughts about the affairs of the kingdom, so + that he did not immediately attend to the childish voice of his little + girl. Christina, who did not love to be unnoticed, immediately stopped + short and pulled him by the coat. + </p> + <p> + “Father,” said she, “why do not you listen to my speech?” + </p> + <p> + In a moment the king forgot everything except that, he was parting with + what he loved best in all the world. He caught the child in his arms, + pressed her to his bosom, and burst into tears. Yes; though he was a brave + man, and though he wore a steel corselet on his breast, and though armies + were waiting for him to lead them to battle, still his heart melted within + him, and he wept. Christina, too, was so afflicted that her attendants + began to fear that she would actually die of grief. But probably she was + soon comforted; for children seldom remember their parents quite so + faithfully as their parents remember them. + </p> + <p> + For two years more Christina remained in the palace at Stockholm. The + queen, her mother, had accompanied Gustavus to the wars. The child, + therefore, was left to the guardianship of five of the wisest men in the + kingdom. But these wise men knew better how to manage the affairs of state + than how to govern and educate a little girl so as to render her a good + and happy woman. + </p> + <p> + When two years had passed away, tidings were brought to Stockholm which + filled everybody with triumph and sorrow at the same time. The Swedes had + won a glorious victory at Lutzen. But, alas! the warlike King of Sweden, + the Lion of the North, the father of our little Christina, had been slain + at the foot of a great stone, which still marks the spot of that hero’s + death. + </p> + <p> + Soon after this sad event, a general assembly, or congress, consisting of + deputations from the nobles, the clergy, the burghers, and the peasants of + Sweden, was summoned to meet at Stockholm. It was for the purpose of + declaring little Christina to be Queen of Sweden and giving her the crown + and sceptre of her deceased father. Silence being proclaimed, the + Chancellor Oxenstiern arose. + </p> + <p> + “We desire to know,” said he, “whether the people of Sweden will take the + daughter of our dead king, Gustavus Adolphus, to be their queen.” + </p> + <p> + When the chancellor had spoken, an old man, with white hair and in coarse + apparel, stood up in the midst of the assembly. He was a peasant, Lars + Larrson by name, and had spent most of his life in laboring on a farm. + </p> + <p> + “Who is this daughter of Gustavus?” asked the old man. “We do not know + her. Let her be shown to us.” + </p> + <p> + Then Christina was brought into the hall and placed before the old + peasant. It was strange, no doubt, to see a child—a little girl of + six years old—offered to the Swedes as their ruler instead of the + brave king, her father, who had led then to victory so many times. Could + her baby fingers wield a sword in war? Could her childish mind govern the + nation wisely in peace? + </p> + <p> + But the Swedes do not appear to have asked themselves these questions. Old + Lars Larrson took Christina up in his arms and gazed earnestly into her + face. + </p> + <p> + He had known the great Gustavus well; and his heart was touched when he + saw the likeness which the little girl bore to that heroic monarch. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” cried he, with the tears gushing down his furrowed cheeks; “this is + truly the daughter of our Gustavus! Here is her father’s brow!—here + is his piercing eye! She is his very picture! This child shall be our + queen!” + </p> + <p> + Then all the proud nobles of Sweden, and the reverend clergy, and the + burghers, and the peasants, knelt down at the child’s feet and kissed her + hand. + </p> + <p> + “Long live Christina, Queen of Sweden!” shouted they. + </p> + <p> + Even after she was a woman grown Christina remembered the pleasure which + she felt in seeing all of hose men at her feet and hearing them + acknowledge her as their supreme ruler. Poor child! she was yet to learn + that power does not insure happiness. As yet, however, she had not any + real power. All the public business, it is true, was transacted in her + name; but the kingdom was governed by a number of the most experienced + statesmen, who were called a regency. + </p> + <p> + But it was considered necessary that the little queen, should be present + at the public ceremonies, and should behave just as if she were in reality + the ruler of the nation. When she was seven years of age, some ambassadors + from the Czar of Muscovy came to the Swedish court. They wore long beards, + and were clad in a strange fashion, with furs and other outlandish + ornaments; and as they were inhabitants of a half-civilized country, they + did not behave like other people. The Chancellor Oxenstiern was afraid + that the young queen would burst out a laughing at the first sight of + these queer ambassadors, or else that she would be frightened by their + unusual aspect. + </p> + <p> + “Why should I be frightened?” said the little queen. “And do you suppose + that I have no better manners than to laugh? Only tell me how I must + behave, and I will do it.” + </p> + <p> + Accordingly, the Muscovite ambassadors were introduced; and Christina + received them and answered their speeches with as much dignity and + propriety as if sho had been a grown woman. + </p> + <p> + All this time, though Christina was now a queen, you must not suppose that + she was left to act as she pleased. She had a preceptor, named John + Mathias, who was a very learned man and capable of instructing her in all + the branches of science. But there was nobody to teach her the delicate + graces and gentle virtues of a woman. She was surrounded almost entirely + by men, and had learned to despise the society of her own sex. At the age + of nine years she was separated from her mother, whom the Swedes did not + consider a proper person to be intrusted with the charge of her. No little + girl who sits by a New England fireside has cause to envy Christina in the + royal palace at Stockholm. + </p> + <p> + Yet she made great progress in her studies. She learned to read the + classical authors of Greece and Rome, and became a great admirer of the + heroes and poets of old times. Then, as for active exercises, she could + ride on horseback as well as any man in her kingdom. She was fond of + hunting, and could shoot at a mark with wonderful skill. But dancing was + the only feminine accomplishment with which she had any acquaintance. + </p> + <p> + She was so restless in her disposition that none of her attendants were + sure of a moment’s quiet neither day nor night. She grew up, I am sorry to + say, a very unamiable person, ill-tempered, proud, stubborn, and, in + short, unfit to make those around her happy or to be happy herself. Let + every little girl, who has been taught self-control and a due regard for + the rights of others, thank Heaven that she has had better instruction + than this poor little Queen of Sweden. + </p> + <p> + At the age of eighteen Christina was declared free to govern the kingdom + by herself without the aid of a regency. At this period of her life she + was a young woman of striking aspect, a good figure, and intelligent face, + but very strangely dressed. She wore a short habit of gray cloth, with a + man’s vest over it, and a black scarf around her neck; but no jewels nor + ornaments of any kind. + </p> + <p> + Yet, though Christina was so negligent of her appearance, there was + something in her air and manner that proclaimed her as the ruler of a + kingdom. Her eyes, it is said, had a very fierce and haughty look. Old + General Wrangel, who had often caused the enemies of Sweden to tremble in + battle, actually trembled himself when he encountered the eyes of the + queen. But it would have been better for Christina if she could have made + people love her, by means of soft and gentle looks, instead of affrighting + them by such terrible glances. + </p> + <p> + And now I have told you almost all that is amusing or instructive in the + childhood of Christina. Only a few more words need be said about her; for + it is neither pleasant nor profitable to think of many things that she did + after she grew to be a woman. + </p> + <p> + When she had worn the crown a few years, she began to consider it beneath + her dignity to be called a queen, because the name implied that she + belonged to the weaker sex. She therefore caused herself to be proclaimed + KING; thus declaring to the world that she despised her own sex and was + desirous of being ranked among men. But in the twenty-eighth year of her + age Christina grew tired of royalty, and resolved to be neither a king nor + a queen any longer. She took the crown from her head with her own hands, + and ceased to be the ruler of Sweden. The people did not greatly regret + her abdication; for she had governed them ill, and had taken much of their + property to supply her extravagance. + </p> + <p> + Having thus given up her hereditary crown, Christina left Sweden and + travelled over many of the countries of Europe. Everywhere she was + received with great ceremony, because she was the daughter of the renowned + Gustavus, and had herself been a powerful queen. Perhaps you would like to + know something about her personal appearance in the latter part of time + life. She is described as wearing a man’s vest, a short gray petticoat, + embroidered with gold and silver, and a black wig, which was thrust awry + upon her head. She wore no gloves, and so seldom washed her hands that + nobody could fell what had been their original color. In this strange + dress, and, I suppose, without washing her hands or face, she visited the + magnificent court of Louis XIV. + </p> + <p> + She died in 1689. None loved her while she lived, nor regretted her death, + nor planted a single flower upon her grave. Happy are the little girls of + America, who are brought up quietly and tenderly at the domestic hearth, + and thus become gentle and delicate women! May none of them ever lose the + loveliness of their sex by receiving such an education as that of Queen + Christina! + </p> + <p> + Emily, timid, quiet, and sensitive, was the very reverse of little + Christina. She seemed shocked at the idea of such a bold and masculine + character as has been described in the foregoing story. + </p> + <p> + “I never could have loved her,” whispered she to Mrs. Temple; and then she + added, with that love of personal neatness which generally accompanies + purity of heart, “It troubles me to think of her unclean hands!” + </p> + <p> + “Christina was a sad specimen of womankind indeed,” said Mrs. Temple. “But + it is very possible for a woman to have a strong mind, and to be fitted + for the active business of life, without losing any of her natural + delicacy. Perhaps some time or other Mr. Temple will tell you a story of + such a woman.” + </p> + <p> + It was now time for Edward to be left to repose. His brother George shook + him heartily by the hand, and hoped, as he had hoped twenty times before, + that tomorrow or the next day Ned’s eyes would be strong enough to look + the sun right in the face. + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, George,” replied Edward, smiling; “but I am not half so + impatient as at first. If my bodily eyesight were as good as yours, + perhaps I could not see things so distinctly with my mind’s eye. But now + there is a light within which shows me the little Quaker artist, Ben West, + and Isaac Newton with his windmill, and stubborn Sam Johnson, and stout + Noll Cromwell, and shrewd Ben Franklin, and little Queen Christina, with + the Swedes kneeling at her feet. It seems as if I really saw these + personages face to face. So I can bear the darkness outside of me pretty + well.” + </p> + <p> + When Edward ceased speaking, Emily put up her mouth and kissed him as her + farewell for the night. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, I forgot!” said Edward, with a sigh. “I cannot see any of your faces. + What would it signify to see all the famous people in the world, if I must + be blind to the faces that I love?” + </p> + <p> + “You must try to see us with your heart, my dear child,” said his mother. + </p> + <p> + Edward went to bed somewhat dispirited; but, quickly falling asleep, was + visited with such a pleasant dream of the sunshine and of his dearest + friends that he felt the happier for it all the next day. And we hope to + find him still happy when we meet again. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg’s Biographical Stories, by Nathaniel Hawthorne + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BIOGRAPHICAL STORIES *** + +***** This file should be named 9254-h.htm or 9254-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/9/2/5/9254/ + +Produced by David Widger and Al Haines + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Biographical Stories + +Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne + + +Release Date: November, 2005 [EBook #9254] +First Posted: September 25, 2003 +Last Updated: December 15, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BIOGRAPHICAL STORIES *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger and Al Haines + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h4> + TRUE STORIES OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY<br /> + </h4> + <h3> + By Nathaniel Hawthorne<br /> + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + BIOGRAPHICAL STORIES<br /> + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="noindent"> + CONTENTS: <br /><br /> <a href="#west">BENJAMIN WEST.</a><br /> <a + href="#newton">SIR ISAAC NEWTON.</a><br /> <a href="#johnson">SAMUEL + JOHNSON.</a><br /> <a href="#cromwell">OLIVER CROMWELL.</a><br /> <a + href="#franklin">BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.</a><br /> <a href="#christina">QUEEN + CHRISTINA.</a><br /> + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + BIOGRAPHICAL STORIES + </h3> + <p> + This small volume and others of a similar character, from the same hand, + have not been composed without a deep sense of responsibility. The author + regards children as sacred, and would not, for the world, cast anything + into the fountain of a young heart that might imbitter and pollute its + waters. And, even in point of the reputation to be aimed at, juvenile + literature is as well worth cultivating as any other. The writer, if he + succeed in pleasing his little readers, may hope to be remembered by them + till their own old age,—a far longer period of literary existence + than is generally attained by those who seek immortality from the + judgments of full-grown men. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> <a name="chap01"></a> + </p> + <h4> + CHAPTER I. + </h4> + <p> + When Edward Temple was about eight or nine years old he was afflicted with + a disorder of the eyes. It was so severe, and his sight was naturally so + delicate, that the surgeon felt some apprehensions lest the boy should + become totally blind. He therefore gave strict directions to keep him in a + darkened chamber, with a bandage over his eyes. Not a ray of the blessed + light of heaven could be suffered to visit the poor lad. + </p> + <p> + This was a sad thing for Edward. It was just the same as if there were to + be no more sunshine, nor moonlight, nor glow of the cheerful fire, nor + light of lamps. A night had begun which was to continue perhaps for + months,—a longer and drearier night than that which voyagers are + compelled to endure when their ship is icebound, throughout the winter, in + the Arctic Ocean. His dear father and mother, his brother George, and the + sweet face of little Emily Robinson must all vanish and leave him in utter + darkness and solitude. Their voices and footsteps, it is true, would be + heard around him; he would feel his mother’s embrace and the kind pressure + of all their hands; but still it would seem as if they were a thousand + miles away. + </p> + <p> + And then his studies,—they were to be entirely given up. This was + another grievous trial; for Edward’s memory hardly went back to the period + when he had not known how to read. Many and many a holiday had he spent at + his hook, poring over its pages until the deepening twilight confused the + print and made all the letters run into long words. Then, would he press + his hands across his eyes and wonder why they pained him so; and when the + candles were lighted, what was the reason that they burned so dimly, like + the moon in a foggy night? Poor little fellow! So far as his eyes were + concerned he was already an old man, and needed a pair of spectacles + almost as much as his own grandfather did. + </p> + <p> + And now, alas! the time was come when even grandfather’s spectacles could + not have assisted Edward to read. After a few bitter tears, which only + pained his eyes the more, the poor boy submitted to the surgeon’s orders. + His eyes were bandaged, and, with his mother on one side and his little + friend Emily on the other, he was led into a darkened chamber. + </p> + <p> + “Mother, I shall be very miserable!” said Edward, sobbing. + </p> + <p> + “O no, my dear child!” replied his mother, cheerfully. “Your eyesight was + a precious gift of Heaven, it is true; but you would do wrong to be + miserable for its loss, even if there were no hope of regaining it. There + are other enjoyments besides what come to us through our eyes.” + </p> + <p> + “None that are worth having,” said Edward. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, but you will not think so long,” rejoined Mrs. Temple, with + tenderness. “All of us—your father, and myself, and George, and our + sweet Emily—will try to find occupation and amusement for you. We + will use all our eyes to make you happy. Will they not be better than a + single pair?” + </p> + <p> + “I will sit, by you all day long,” said Emily, in her low, sweet voice, + putting her hand into that of Edward. + </p> + <p> + “And so will I, Ned,” said George, his elder brother, “school time and + all, if my father will permit me.” + </p> + <p> + Edward’s brother George was three or four years older than himself,—a + fine, hardy lad, of a bold and ardent temper. He was the leader of his + comrades in all their enterprises and amusements. As to his proficiency at + study there was not much to be said. He had sense and ability enough to + have made himself a scholar, but found so many pleasanter things to do + that he seldom took hold of a book with his whole heart. So fond was + George of boisterous sports and exercises that it was really a great token + of affection and sympathy when he offered to sit all day long in a dark + chamber with his poor brother Edward. + </p> + <p> + As for little Emily Robinson, she was the daughter of one of Mr. Temple’s + dearest friends. Ever since her mother went to heaven (which was soon + after Emily’s birth) the little girl had dwelt in the household where we + now find her. Mr. and Mrs. Temple seemed to love her as well as their own + children; for they had no daughter except Emily; nor would the boys have + known the blessing of a sister had not this gentle stranger come to teach + them what it was. If I could show you Emily’s face, with her dark hair + smoothed away from her forehead, you would be pleased with her look of + simplicity and loving kindness, but might think that she was somewhat too + grave for a child of seven years old. But you would not love her the less + for that. + </p> + <p> + So brother George and this loving little girl were to be Edward’s + companions and playmates while he should be kept prisoner in the dark + chamber. When the first bitterness of his grief was over he began to feel + that, there might be some comforts and enjoyments in life even for a boy + whose eyes were covered with a bandage. + </p> + <p> + “I thank you, dear mother,” said he, with only a few sobs; “and you, + Emily; and you too, George. You will all be very kind to me, I know. And + my father,—will not he come and see me every day?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, my dear boy,” said Mr. Temple; for, though invisible to Edward, he + was standing close beside him. “I will spend some hours of every day with + you. And as I have often amused you by relating stories and adventures + while you had the use of your eves, I can do the same now that you are + unable to read. Will this please you, Edward?” + </p> + <p> + “O, very much,” replied Edward. + </p> + <p> + “Well, then,” said his father, “this evening we will begin the series of + Biographical Stories which I promised you some time ago.” + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> <a name="chap02"></a> + </p> + <h4> + CHAPTER II. + </h4> + <p> + When evening came, Mr. Temple found Edward considerably revived in spirits + and disposed to be resigned to his misfortune. Indeed, the figure of the + boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a well-stuffed + easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people might have envied + hun. When a man’s eyes have grown old with gazing at the ways of the + world, it does not seem such a terrible misfortune to have them bandaged. + </p> + <p> + Little Emily Robinson sat by Edward’s side with the air of an accomplished + nurse. As well as the duskiness of the chamber would permit she watched + all his motions and each varying expression of his face, and tried to + anticipate her patient’s wishes before his tongue could utter them. Yet it + was noticeable that the child manifested an indescribable awe and + disquietude whenever she fixed her eyes on the bandage; for, to her simple + and affectionate heart, it seemed as if her dear friend Edward was + separated from her because she could not see his eyes. A friend’s eyes + tell us many things which could never be spoken by the tongue. + </p> + <p> + George, likewise, looked awkward and confused, as stout and healthy boys + are accustomed to do in the society of the sick or afflicted. Never having + felt pain or sorrow, they are abashed, from not knowing how to sympathize + with the sufferings of others. + </p> + <p> + “Well, my dear Edward,” inquired Mrs. Temple, “is Your chair quite + comfortable? and has your little nurse provided for all your wants? If so, + your father is ready to begin his stories.” + </p> + <p> + “O, I am very well now,” answered Edward, with a faint smile. “And my ears + have not forsaken me, though my eyes are good for nothing. So pray, dear + father, begin.” + </p> + <p> + It was Mr. Temple’s design to tell the children a series of true stories, + the incidents of which should be taken from the childhood and early life + of eminent people. Thus he hoped to bring George, and Edward, and Emily + into closer acquaintance with the famous persons who have lived in other + times by showing that they also had been children once. Although Mr. + Temple was scrupulous to relate nothing but what was founded on fact, yet + he felt himself at liberty to clothe the incidents of his narrative in a + new coloring, so that his auditors might understand them the better. + </p> + <p> + “My first story,” said he, “shall be about a painter of pictures.” + </p> + <p> + “Dear me!” cried Edward, with a sigh. “I am afraid I shall never look at + pictures any more.” + </p> + <p> + “We will hope for the best,” answered his father. “In the mean time, you + must try to see things within your own mind.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Temple then began the following story:— + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> <a name="west"></a> + </p> + <h3> + BENJAMIN WEST. + </h3> + <h4> + [BORN 1738. DIED 1820] + </h4> + <p> + In the year 1735 there came into the world, in the town of Springfield, + Pennsylvania, a Quaker infant, from whom his parents and neighbors looked + for wonderful things. A famous preacher of the Society of Friends had + prophesied about little Ben, and foretold that he would be one of the most + remarkable characters that, had appeared on the earth since the days of + William Penn. On this account the eyes of many people were fixed upon the + boy. Some of his ancestors had won great renown in the old wars of England + and France; but it was probably expected that Ben would become a preacher, + and would convert multitudes to the peaceful doctrines of the Quakers. + Friend West and his wife were thought to be very fortunate in having such + a son. + </p> + <p> + Little Ben lived to the ripe age of six years without doing anything that + was worthy to be told in history. But one summer afternoon, in his seventh + year, his mother put a fan into his hand and bade him keep the flies away + from the face of a little babe who lay fast asleep in the cradle. She then + left the room. + </p> + <p> + The boy waved the fan to and fro and drove away the buzzing flies whenever + they had the impertinence to come near the baby’s face. When they had all + flown out of the window or into distant parts of the room, he bent over + the cradle and delighted himself with gazing at the sleeping infant. It + was, indeed, a very pretty sight. The little personage in the cradle + slumbered peacefully, with its waxen hands under its chin, looking as full + of blissful quiet as if angels were singing lullabies in its ear. Indeed, + it must have been dreaming about heaven; for, while Ben stooped over the + cradle, the little baby smiled. + </p> + <p> + “How beautiful she looks!” said Ben to himself. “What a pity it is that + such a pretty smile should not last forever!” + </p> + <p> + Now Ben, at this period of his life, had never heard of that wonderful art + by which a look, that appears and vanishes in a moment, may be made to + last for hundreds of years. But, though nobody had told him of such an + art, he may be said to have invented it for himself. On a table near at + hand there were pens and paper, and ink of two colors, black and red. The + boy seized a pen and sheet of paper, and, kneeling down beside the cradle, + began to draw a likeness of the infant. While he was busied in this manner + he heard his mother’s step approaching, and hastily tried to conceal the + paper. + </p> + <p> + “Benjamin, my son, what hast thou been doing?” inquired his mother, + observing marks of confusion in his face. + </p> + <p> + At first Ben was unwilling to tell; for he felt as if there might be + something wrong in stealing the baby’s face and putting it upon a sheet of + paper. However, as his mother insisted, he finally put the sketch into her + hand, and then hung his head, expecting to be well scolded. But when the + good lady saw what was on the paper, in lines of red and black ink, she + uttered a scream of surprise and joy. + </p> + <p> + “Bless me!” cried she. “It is a picture of little Sally!” + </p> + <p> + And then she threw her arms round our friend Benjamin, and kissed him so + tenderly that he never afterwards was afraid to show his performances to + his mother. + </p> + <p> + As Ben grew older, he was observed to take vast delight in looking at the + lines and forms of nature. For instance, he was greatly pleased with the + blue violets of spring, the wild roses of summer, and the scarlet + cardinal-flowers of early autumn. In the decline of the year, when the + woods were variegated with all the colors of the rainbow, Ben seemed to + desire nothing better than to gaze at them from morn till night. The + purple and golden clouds of sunset were a joy to him. And he was + continually endeavoring to draw the figures of trees, men, mountains, + houses, cattle, geese, ducks, and turkeys, with a piece of chalk, on barn + doors or on the floor. + </p> + <p> + In these old times the Mohawk Indians were still numerous in Pennsylvania. + Every year a party of them used to pay a visit to Springfield, because the + wigwams of their ancestors had formerly stood there. These wild men grew + fond of little Ben, and made him very happy by giving him some of the red + and yellow paint with which they were accustomed to adorn their faces. His + mother, too, presented him with a piece of indigo. Thus he now had three + colors,—red, blue, and yellow,—and could manufacture green by + mixing the yellow with the blue. Our friend Ben was overjoyed, and + doubtless showed his gratitude to the Indians by taking their likenesses + in the strange dresses which they wore, with feathers, tomahawks, and bows + and arrows. + </p> + <p> + But all this time the young artist had no paint-brushes; nor were there + any to be bought, unless he had sent to Philadelphia on purpose. However, + he was a very ingenious boy, aid resolved to manufacture paint-brushes for + himself. With this design he laid hold upon—what do you think? Why, + upon a respectable old black cat, who was sleeping quietly by the + fireside. + </p> + <p> + “Puss,” said little Ben to the cat, “pray give me some of the fur from the + tip of thy tail?” + </p> + <p> + Though he addressed the black cat so civilly, yet Ben was determined to + have the fur whether she were willing or not. Puss, who had no great zeal + for the fine arts, would have resisted if she could; but the boy was armed + with his mother’s scissors, and very dexterously clipped off fur enough to + make a paint-brush. This was of so much use to him that be applied to + Madame Puss again and again, until her warm coat of fur had become so thin + and ragged that she could hardly keep comfortable through the winter. Poor + thing! she was forced to creep close into the chimney-corner, and eyed Ben + with a very rueful physiognomy. But Ben considered it more necessary that + he should have paint-brushes than that puss should be warm. + </p> + <p> + About this period friend West received a visit from Mr. Pennington, a + merchant of Philadelphia, who was likewise a member of the Society of + Friends. The visitor, on entering the parlor, was surprised to see it + ornamented with drawings of Indian chiefs, and of birds with beautiful + plumage, and of the wild flowers of the forest. Nothing of the kind was + ever seen before in the habitation of a Quaker farmer. + </p> + <p> + “Why, Friend West,” exclaimed the Philadelphia merchant, “what has + possessed thee to cover thy walls with all these pictures? Where on earth + didst then get them?” + </p> + <p> + Then Friend West explained that all these pictures were painted by little + Ben, with no better materials than red and yellow ochre and a piece of + indigo, and with brushes made of the black cat’s fur. + </p> + <p> + “Verily,” said Mr. Pennington, “the boy hath a wonderful faculty. Some of + our friends might look upon these matters as vanity; but little Benjamin + appears to have been born a painter; and Providence is wiser than we are.” + </p> + <p> + The good merchant patted Benjamin on the head, and evidently considered + him a wonderful boy. When his parents saw how much their son’s + performances were admired, they, no doubt, remembered the prophecy of the + old Quaker preacher respecting Ben’s future eminence. Yet they could not + understand how he was ever to become a very great and useful man merely by + making pictures. + </p> + <p> + One evening, shortly after Mr. Pennington’s return to Philadelphia, a + package arrived at Springfield, directed to our little friend Ben. + </p> + <p> + “What can it possibly be?” thought Ben, when it was put into his hands. + “Who can have sent me such a great square package as this?” + </p> + <p> + On taking off the thick brown paper which enveloped it, behold! there was + a paint-box, with a great many cakes of paint, and brushes of various + sizes. It was the gift of good Mr. Pennington. There were likewise several + squares of canvas such as artists use for painting pictures upon, and, in + addition to all these treasures, some beautiful engravings of landscapes. + These were the first pictures that Ben had ever seen, except those of his + own drawing. + </p> + <p> + What a joyful evening was this for the little artist! At bedtime he put + the paint-box under his pillow, and got hardly a wink of sleep; for, all + night long, his fancy was painting pictures in the darkness. In the + morning he hurried to the garret, and was seen no more till the + dinner-hour; nor did he give himself time to eat more than a mouthful or + two of food before he hurried back to the garret again. The next day, and + the next, he was just as busy as ever; until at last his mother thought it + time to ascertain what he was about. She accordingly followed him to the + garret. + </p> + <p> + On opening the door, the first object that presented itself to her eyes + was our friend Benjamin, giving the last touches to a beautiful picture. + He had copied portions of two of the engravings, and made one picture out + of both, with such admirable skill that it was far more beautiful than the + originals. The grass, the trees, the water, the sky, and the houses were + all painted in their proper colors. There, too, where the sunshine and the + shadow, looking as natural as life. + </p> + <p> + “My dear child, thou hast done wonders!” cried his mother. + </p> + <p> + The good lady was in an ecstasy of delight. And well might she be proud of + her boy; for there were touches in this picture which old artists, who had + spent a lifetime in the business, need not have been ashamed of. Many a + year afterwards, this wonderful production was exhibited at the Royal + Academy in London. + </p> + <p> + When Benjamin was quite a large lad he was sent to school at Philadelphia. + Not long after his arrival he had a slight attack of fever, which confined + him to his bed. The light, which would otherwise have disturbed him, was + excluded from his chamber by means of closed wooden shutters. At first it + appeared so totally dark that Ben could not distinguish any object in the + room. By degrees, however, his eyes became accustomed to the scanty light. + </p> + <p> + He was lying on his back, looking up towards the ceiling, when suddenly he + beheld the dim apparition of a white cow moving slowly over his head! Ben + started, and rubbed his eyes in the greatest amazement. + </p> + <p> + “What can this mean?” thought he. + </p> + <p> + The white cow disappeared; and next came several pigs, which trotted along + the ceiling and vanished into the darkness of the chamber. So lifelike did + these grunters look that Ben almost seemed to hear them squeak. + </p> + <p> + “Well, this is very strange!” said Ben to himself. + </p> + <p> + When the people of the house came to see him, Benjamin told them of the + marvellous circumstance which had occurred. But they would not believe + him. + </p> + <p> + “Benjamin, thou art surely out of thy senses!” cried they. “How is it + possible that a white cow and a litter of pigs should be visible on the + ceiling of a dark chamber?” + </p> + <p> + Ben, however, had great confidence in his own eyesight, and was determined + to search the mystery to the bottom. For this purpose, when he was again + left alone, he got out of bed and examined the window-shutters. He soon + perceived a small chink in one of them, through which a ray of light found + its passage and rested upon the ceiling. Now, the science of optics will + inform us that the pictures of the white cow and the pigs, and of other + objects out of doors, came into the dark chamber through this narrow + chink, and were painted over Benjamin’s head. It is greatly to his credit + that he discovered the scientific principle of this phenomenon, and by + means of it constructed a camera-obscura, or magic-lantern, out of a + hollow box. This was of great advantage to him in drawing landscapes. + </p> + <p> + Well, time went on, and Benjamin continued to draw and paint pictures + until he had now reached the age when it was proper that he should choose + a business for life. His father and mother were in considerable perplexity + about him. According to the ideas of the Quakers, it is not right for + people to spend their lives in occupations that are of no real and + sensible advantage to the world. Now, what advantage could the world + expect from Benjamin’s pictures? This was a difficult question; and, in + order to set their minds at rest, his parents determined to consult the + preachers and wise men of their society. Accordingly, they all assembled + in the meeting-house, and discussed the matter from beginning to end. + </p> + <p> + Finally they came to a very wise decision. It seemed so evident that + Providence had created Benjamin to be a painter, and had given him + abilities which would be thrown away in any other business, that the + Quakers resolved not to oppose his inclination. They even acknowledged + that the sight of a beautiful picture might convey instruction to the mind + and might benefit the heart as much as a good book or a wise discourse. + They therefore committed the youth to the direction of God, being well + assured that he best knew what was his proper sphere of usefulness. The + old men laid their hands upon Benjamin’s head and gave him their blessing, + and the women kissed him affectionately. All consented that he should go + forth into the world and learn to be a painter by studying the best + pictures of ancient and modern times. + </p> + <p> + So our friend Benjamin left the dwelling of his parents, and his native + woods and streams, and the good Quakers of Springfield, and the Indians + who had given him his first colors; he left all the places and persons + whom he had hitherto known, and returned to them no more. He went first to + Philadelphia, and afterwards to Europe. Here he was noticed by many great + people, but retained all the sobriety and simplicity which he had learned + among the Quakers. It is related of him, that, when he was presented at + the court of the Prince of Parma, he kept his hat upon his head even while + kissing the Prince’s hand. + </p> + <p> + When he was twenty-five years old he went to London and established + himself there as all artist. In due course of time he acquired great fame + by his pictures, and was made chief painter to King George III. and + president of the Royal Academy of Arts. When the Quakers of Pennsylvania + heard of his success, they felt that the prophecy of the old preacher as + to little Ben’s future eminence was now accomplished. It is true, they + shook their heads at his pictures of battle and bloodshed, such as the + Death of Wolfe, thinking that these terrible scene, should not be held up + to the admiration of the world. + </p> + <p> + But they approved of the great paintings in which he represented the + miracles and sufferings of the Redeemer of mankind. King George employed + him to adorn a large and beautiful chapel at Windsor Castle with pictures + of these sacred subjects. He likewise painted a magnificent picture of + Christ Healing the Sick, which he gave to the hospital at Philadelphia. It + was exhibited to the public, and produced so much profit that the hospital + was enlarged so as to accommodate thirty more patients. If Benjamin West + had done no other good deed than this, yet it would have been enough to + entitle him to an honorable remembrance forever. At this very day there + are thirty poor people in the hospital who owe all their comforts to that + same picture.. + </p> + <p> + We shall mention only a single incident more. The picture of Christ + Healing the Sick was exhibited at the Royal Academy in London, where it + covered a vast space and displayed a multitude of figures as large as + life. On the wall, close beside this admirable picture, hung a small and + faded landscape. It was the same that little Ben had painted in his + father’s garret, after receiving the paint-box and engravings from good + Mr. Pennington. + </p> + <p> + He lived many years in peace and honor, and died in 1820, at the age of + eighty-two. The story of his life is almost as wonderful as a fairy tale; + for there are few stranger transformations than that of a little unknown + Quaker boy, in the wilds of America, into the most distinguished English + painter of his day. Let us each make the best use of our natural abilities + as Benjamin West did; and, with the blessing of Providence, we shall + arrive at some good end. As for fame, it is but little matter whether we + acquire it or not. + </p> + <p> + “Thank you for the story, my dear father,” said Edward, when it was + finished. “Do you know that it seems as if I could see things without the + help of my eyes? While you were speaking I have seen little Bert, and the + baby in its cradle, and the Indians, and the white cow, and the pigs, and + kind Mr. Pennington, and all the good old Quakers, almost as plainly as if + they were in this very room.” + </p> + <p> + “It is because your attention was not disturbed by outward objects,” + replied Mr. Temple. “People, when deprived of sight, often have more vivid + ideas than those who possess the perfect use of their eyes. I will venture + to say that George has not attended to the story quite so closely.” + </p> + <p> + “No, indeed,” said George; “but it was a very pretty story for all that. + How I should have laughed to see Ben making a paint-brush out of the black + cat’s tail! I intend to try the experiment with Emily’s kitten.” + </p> + <p> + “O no, no, George!” cried Emily, earnestly. “My kitten cannot spare her + tail.” + </p> + <p> + Edward being an invalid, it was now time for him to retire to bed. When + the family bade him good night he turned his face towards them, looking + very loath to part. + </p> + <p> + “I shall not know when morning comes,” said he, sorrowfully. “And besides, + I want to hear your voices all the time; for, when nobody is speaking, it + seems as if I were alone in a dark world.” + </p> + <p> + “You must have faith, my dear child,” replied his mother. “Faith is the + soul’s eyesight; and when we possess it the world is never dark nor + lonely.” + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <h4> + CHAPTER III. + </h4> + <p> + The next day Edward began to get accustomed to his new condition of life. + Once, indeed, when his parents were out of the way and only Emily was left + to take care of him, he could not resist the temptation to thrust aside + the bandage and peep at the anxious face of his little nurse. But, in + spite of the dimness of the chamber, the experiment caused him so much + pain that he felt no inclination to take another look. So, with a deep + sigh, here signed himself to his fate. + </p> + <p> + “Emily, pray talk to me!” said he, somewhat impatiently. + </p> + <p> + Now, Emily was a remarkably silent little girl, and did not possess that + liveliness of disposition which renders some children such excellent + companions. She seldom laughed, and had not the faculty of making many + words about small matters. But the love and earnestness of her heart + taught her how to amuse poor Edward in his darkness. She put her + knitting-work into his hands. + </p> + <p> + “You must learn how to knit,” said she. + </p> + <p> + “What! without using my eyes?” cried Edward. + </p> + <p> + “I can knit with my eyes shut,” replied Emily. + </p> + <p> + Then with her own little hands she guided Edward’s fingers while he set + about this new occupation. So awkward were his first attempts that any + other little girl would have laughed heartily. But Emily preserved her + gravity, and showed the utmost patience in taking up the innumerable + stitches which he let down. In the course of an hour or two his progress + was quite encouraging. + </p> + <p> + When evening came, Edward acknowledged that the day had been far less + wearisome than he anticipated. But he was glad, nevertheless, when his + father and mother, and George and Emily, all took their seats around his + chair. He put out his hand to grasp each of their hands, and smiled with a + very bright expression upon his lips. + </p> + <p> + “Now I can see you all with my mind’s eye,” said he. “And now, father, + pray tell us another story.” + </p> + <p> + So Mr. Temple began. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> <a name="newton"></a> + </p> + <h3> + SIR ISAAC NEWTON. + </h3> + <h4> + [BORN 1642, DIED 1727] + </h4> + <p> + On Christmas day, in the year 1642, Isaac Newton was born at the small + village of Woolsthorpe, in England. Little did his mother think, when she + beheld her newborn babe, that he was destined to explain many matters + which had been a mystery ever since the creation of the world. + </p> + <p> + Isaac’s father being dead, Mrs. Newton was married again to a clergyman, + and went to reside at North Witham. Her son was left to the care of his + good old grandmother, who was very kind to him and sent him to school. In + his early years Isaac did not appear to be a very bright scholar, but was + chiefly remarkable for his ingenuity in all mechanical occupations. He had + a set of little tools and saws of various sizes manufactured by himself. + With the aid of these Isaac contrived to make many curious articles, at + which he worked with so much skill that he seemed to have been born with a + saw or chisel in hand. + </p> + <p> + The neighbors looked with vast admiration at the things which Isaac + manufactured. And his old grandmother, I suppose, was never weary of + talking about him. + </p> + <p> + “He’ll make a capital workman one of these days,” she would probably say. + “No fear but what Isaac will do well in the world and be a rich man before + he dies.” + </p> + <p> + It is amusing to conjecture what were the anticipations of his grandmother + and the neighbors about Isaac’s future life. Some of them, perhaps, + fancied that he would make beautiful furniture of mahogany, rosewood, or + polished oak, inlaid with ivory and ebony, and magnificently gilded. And + then, doubtless, all the rich people would purchase these fine things to + adorn their drawing-rooms. Others probably thought that little Isaac was + destined to be an architect, and would build splendid mansions for the + nobility and gentry, and churches too, with the tallest steeples that had + ever been seen in England. + </p> + <p> + Some of his friends, no doubt, advised Isaac’s grandmother to apprentice + him to a clock-maker; for, besides his mechanical skill, the boy seemed to + have a taste for mathematics, which would be very useful to him in that + profession. And then, in due time, Isaac would set up for himself, and + would manufacture curious clocks, like those that contain sets of dancing + figures, which issue from the dial-plate when the hour is struck; or like + those where a ship sails across the face of the clock, and is seen tossing + up and down on the waves as often as the pendulum vibrates. + </p> + <p> + Indeed, there was some ground for supposing that Isaac would devote + himself to the manufacture of clocks; since he had already made one, of a + kind which nobody had ever heard of before. It was set a-going, not by + wheels and weights like other clocks, but by the dropping of water. This + was an object of great wonderment to all the people round about; and it + must be confessed that there are few boys, or men either, who could + contrive to tell what o’clock it is by means of a bowl of water. + </p> + <p> + Besides the water-clock, Isaac made a sundial. Thus his grandmother was + never at a loss to know the hour; for the water-clock would tell it in the + shade, and the dial in the sunshine. The sundial is said to be still in + existence at Woolsthorpe, on the corner of the house where Isaac dwelt. If + so, it must have marked the passage of every sunny hour that has elapsed + since Isaac Newton was a boy. It marked all the famous moments of his + life; it marked the hour of his death; and still the sunshine creeps + slowly over it, as regularly as when Isaac first set it up. + </p> + <p> + Yet we must not say that the sundial has lasted longer than its maker; for + Isaac Newton will exist long after the dial—yes, and long after the + sun itself—shall have crumbled to decay. + </p> + <p> + Isaac possessed a wonderful faculty of acquiring knowledge by the simplest + means. For instance, what method do you suppose he took to find out the + strength of the wind? You will never guess how the boy could compel that + unseen, inconstant, and ungovernable wonder, the wind, to tell him the + measure of its strength. Yet nothing can be more simple. He jumped against + the wind; and by the length of his jump he could calculate the force of a + gentle breeze, a brisk gale, or a tempest. Thus, even in his boyish + sports, he was continually searching out the secrets of philosophy. + </p> + <p> + Not far from his grandmother’s residence there was a windmill which + operated on a new plan. Isaac was in the habit of going thither + frequently, and would spend whole hours in examining its various parts. + While the mill was at rest he pried into its internal machinery. When its + broad sails were set in motion by the wind, he watched the process by + which the mill-stones were made to revolve and crush the grain that was + put into the hopper. After gaining a thorough knowledge of its + construction he was observed to be unusually busy with his tools. + </p> + <p> + It was not long before his grandmother and all the neighborhood knew what + Isaac had been about. He had constructed a model of the windmill. Though + not so large, I suppose, as one of the box traps which boys set to catch + squirrels, yet every part of the mill and is machinery was complete. Its + little sails were neatly made of linen, and whirled round very swiftly + when the mill was placed in a draught of air. Even a puff of wind from + Isaac’s mouth or from a pair of bellows was sufficient to set the sails in + motion. And, what was most curious, if a handful of grains of wheat were + put into the little hopper, they would soon be converted into snow-white + flour. + </p> + <p> + Isaac’s playmates were enchanted with his new windmill. They thought that + nothing so pretty and so wonderful had ever been seen in the whole world. + </p> + <p> + “But, Isaac,” said one of them, “you have forgotten one thing that belongs + to a mill.” + </p> + <p> + “What is that?” asked Isaac; for he supposed that, from the roof of the + mill to its foundation, he had forgotten nothing. + </p> + <p> + “Why, where is the miller?” said his friend. + </p> + <p> + “That is true,—I must look out for one,” said Isaac; and he set + himself to consider how the deficiency should be supplied. + </p> + <p> + He might easily have made the miniature figure of a man; but then it would + not have been able to move about and perform the duties of a miller. As + Captain Lemuel Gulliver had not yet discovered the island of Lilliput, + Isaac did not know that there were little men in the world whose size was + just suited to his windmill. It so happened, however, that a mouse had + just been caught in the trap; and, as no other miller could be found, Mr. + Mouse was appointed to that important office. The new miller made a very + respectable appearance in his dark gray coat. To be sure, he had not a + very good character for honesty, and was suspected of sometimes stealing a + portion of the grain which was given him to grind. But perhaps some + two-legged millers are quite as dishonest as this small quadruped. + </p> + <p> + As Isaac grew older, it was found that he had far more important matters + in his mind than the manufacture of toys like the little windmill. All day + long, if left to himself, he was either absorbed in thought or engaged in + some book of mathematics or natural philosophy. At night, I think it + probable, he looked up with reverential curiosity to the stars, and + wondered whether they were worlds like our own, and how great was their + distance from the earth, and what was the power that kept them in their + courses. Perhaps, even so early in life, Isaac Newton felt a presentiment + that he should be able, hereafter, to answer all these questions. + </p> + <p> + When Isaac was fourteen years old, his mother’s second husband being now + dead, she wished her son to leave school and assist her in managing the + farm at Woolsthorpe. For a year or two, therefore, he tried to turn his + attention to farming. But his mind was so bent on becoming a scholar that + his mother sent him back to school, and afterwards to the University of + Cambridge. + </p> + <p> + I have now finished my anecdotes of Isaac Newton’s boyhood. My story would + be far too long were I to mention all the splendid discoveries which he + made after he came to be a man. He was the first that found out the nature + of light; for, before his day, nobody could tell what the sunshine was + composed of. You remember, I suppose, the story of an apple’s falling on + his head, and thus leading him to discover the force of gravitation, which + keeps the heavenly bodies in their courses. When he had once got hold of + this idea, he never permitted his mind to rest until he had searched out + all the laws by which the planets are guided through the sky. This he did + as thoroughly as if he had gone up among the stars and tracked them in + their orbits. The boy had found out the mechanism of a windmill; the man + explained to his fellow-men the mechanism of the universe. + </p> + <p> + While making these researches he was accustomed to spend night after night + in a lofty tower, gazing at the heavenly bodies through a telescope. His + mind was lifted far above the things of this world. He may be said, + indeed, to have spent the greater part of his life in worlds that lie + thousands and millions of miles away; for where the thoughts and the heart + are, there is our true existence. + </p> + <p> + Did you never hear the story of Newton and his little dog Diamond? One + day, when he was fifty years old, and had been hard at work more than + twenty years studying the theory of light, he went out of his chamber, + leaving his little dog asleep before the fire. On the table lay a heap of + manuscript papers, containing all the discoveries which Newton had made + during those twenty years. When his master was gone, up rose little + Diamond, jumped upon the table, and overthrew the lighted candle. The + papers immediately caught fire. + </p> + <p> + Just as the destruction was completed Newton opened the chamber door, and + perceived that the labors of twenty years were reduced to a heap of ashes. + There stood little Diamond, the author of all the mischief. Almost any + other man would have sentenced the dog to immediate death. But Newton + patted him on the head with his usual kindness, although grief was at his + heart. + </p> + <p> + “O Diamond, Diamond,” exclaimed he, “thou little knowest the mischief then + hast done!” + </p> + <p> + This incident affected his health and spirits for some time afterwards; + but, from his conduct towards the little dog, you may judge what was the + sweetness of his temper. + </p> + <p> + Newton lived to be a very old man, and acquired great renown, and was made + a member of Parliament, and received the honor of knighthood from the + king. But he cared little for earthly fame and honors, and felt no pride + in the vastness of his knowledge. All that he had learned only made him + feel how little he knew in comparison to what remained to be known. + </p> + <p> + “I seem to myself like a child,” observed he, “playing on the sea-shore, + and picking up here and there a curious shell or a pretty pebble, while + the boundless ocean of Truth lies undiscovered before me.” + </p> + <p> + At last, in 1727, when he was fourscore and five years old, Sir Isaac + Newton died,—or rather, he ceased to live on earth. We may be + permitted to believe that he is still searching out the infinite wisdom + and goodness of the Creator as earnestly, and with even more success, than + while his spirit animated a mortal body. He has left a fame behind him + which will be as endurable as if his name were written in letters of light + formed by the stars upon the midnight sky. + </p> + <p> + “I love to hear about mechanical contrivances, such as the water-clock and + the little windmill,” remarked George. “I suppose, if Sir Isaac Newton had + only thought of it, he might have found out the steam-engine, and + railroads, and all the other famous inventions that have come into use + since his day.” + </p> + <p> + “Very possibly he might,” replied Mr. Temple; “and no doubt a great many + people would think it more useful to manufacture steam-engines than to + search out the system of the universe. Other great astronomers besides + Newton have been endowed with mechanical genius. There was David + Rittenhouse, an American,—lie made a perfect little water-mill when + he was only seven or eight years old. But this sort of ingenuity is but a + mere trifle in comparison with the other talents of such men.” + </p> + <p> + “It must have been beautiful,” said Edward, “to spend whole nights in a + high tower as Newton did, gazing at the stars, and the comets, and the + meteors. But what would Newton have done had he been blind? or if his eyes + had been no better than mine?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, even then, my dear child,” observed Mrs. Temple, “he would have + found out some way of enlightening his mind and of elevating his soul. But + come; little Emily is waiting to bid you good night. You must go to sleep + and dream of seeing all our faces.” + </p> + <p> + “But how sad it will be when I awake!” murmured Edward. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> <a name="chap04"></a> + </p> + <h4> + CHAPTER IV. + </h4> + <p> + In the course of the next day the harmony of our little family was + disturbed by something like a quarrel between George and Edward. + </p> + <p> + The former, though he loved his brother dearly, had found it quite too + great a sacrifice of his own enjoyments to spend all his play-time in a + darkened chamber. Edward, on the other hand, was inclined to be despotic. + He felt as if his bandaged eyes entitled him to demand that everybody who + enjoyed the blessing of sight should contribute to his comfort and + amusement. He therefore insisted that George, instead of going out to play + at football, should join with himself and Emily in a game of questions and + answers. + </p> + <p> + George resolutely refused, and ran out of the house. He did not revisit + Edward’s chamber till the evening, when he stole in, looking confused, yet + somewhat sullen, and sat down beside his father’s chair. It was evident, + by a motion of Edward’s head and a slight trembling of his lips, that he + was aware of George’s entrance, though his footsteps had been almost + inaudible. Emily, with her serious and earnest little face, looked from + one to the other, as if she longed to be a messenger of peace between + them. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Temple, without seeming to notice any of these circumstances, began a + story. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> <a name="johnson"></a> + </p> + <h3> + SAMUEL JOHNSON + </h3> + <h4> + [BORN 1709 DIED 1784.] + </h4> + <p> + “Sam,” said Mr. Michael Johnson, of Lichfield, one morning, “I am very + feeble and ailing to-day. You must go to Uttoxeter in my stead, and tend + the bookstall in the market-place there.” + </p> + <p> + This was spoken above a hundred years ago, by an elderly man, who had once + been a thriving bookseller at Lichfield, in England. Being now in reduced + circumstances, he was forced to go every market-day and sell books at a + stall, in the neighboring village of Uttoxeter. + </p> + <p> + His son, to whom Mr. Johnson spoke, was a great boy, of very singular + aspect. He had an intelligent face; but it was seamed and distorted by a + scrofulous humor, which affected his eyes so badly that sometimes he was + almost blind. Owing to the same cause his head would often shake with a + tremulous motion as if he were afflicted with the palsy. When Sam was an + infant, the famous Queen Anne had tried to cure him of this disease by + laying her royal hands upon his head. But though the touch of a king or + queen was supposed to be a certain remedy for scrofula, it produced no + good effect upon Sam Johnson. + </p> + <p> + At the time which we speak of the poor lad was not very well dressed, and + wore shoes from which his toes peeped out; for his old father had barely + the means of supporting his wife and children. But, poor as the family + were, young Sam Johnson had as much pride as any nobleman’s son in + England. The fact was, he felt conscious of uncommon sense and ability, + which, in his own opinion, entitled him to great respect from the world. + Perhaps he would have been glad if grown people had treated him as + reverentially as his schoolfellows did. Three of them were accustomed to + come for him every morning; and while he sat upon the back of one, the two + others supported him on each side; and thus he rode to school in triumph. + </p> + <p> + Being a personage of so much importance, Sam could not bear the idea of + standing all day in Uttoxeter market offering books to the rude and + ignorant country people. Doubtless he felt the more reluctant on account + of his shabby clothes, and the disorder of his eyes, and the tremulous + motion of his head. + </p> + <p> + When Mr. Michael Johnson spoke, Sam pouted and made an indistinct + grumbling in his throat; then he looked his old father in the face and + answered him loudly and deliberately. + </p> + <p> + “Sir,” said he, “I will not go to Uttoxeter market!” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Johnson had seen a great deal of the lad’s obstinacy ever since his + birth; and while Sam was younger, the old gentleman had probably used the + rod whenever occasion seemed to require. But he was now too feeble and too + much out of spirits to contend with this stubborn and violent-tempered + boy. He therefore gave up the point at once, and prepared to go to + Uttoxeter himself. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Sam,” said Mr. Johnson, as he took his hat and staff, “if for the + sake of your foolish pride you can suffer your poor sick father to stand + all day in the noise and confusion of the market when he ought to be in + his bed, I have no more to say. But you will think of this, Sam, when I am + dead and gone.” + </p> + <p> + So the poor old man (perhaps with a tear in his eye, but certainly with + sorrow in his heart) set forth towards Uttoxeter. The gray-haired, feeble, + melancholy Michael Johnson! How sad a thing it was that he should be + forced to go, in his sickness, and toil for the support of an ungrateful + son who was too proud to do anything for his father, or his mother, or + himself! Sam looked after Mr. Johnson with a sullen countenance till he + was out of sight. + </p> + <p> + But when the old man’s figure, as he went stooping along the street, was + no more to be seen, the boy’s heart began to smite him. He had a vivid + imagination, and it tormented him with the image of his father standing in + the market-place of Uttoxeter and offering his books to the noisy crowd + around him. Sam seemed to behold him arranging his literary merchandise + upon the stall in such a way as was best calculated to attract notice. + Here was Addison’s Spectator, a long row of little volumes; here was + Pope’s translation of the Iliad and Odyssey; here were Dryden’s poems, or + those of Prior. Here, likewise, were Gulliver’s Travels, and a variety of + little gilt-covered children’s books, such as Tom Thumb, Jack the Giant + Queller, Mother Goose’s Melodies, and others which our great-grandparents + used to read in their childhood. And here were sermons for the pious, and + pamphlets for the politicians, and ballads, some merry and some dismal + ones, for the country people to sing. + </p> + <p> + Sam, in imagination, saw his father offer these books, pamphlets, and + ballads, now to the rude yeomen who perhaps could not read a word; now to + the country squires, who cared for nothing but to hunt hares and foxes; + now to the children, who chose to spend their coppers for sugar-plums or + gingerbread rather than for picture-books. And if Mr. Johnson should sell + a book to man, woman, or child, it would cost him an hour’s talk to get a + profit of only sixpence. + </p> + <p> + “My poor father!” thought Sam to himself. “How his head will ache! and how + heavy his heart will be! I am almost sorry that I did not do as he bade + me.” + </p> + <p> + Then the boy went to his mother, who was busy about the house. She did not + know of what had passed between Mr. Johnson and Sam. + </p> + <p> + “Mother,” said he, “did you think father seemed very ill to-day?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Sam,” answered his mother, turning with a flushed face from the + fire, where she was cooking their scanty dinner. “Your father did look + very ill; and it is a pity he did not send you to Uttoxeter in his stead. + You are a great boy now, and would rejoice, I am sure, to do something for + your poor father, who has done so much for you.” + </p> + <p> + The lad made no reply. But again his imagination set to work and conjured + up another picture of poor Michael Johnson. He was standing in the hot + sunshine of the market-place, and looking so weary, sick, and + disconsolate, that the eyes of all the crowd were drawn to him. “Had this + old man no son,” the people would say among themselves, “who might have + taken his place at the bookstall while the father kept his bed?” And + perhaps, but this was a terrible thought for Sam!—perhaps his father + would faint away and fall down in the marketplace, with his gray hair in + the dust and his venerable face as deathlike as that of a corpse. And + there would be the bystanders gazing earnestly at Mr. Johnson and + whispering, “Is he dead? Is he dead?” + </p> + <p> + And Sam shuddered as he repeated to himself, “Is he dead?” + </p> + <p> + “O, I have been a cruel son!” thought he, within his own heart. “God + forgive me! God forgive me!” + </p> + <p> + But God could not yet forgive him; for he was not truly penitent. Had he + been so, he would have hastened away that very moment to Uttoxeter, and + have fallen at his father’s feet, even in the midst of the crowded + market-place. There he would have confessed his fault, and besought Mr. + Johnson to go home and leave the rest of the day’s work to him. But such + was Sam’s pride and natural stubbornness that he could not bring himself + to this humiliation. Yet he ought to have done so, for his own sake, for + his father’s sake, and for God’s sake. + </p> + <p> + After sunset old Michael Johnson came slowly home and sat down in his + customary chair. He said nothing to Sam; nor do I know that a single word + ever passed between them on the subject of the son’s disobedience. In a + few years his father died, and left Sam to fight his way through the world + by himself. It would make our story much too long were I to tell you even + a few of the remarkable events of Sam’s life. Moreover, there is the less + need of this, because many books have been written about that poor boy, + and the fame that he acquired, and all that he did or talked of doing + after he came to be a man. + </p> + <p> + But one thing I must not neglect to say. From his boyhood upward until the + latest day of his life he never forgot the story of Uttoxeter market. + Often when he was a scholar of the University of Oxford, or master of an + academy at Edial, or a writer for the London booksellers,—in all his + poverty and toil and in all his success,—while he was walking the + streets without a shilling to buy food, or when the greatest men of + England were proud to feast him at their table,—still that heavy and + remorseful thought came back to him, “I was cruel to my poor father in his + illness!” Many and many a time, awake or in his dreams, he seemed to see + old Michael Johnson standing in the dust and confusion of the market-place + and pressing his withered hand to his forehead as if it ached. + </p> + <p> + Alas! my dear children, it is a sad thing to have such a thought as this + to bear us company through life. + </p> + <p> + Though the story was but half finished, yet, as it was longer than usual, + Mr. Temple here made a short pause. He perceived that Emily was in tears, + and Edward turned his half-veiled face towards the speaker with an air of + great earnestness and interest. As for George, he had withdrawn into the + dusky shadow behind his father’s chair. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> <a name="chap05"></a> + </p> + <h3> + CHAPTER V. + </h3> + <p> + In a few moments Mr. Temple resumed the story, as follows:— + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + SAMUEL JOHNSON. + </h3> + <h4> + [CONTINUED] + </h4> + <p> + Well, my children, fifty years had passed away since young Sam Johnson had + shown himself so hard-hearted towards his father. It was now market-day in + the village of Uttoxeter. + </p> + <p> + In the street of the village you might see cattle-dealers with cows and + oxen for sale, and pig-drovers with herds of squeaking swine, and farmers + with cartloads of cabbages, turnips, onions, and all other produce of the + soil. Now and then a farmer’s red-faced wife trotted along on horseback, + with butter and cheese in two large panniers. The people of the village, + with country squires, and other visitors from the neighborhood, walked + hither and thither, trading, jesting, quarrelling, and making just such a + bustle as their fathers and grandfathers had made half a century before. + </p> + <p> + In one part of the street there was a puppet-show with a ridiculous + merry-andrew, who kept both grown people and children in a roar of + laughter. On the opposite side was the old stone church of Uttoxeter, with + ivy climbing up its walls and partly obscuring its Gothic windows. + </p> + <p> + There was a clock in the gray tower of the ancient church, and the hands + on the dial-plate had now almost reached the hour of noon. At this busiest + hour of the market a strange old gentleman was seen making his way among + the crowd, he was very tall and bulky, and wore a brown coat and + small-clothes, with black worsted stockings and buckled shoes. On his head + was a three cornered hat, beneath which a bushy gray wig thrust itself + out, all in disorder. The old gentleman elbowed the people aside, and + forced his way through the midst of them with a singular kind of gait, + rolling his body hither and thither, so that he needed twice as much room + as any other person there. + </p> + <p> + “Make way, sir!” he would cry out, in a loud, harsh voice, when somebody + happened to interrupt his progress. “Sir, you intrude your person into the + public thoroughfare!” + </p> + <p> + “What a queer old fellow this is!” muttered the people among themselves, + hardly knowing whether to laugh or to be angry. + </p> + <p> + But when they looked into the venerable stranger’s face, not the most + thoughtless among them dared to offer him the least impertinence. Though + his features were scarred and distorted with the scrofula, and though his + eyes were dim and bleared, yet there was something of authority and wisdom + in his look, which impressed them all with awe. So they stood aside to let + him pass; and the old gentleman made his way across the market-place, and + paused near the corner of the ivy-mantled church. Just as he reached it + the clock struck twelve. + </p> + <p> + On the very spot of ground where the stranger now stood some aged people + remembered that old Michael Johnson had formerly kept his book-stall. The + little children who had once bought picture-books of him were grandfathers + now. + </p> + <p> + “Yes; here is the very spot!” muttered the old gentleman to himself. + </p> + <p> + There this unknown personage took his stand and removed the three-cornered + hat from his head. It was the busiest hour of the day. What with the hum + of human voices, the lowing of cattle, the squeaking of pigs, and the + laughter caused by the merry-andrew, the marketplace was in very great + confusion. But the stranger seemed not to notice it any more than if the + silence of a desert were around him. He was rapt in his own thoughts. + Sometimes he raised his furrowed brow to heaven, as if in prayer; + sometimes he bent his head, as if an insupportable weight of sorrow were + upon him. It increased the awfulness of his aspect that there was a motion + of his head and an almost continual tremor throughout his frame, with + singular twitches and contortions of his features. + </p> + <p> + The hot sun blazed upon his unprotected head; but he seemed not to feel + its fervor. A dark cloud swept across the sky and rain-drops pattered into + the market-place; but the stranger heeded not the shower. The people began + to gaze at the mysterious old gentleman with superstitious fear and + wonder. Who could he be? Whence did he come? Wherefore was he standing + bareheaded in the market-place? Even the school-boys left the merry-andrew + and came to gaze, with wide-open eyes, at this tall, strange-looking old + man. + </p> + <p> + There was a cattle-drover in the village who had recently made a journey + to the Smithfield market, in London. No sooner had this man thrust his way + through the throng and taken a look at the unknown personage, than he + whispered to one of his acquaintances,— + </p> + <p> + “I say, Neighbor Hutchins, would ye like to know who this old gentleman + is?” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, that I would,” replied Neighbor Hutchins, “for a queerer chap I never + saw in my life. Somehow it makes me feel small to look at him. He’s more + than a common man.” + </p> + <p> + “You may well say so,” answered the cattle-drover. “Why, that’s the famous + Doctor Samuel Johnson, who they say is the greatest and learnedest man in + England. I saw him in London streets, walking with one Mr. Boswell.” + </p> + <p> + Yes; the poor boy, the friendless Sam, with whom we began our story, had + become the famous Doctor Samuel Johnson. He was universally acknowledged + as the wisest man and greatest writer in all England. He had given shape + and permanence to his native language by his Dictionary. Thousands upon + thousands of people had read his Idler, his Rambler, and his Rasselas. + Noble and wealthy men and beautiful ladies deemed it their highest + privilege to be his companions. Even the King of Great Britain had sought + his acquaintance, and told him what an honor he considered it that such a + man had been born in his dominions. He was now at the summit of literary + renown. + </p> + <p> + But all his fame could not extinguish the bitter remembrance which had + tormented him through life. Never never had he forgotten his father’s + sorrowful and upbraiding look. Never, though the old man’s troubles had + been over so many years, had he forgiven himself for inflicting such a + pang upon his heart. And now, in his old age, he had come hither to do + penance, by standing at noonday, in the market-place of Uttoxeter, on the + very spot where Michael Johnson had once kept his book-stall. The aged and + illustrious man had done what the poor boy refused to do. By thus + expressing his deep repentance and humiliation of heart, he hoped to gain + peace of conscience and the forgiveness of God. + </p> + <p> + My dear children, if you have grieved (I will not say your parents, but if + you have grieved) the heart of any human being who has a claim upon your + love, then think of Samuel Johnson’s penance. Will it not be better to + redeem the error now than to endure the agony of remorse for fifty years? + Would you not rather say to a brother, “I have erred; forgive me!” than + perhaps to go hereafter and shed bitter tears upon his grave? + </p> + <p> + Hardly was the story concluded when George hastily arose, and Edward + likewise, stretching forth his hands into the darkness that surrounded him + to find his brother. Both accused themselves of unkindness: each besought + the other’s forgiveness; and having done so, the trouble of their hearts + vanished away like a dream. + </p> + <p> + “I am glad! I am so glad!” said Emily, in a low, earnest voice. “Now I + shall sleep quietly to-night.” + </p> + <p> + “My sweet child,” thought Mrs. Temple as she kissed her, “mayest thou + never know how much strife there is on earth! It would cost thee many a + night’s rest.” + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> <a name="chap06"></a> + </p> + <h4> + CHAPTER VI. + </h4> + <p> + About this period Mr. Temple found it necessary to take a journey, which + interrupted the series of Biographical Stories for several evenings. In + the interval, Edward practised various methods of employing and amusing + his mind. + </p> + <p> + Sometimes he meditated upon beautiful objects which he had formerly seen, + until the intensity of his recollection seemed to restore him the gift of + sight and place everything anew before his eyes. Sometimes he repeated + verses of poetry which he did not know to be in his memory until he found + them there just at the time of need. Sometimes he attempted to solve + arithmetical questions which had perplexed him while at school. + </p> + <p> + Then, with his mother’s assistance, he learned the letters of the string + alphabet, which is used in some of the institutions for the blind in + Europe. When one of his friends gave him a leaf of St. Mark’s Gospel, + printed in embossed characters, he endeavored to read it by passing his + fingers over the letters as blind children do. + </p> + <p> + His brother George was now very kind, and spent so much time in the + darkened chamber that Edward often insisted upon his going out to play. + George told him all about the affairs at school, and related many amusing + incidents that happened among his comrades, and informed him what sports + were now in fashion, and whose kite soared the highest, and whose little + ship sailed fleetest on the Frog Pond. As for Emily, she repeated stories + which she had learned from a new book called THE FLOWER PEOPLE, in which + the snowdrops, the violets, the columbines, the roses, and all that lovely + tribe are represented as telling their secrets to a little girl. The + flowers talked sweetly, as flowers should; and Edward almost fancied that + he could behold their bloom and smell their fragrant breath. + </p> + <p> + Thus, in one way or another, the dark days of Edward’s confinement passed + not unhappily. In due time his father returned; and the next evening, when + the family were assembled, he began a story. + </p> + <p> + “I must first observe, children,” said he, “that some writers deny the + truth of the incident which I am about to relate to you. There certainly + is but little evidence in favor of it. Other respectable writers, however, + tell it for a fact; and, at all events, it is an interesting story, and + has an excellent moral.” + </p> + <p> + So Mr. Temple proceeded to talk about the early days of + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> <a name="cromwell"></a> + </p> + <h3> + OLIVER CROMWELL. + </h3> + <h4> + [BORN 1599 DIED 1658.] + </h4> + <p> + Not long after King James I. took the place of Queen Elizabeth on the + throne of England, there lived an English knight at a place called + Hinchinbrooke. His name was Sir Oliver Cromwell. He spent his life, I + suppose, pretty much like other English knights and squires in those days, + bunting hares and foxes and drinking large quantities of ale and wine. The + old house in which he dwelt had been occupied by his ancestors before him + for a good many years. In it there was a great hall, hang round with coats + of arms and helmets, cuirasses and swords, which his forefathers had used + in battle, and with horns of deer and tails of foxes which they or Sir + Oliver himself had killed in the chase. + </p> + <p> + This Sir Oliver Cromwell had a nephew, who had been called Oliver, after + himself, but who was generally known in the family by the name of little + Noll. His father was a younger brother of Sir Oliver. The child was often + sent to visit his uncle, who probably found him a troublesome little + fellow to take care of. He was forever in mischief, and always running + into some danger or other, from which he seemed to escape only by miracle. + </p> + <p> + Even while he was an infant in the cradle a strange accident had befallen + hum. A huge ape, which was kept in the family, snatched up little Noll in + his fore paws and clambered with him to the roof of the house. There this + ugly beast sat grinning at the affrighted spectators, as if it had done + the most praiseworthy thing imaginable. Fortunately, however, he brought + the child safe down again; and the event was afterwards considered an omen + that Noll would reach a very elevated station in the world. + </p> + <p> + One morning, when Noll was five or six years old a royal messenger arrived + at Hinchinbrooke with tidings that King James was coming to dine with Sir + Oliver Cromwell. This was a high honor, to be sure, but a very great + trouble; for all the lords and ladies, knights, squires, guards and + yeomen, who waited on the king, were to be feasted as well as himself; and + more provisions would be eaten and more wine drunk in that one day than + generally in a month. However, Sir Oliver expressed much thankfulness for + the king’s intended visit, and ordered his butler and cook to make the + best preparations in their power. So a great fire was kindled in the + kitchen; and the neighbors knew by the smoke which poured out of the + chimney that boiling, baking, stewing, roasting, and frying were going on + merrily. + </p> + <p> + By and by the sound of trumpets was heard approaching nearer and nearer; a + heavy, old-fashioned coach, surrounded by guards on horseback, drove up to + the house. Sir Oliver, with his hat in his hand, stood at the gate to + receive the king. His Majesty was dressed in a suit of green not very new; + he had a feather in his hat and a triple ruff round his neck, and over his + shoulder was slung a hunting-horn instead of a sword. Altogether he had + not the most dignified aspect in the world; but the spectators gazed at + him as if there was something superhuman and divine in his person. They + even shaded their eyes with their hands, as if they were dazzled by the + glory of his countenance. + </p> + <p> + “How are ye, man?” cried King James, speaking in a Scotch accent; for + Scotland was his native country. “By my crown, Sir Oliver, but I am glad + to see ye!” + </p> + <p> + The good knight thanked the king; at the same time kneeling down while his + Majesty alighted. When King James stood on the ground, he directed Sir + Oliver’s attention to a little boy who had come with him in the coach. He + was six or seven years old, and wore a hat and feather, and was more + richly dressed than the king himself. Though by no means an ill-looking + child, he seemed shy, or even sulky; and his cheeks were rather pale, as + if he had been kept moping within doors, instead of being sent out to play + in the sun and wind. + </p> + <p> + “I have brought my son Charlie to see ye,” said the king. “I hope, Sir + Oliver, ye have a son of your own to be his playmate.” + </p> + <p> + Sir Oliver Cromwell made a reverential bow to the little prince, whom one + of the attendants had now taken out of the coach. It was wonderful to see + how all the spectators, even the aged men with their gray beards, humbled + themselves before this child. They bent their bodies till their beards + almost swept the dust: They looked as if they were ready to kneel down and + worship him. + </p> + <p> + The poor little prince! From his earliest infancy not a soul had dared to + contradict him; everybody around him had acted as if he were a superior + being; so that, of course, he had imbibed the same opinion of himself. He + naturally supposed that the whole kingdom of Great Britain and all its + inhabitants had been created solely for his benefit and amusement. This + was a sad mistake; and it cost him dear enough after he had ascended his + father’s throne. + </p> + <p> + “What a noble little prince he is!” exclaimed Sir Oliver, lifting his + hands in admiration. “No, please your Majesty, I have no son to be the + playmate of his royal highness; but there is a nephew of mine somewhere + about the house. He is near the prince’s age, and will be but too happy to + wait upon his royal highness.” + </p> + <p> + “Send for him, man! send for him!” said the king. + </p> + <p> + But, as it happened, there was no need of sending for Master Noll. While + King James was speaking, a rugged, bold-faced, sturdy little urchin thrust + himself through the throng of courtiers and attendants and greeted the + prince with a broad stare. His doublet and hose (which had been put on new + and clean in honor of the king’s visit) were already soiled and torn with + the rough play in which he had spent the morning. He looked no more + abashed than if King James were his uncle and the prince one of his + customary playfellows. + </p> + <p> + This was little Noll himself. + </p> + <p> + “Here, please your Majesty, is my nephew,” said Sir Oliver, somewhat + ashamed of Noll’s appearance and demeanor. “Oliver, make your obeisance to + the king’s majesty.” + </p> + <p> + The boy made a pretty respectful obeisance to the king; for in those days + children were taught to pay reverence to their elders. King James, who + prided himself greatly on his scholarship, asked Noll a few questions in + the Latin grammar, and then introduced him to his son. The little prince, + in a very grave and dignified manner, extended his hand, not for Noll to + shake, but that he might kneel down and kiss it. + </p> + <p> + “Nephew,” said Sir Oliver, “pay your duty to the prince.” + </p> + <p> + “I owe him no duty,” cried Noll, thrusting aside the prince’s hand with a + rude laugh. “Why should I kiss that boy’s hand?” + </p> + <p> + All the courtiers were amazed and confounded, and Sir Oliver the most of + all. But the king laughed heartily, saying, that little Noll had a + stubborn English spirit, and that it was well for his son to learn betimes + what sort of a people he was to rule over. + </p> + <p> + So King James and his train entered the house; and the prince, with Noll + and some other children, was sent to play in a separate room while his + Majesty was at dinner. The young people soon became acquainted; for boys, + whether the sons of monarchs or of peasants, all like play, and are + pleased with one another’s society. What games they diverted themselves + with I cannot tell. Perhaps they played at ball, perhaps at + blind-man’s-buff, perhaps at leap-frog, perhaps at prison-bars. Such games + have been in use for hundreds of years; and princes as well as poor + children have spent some of their happiest hours in playing at them. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile King James and his nobles were feasting with Sir Oliver in the + great hall. The king sat in a gilded chair, under a canopy, at the head of + a long table. Whenever any of the company addressed him, it was with the + deepest reverence. If the attendants offered him wine or the various + delicacies of the festival, it was upon their bended knees. You would have + thought, by these tokens of worship, that the monarch was a supernatural + being; only he seemed to have quite as much need of those vulgar matters, + food and drink, as any other person at the table. But fate had ordained + that good King James should not finish his dinner in peace. + </p> + <p> + All of a sudden there arose a terrible uproar in the room where the + children were at play. Angry shouts and shrill cries of alarm were mixed + up together; while the voices of elder persons were likewise heard, trying + to restore order among the children. The king and everybody else at table + looked aghast; for perhaps the tumult made them think that a general + rebellion had broken out. + </p> + <p> + “Mercy on us!” muttered Sir Oliver; “that graceless nephew of mine is in + some mischief or other. The naughty little whelp!” + </p> + <p> + Getting up from table, he ran to see what was the matter, followed by many + of the guests, and the king among them. They all crowded to the door of + the playroom. + </p> + <p> + On looking in, they beheld the little Prince Charles, with his rich dress + all torn and covered with the dust of the floor. His royal blood was + streaming from his nose in great abundance. He gazed at Noll with a + mixture of rage and affright, and at the same time a puzzled expression, + as if he could not understand how any mortal boy should dare to give him a + beating. As for Noll, there stood his sturdy little figure, bold as a + lion, looking as if he were ready to fight, not only the prince, but the + king and kingdom too. + </p> + <p> + “You little villain!” cried his uncle. “What have you been about? Down on + your knees, this instant, and ask the prince’s pardon. How dare you lay + your hands on the king’s majesty’s royal son?” + </p> + <p> + “He struck me first,” grumbled the valiant little Noll; “and I’ve only + given him his due.” + </p> + <p> + Sir Oliver and the guests lifted up their hands in astonishment and + horror. No punishment seemed severe enough for this wicked little varlet, + who had dared to resent a blow from the king’s own son. Some of the + courtiers were of opinion that Noll should be sent prisoner to the Tower + of London and brought to trial for high treason. Others, in their great + zeal for the king’s service, were about to lay hands on the boy and + chastise him in the royal presence. + </p> + <p> + But King James, who sometimes showed a good deal of sagacity, ordered them + to desist. + </p> + <p> + “Thou art a bold boy,” said he, looking fixedly at little Noll; “and, if + thou live to be a man, my son Charlie would do wisely to be friends with + thee.” + </p> + <p> + “I never will!” cried the little prince, stamping his foot. + </p> + <p> + “Peace, Charlie, peace!” said the king; then addressing Sir Oliver and the + attendants, “Harm not the urchin; for he has taught my son a good lesson, + if Heaven do but give him grace to profit by it. Hereafter, should he be + tempted to tyrannize over the stubborn race of Englishmen, let him + remember little Noll Cromwell and his own bloody nose.” + </p> + <p> + So the king finished his dinner and departed; and for many a long year the + childish quarrel between Prince Charles and Noll Cromwell was forgotten. + The prince, indeed, might have lived a happier life, and have met a more + peaceful death, had he remembered that quarrel and the moral which his + father drew from it. But when old King James was dead, and Charles sat + upon his throne, he seemed to forget that he was but a man, and that his + meanest subjects were men as well as he. He wished to have the property + and lives of the people of England entirely at his own disposal. But the + Puritans, and all who loved liberty, rose against him and beat him in many + battles, and pulled him down from his throne. + </p> + <p> + Throughout this war between the king and nobles on one side and the people + of England on the other there was a famous leader, who did more towards + the ruin of royal authority than all the rest. The contest seemed like a + wrestling-match between King Charles and this strong man. And the king was + overthrown. + </p> + <p> + When the discrowned monarch was brought to trial, that warlike leader sat + in the judgment hall. Many judges were present besides himself; but he + alone had the power to save King Charles or to doom him to the scaffold. + After sentence was pronounced, this victorious general was entreated by + his own children, on their knees, to rescue his Majesty from death. + </p> + <p> + “No!” said he, sternly. “Better that one man should perish than that the + whole country should be ruined for his sake. It is resolved that he shall + die!” + </p> + <p> + When Charles, no longer a king, was led to the scaffold, his great enemy + stood at a window of the royal palace of Whitehall. He beheld the poor + victim of pride, and an evil education, and misused power, as he laid his + head upon the block. He looked on with a steadfast gaze while a + black-veiled executioner lifted the fatal axe and smote off that anointed + head at a single blow. + </p> + <p> + “It is a righteous deed,” perhaps he said to himself. + </p> + <p> + “Now Englishmen may enjoy their rights.” + </p> + <p> + At night, when the body of Charles was laid in the coffin, in a gloomy + chamber, the general entered, lighting himself with a torch. Its gleams + showed that he was now growing old; his visage was scarred with the many + battles in which he had led the van; his brow was wrinkled with care and + with the continual exercise of stern authority. Probably there was not a + single trait, either of aspect or manner, that belonged to the little Noll + who had battled so stoutly with Prince Charles. Yet this was he! + </p> + <p> + He lifted the coffin-lid, and caused the light of his torch to fall upon + the dead monarch’s face. Then, probably, his mind went back over all the + marvellous events that had brought the hereditary King of England to this + dishonored coffin, and had raised himself, a humble individual, to the + possession of kingly power. He was a king, though without the empty title + or the glittering crown. + </p> + <p> + “Why was it,” said Cromwell to himself, or might have said, as he gazed at + the pale features in the coffin,—“why was it that this great king + fell, and that poor Noll Cromwell has gained all the power of the realm?” + </p> + <p> + And, indeed, why was it? + </p> + <p> + King Charles had fallen, because, in his manhood the same as when a child, + he disdained to feel that every human creature was his brother. He deemed + himself a superior being, and fancied that his subjects were created only + for a king to rule over. And Cromwell rose, because, in spite of his many + faults, he mainly fought for the rights and freedom of his fellow-men; and + therefore the poor and the oppressed all lent their strength to him. + </p> + <p> + “Dear father, how I should hate to be a king!” exclaimed Edward. + </p> + <p> + “And would you like to be a Cromwell?” inquired his father. + </p> + <p> + “I should like it well,” replied George; “only I would not have put the + poor old king to death. I would have sent him out of the kingdom, or + perhaps have allowed him to live in a small house near the gate of the + royal palace. It was too severe to cut off his head.” + </p> + <p> + “Kings are in such an unfortunate position,” said Mr. Temple, “that they + must either be almost deified by their subjects, or else be dethroned and + beheaded. In either case it is a pitiable lot.” + </p> + <p> + “O, I had rather be blind than be a king!” said Edward. + </p> + <p> + “Well, my dear Edward,” observed his mother, with a smile, “I am glad you + are convinced that your own lot is not the hardest in the world.” + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> <a name="chap07"></a> + </p> + <h4> + CHAPTER VII. + </h4> + <p> + It was a pleasant sight, for those who had eyes, to see how patiently the + blinded little boy now submitted to what he had at first deemed an + intolerable calamity. The beneficent Creator has not allowed our comfort + to depend on the enjoyment of any single sense. Though he has made the + world so very beautiful, yet it is possible to be happy without ever be + holding the blue sky, or the green and flowery earth, or the kind faces of + those whom we love. Thus it appears that all the external beauty of the + universe is a free gift from God over and above what is necessary to our + comfort. How grateful, then, should we be to that divine Benevolence, + which showers even superfluous bounties upon us! + </p> + <p> + One truth, therefore, which Edward’s blindness had taught him was, that + his mind and soul could dispense with the assistance of his eyes. + Doubtless, however, he would have found this lesson far more difficult to + learn had it not been for the affection of those around him. His parents, + and George and Emily, aided him to bear his misfortune; if possible, they + would have lent him their own eyes. And this, too, was a good lesson for + him. It taught him how dependent on one another God has ordained us to be, + insomuch that all the necessities of mankind should incite them to mutual + love. + </p> + <p> + So Edward loved his friends, and perhaps all the world, better than he + ever did before. And he felt grateful towards his father for spending the + evenings in telling him stories,—more grateful, probably, than any + of my little readers will feel towards me for so carefully writing these + same stories down. + </p> + <p> + “Come, dear father,” said he, the next evening, “now tell us about some + other little boy who was destined to be a famous man.” + </p> + <p> + “How would you like a story of a Boston boy?” asked his father. + </p> + <p> + “O, pray let us have it!” cried George, eagerly. “It will be all the + better if he has been to our schools, and has coasted on the Common, and + sailed boats in the Frog Pond. I shall feel acquainted with him. then.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then,” said Mr. Temple, “I will introduce you to a Boston boy whom + all the world became acquainted with after he grew to be a man.” + </p> + <p> + The story was as follows:— + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> <a name="franklin"></a> + </p> + <h3> + BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. + </h3> + <h4> + [BORN 1706, DIED 1790] + </h4> + <p> + In the year 1716, or about that period, a boy used to be seen in the + streets of Boston who was known among his schoolfellows and playmates by + the name of Ben Franklin. Ben was born in 1706; so that he was now about + ten years old. His father, who had come over from England, was a + soap-boiler and tallow-chandler, and resided in Milk Street, not far from + the Old South Church. + </p> + <p> + Ben was a bright boy at his book, and even a brighter one when at play + with his comrades. He had some remarkable qualities which always seemed to + give him the lead, whether at sport or in more serious matters. I might + tell you a number of amusing anecdotes about him. You are acquainted, I + suppose, with his famous story of the WHISTLE, and how he bought it, with + a whole pocketful of coppers and afterwards repented of his bargain. But + Ben had grown a great boy since those days, and had gained wisdom by + experience; for it was one of his peculiarities, that no incident ever + happened to him without teaching him some valuable lesson. Thus he + generally profited more by his misfortunes than many people do by the most + favorable events that could befall them. + </p> + <p> + Ben’s face was already pretty well known to the inhabitants of Boston. The + selectmen and other people of note often used to visit his father, for the + sake of talking about the affairs of the town or province. Mr. Franklin + was considered a person of great wisdom and integrity, and was respected + by all who knew him, although he supported his family by the humble trade + of boiling soap and making tallow candles. + </p> + <p> + While his father and the visitors were holding deep consultations about + public affairs, little Ben would sit on his stool in a corner, listening + with the greatest interest, as if he understood every word. Indeed, his + features were so full of intelligence that there could be but little + doubt, not only that he understood what was said, but that he could have + expressed some very sagacious opinions out of his own mind. But in those + days boys were expected to be silent in the presence of their elders. + However, Ben Franklin was looked upon as a very promising lad, who would + talk and act wisely by and by. + </p> + <p> + “Neighbor Franklin,” his father’s friends would sometimes say, “you ought + to send this boy to college and make a minister of him.” + </p> + <p> + “I have often thought of it,” his father would reply; “and my brother + Benjamin promises to give him a great many volumes of manuscript sermons, + in case he should be educated for the church. But I have a large family to + support, and cannot afford the expense.” + </p> + <p> + In fact, Mr. Franklin found it so difficult to provide bread for his + family, that, when the boy was ten years old, it became necessary to take + him from school. Ben was then employed in cutting candle-wicks into equal + lengths and filling the moulds with tallow; and many families in Boston + spent their evenings by the light of the candles which he had helped to + make. Thus, you see, in his early days, as well as in his manhood, his + labors contributed to throw light upon dark matters. + </p> + <p> + Busy as his life now was, Ben still found time to keep company with his + former schoolfellows. He and the other boys were very fond of fishing, and + spent many of their leisure hours on the margin of the mill-pond, catching + flounders, perch, eels, and tomcod, which came up thither with the tide. + The place where they fished is now, probably, covered with stone pavements + and brick buildings, and thronged with people and with vehicles of all + kinds. But at that period it was a marshy spot on the outskirts of the + town, where gulls flitted and screamed overhead and salt-meadow grass grew + under foot. + </p> + <p> + On the edge of the water there was a deep bed of clay, in which the boys + were forced to stand while they caught their fish. Here they dabbled in + mud and mire like a flock of ducks. + </p> + <p> + “This is very uncomfortable,” said Ben Franklin one day to his comrades, + while they were standing mid-leg deep in the quagmire. + </p> + <p> + “So it is,” said the other boys. “What a pity we have no better place to + stand!” + </p> + <p> + If it mad not been for Ben, nothing more would have been done or said + about, the matter. Butt it was not in his nature to be sensible of an + inconvenience without using his best efforts to find a remedy. So, as he + and his comrades were returning from the water-side, Ben suddenly threw + down his string of fish with a very determined air. + </p> + <p> + “Boys,” cried he, “I have thought of a scheme which will be greatly for + our benefit and for the public benefit.” + </p> + <p> + It was queer enough, to be sure, to hear this little chap—this + rosy-cheeked, ten-year-old boy—talking about schemes for the public + benefit! Nevertheless, his companions were ready to listen, being assured + that Ben’s scheme, whatever it was, would be well worth their attention. + They remembered how sagaciously he had conducted all their enterprises + ever since he had been old enough to wear small-clothes. + </p> + <p> + They remembered, too, his wonderful contrivance of sailing across the + mill-pond by lying flat on his back in the water and allowing himself to + be drawn along by a paper kite. If Ben could do that, he might certainly + do anything. + </p> + <p> + “What is your scheme, Ben?—what is it?” cried they all. + </p> + <p> + It so happened that they had now come to a spot of ground where a new + house was to be built. Scattered round about lay a great many large stones + which were to be used for the cellar and foundation. Ben mounted upon the + highest of these stones, so that he might speak with the more authority. + </p> + <p> + “You know, lads,” said he, “what a plague it is to be forced to stand in + the quagmire yonder,—over shoes and stockings (if we wear any) in + mud and water. See! I am bedaubed to the knees of my small-clothes; and + you are all in the same pickle. Unless we can find some remedy for this + evil, our fishing business must be entirely given up. And, surely, this + would be a terrible misfortune!” + </p> + <p> + “That it would! that it would!” said his comrades, sorrowfully. + </p> + <p> + “Now, I propose,” continued Master Benjamin, “that we build a wharf, for + the purpose of carrying on our fisheries. You see these stones. The + workmen mean to use them for the underpinning of a house; but that would + be for only one man’s advantage. My plan is to take these same stones and + carry them to the edge of the water and build a wharf with them. This will + not only enable us to carry on the fishing business with comfort and to + better advantage, but it will likewise be a great convenience to boats + passing up and down the stream. Thus, instead of one man, fifty, or a + hundred, or a thousand, besides ourselves, may be benefited by these + stones. What say you, lads? shall we build the wharf?” + </p> + <p> + Bell’s proposal was received with one of those uproarious shouts wherewith + boys usually express their delight at whatever completely suits their + views. Nobody thought of questioning the right and justice of building a + wharf with stones that belonged to another person. + </p> + <p> + “Hurrah! hurrah!” shouted they. “Let’s set about it.” + </p> + <p> + It was agreed that they should all be on the spot that evening and + commence their grand public enterprise by moonlight. Accordingly, at the + appointed time, the whole gang of youthful laborers assembled, and eagerly + began to remove the stones. They had not calculated how much toil would be + requisite in this important part of their undertaking. The very first + stone which they laid hold of proved so heavy that it almost seemed to be + fastened to the ground. Nothing but Ben Franklin’s cheerful and resolute + spirit could have induced them to persevere. + </p> + <p> + Ben, as might be expected, was the soul of the enterprise. By his + mechanical genius, he contrived methods to lighten the labor of + transporting the stones, so that one boy, under his directions, would + perform as much as half a dozen if left to themselves. Whenever their + spirits flagged he had some joke ready, which seemed to renew their + strength, by setting them all into a roar of laughter. And when, after an + hour or two of hard work, the stones were transported to the water-side, + Bell Franklin was the engineer to superintend the construction of the + wharf. + </p> + <p> + The boys, like a colony of ants, performed a great deal of labor by their + multitude, though the individual strength of each could have accomplished + but little. Finally, just as the moon sank below the horizon, the great + work was finished. + </p> + <p> + “Now, boys,” cried Ben, “let’s give three cheers and go home to bed. + To-morrow we may catch fish at our ease.” + </p> + <p> + “Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!” shouted his comrades. + </p> + <p> + Then they all went home in such an ecstasy of delight that they could + hardly get a wink of sleep. + </p> + <p> + The story was not yet finished; but George’s impatience caused him to + interrupt it. + </p> + <p> + “How I wish that I could have helped to build that wharf!” exclaimed he. + “It must have been glorious fun. Ben Franklin forever, say I.” + </p> + <p> + “It was a very pretty piece of work,” said Mr. Temple. “But wait till you + hear the end of the story.” + </p> + <p> + “Father,” inquired Edward, “whereabouts in Boston was the mill-pond on + which Ben built his wharf?” + </p> + <p> + “I do not exactly know,” answered Mr. Temple; “but I suppose it to have + been on the northern verge of the town, in the vicinity of what are now + called Merrimack and Charlestown Streets. That thronged portion of the + city was once a marsh. Some of it, in fact, was covered with water.” + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> <a name="chap08"></a> + </p> + <h4> + CHAPTER VIII. + </h4> + <p> + As the children had no more questions to ask, Mr. Temple proceeded to + relate what consequences ensued from the building of Bell Franklin’s + wharf. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. + </h3> + <h4> + [CONTINUED] + </h4> + <p> + In the morning, when the early sunbeams were gleaming on the steeples and + roofs of the town and gilding the water that surrounded it, the masons + came, rubbing their eyes, to begin their work at the foundation of the new + house. But, on reaching the spot, they rubbed their eyes so much the + harder. What had become of their heap of stones? + </p> + <p> + “Why, Sam,” said one to another, in great perplexity, “here’s been some + witchcraft at work while we were asleep. The stones must have flown away + through the air!” + </p> + <p> + “More likely they have been stolen!” answered Sam. + </p> + <p> + “But who on earth would think of stealing a heap of stones?” cried a + third. “Could a man carry them away in his pocket?” + </p> + <p> + The master mason, who was a gruff kind of man, stood scratching his head, + and said nothing at first. But, looking carefully on the ground, he + discerned innumerable tracks of little feet, some with shoes and some + barefoot. Following these tracks with his eye, he saw that they formed a + beaten path towards the water-side. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, I see what the mischief is,” said he, nodding his head. “Those little + rascals, the boys,—they have stolen our stones to build a wharf + with!” + </p> + <p> + The masons immediately went to examine the new structure. And to say the + truth, it was well worth looking at, so neatly and with such admirable + skill had it been planned and finished. The stones were put together so + securely that there was no danger of their being loosened by the tide, + however swiftly it might sweep along. There was a broad and safe platform + to stand upon, whence the little fishermen might cast their lines into + deep water and draw up fish in abundance. Indeed, it almost seemed as if + Ben and his comrades might be forgiven for taking the stones, because they + had done their job in such a workmanlike manner. + </p> + <p> + “The chaps that built this wharf understood their business pretty well,” + said one of the masons. “I should not be ashamed of such a piece of work + myself.” + </p> + <p> + But the master mason did not seem to enjoy the joke. He was one of those + unreasonable people who care a great deal more for their own rights and + privileges than for the convenience of all the rest of the world. + </p> + <p> + “Sam,” said he, more gruffly than usual, “go call a constable.” + </p> + <p> + So Sam called a constable, and inquiries were set on foot to discover the + perpetrators of the theft. In the course of the day warrants were issued, + with the signature of a justice of the peace, to take the bodies of + Benjamin Franklin and other evil-disposed persons who had stolen a heap of + stones. If the owner of the stolen property had not been more merciful + than the master mason, it might have gone hard with our friend Benjamin + and his fellow-laborers. But, luckily for them, the gentleman had a + respect for Ben’s father, and, moreover, was amused with the spirit of the + whole affair. He therefore let the culprits off pretty easily. + </p> + <p> + But, when the constables were dismissed, the poor boys had to go through + another trial, and receive sentence, and suffer execution, too, from their + own fathers. Many a rod, I grieve to say, was worn to the stump on that + unlucky night. + </p> + <p> + As for Ben, he was less afraid of a whipping than of his father’s + disapprobation. Mr. Franklin, as I have mentioned before, was a sagacious + man, and also an inflexibly upright one. He had read much for a person in + his rank of life, and had pondered upon the ways of the world, until he + had gained more wisdom than a whole library of books could have taught + him. Ben had a greater reverence for his father than for any other person + in the world, as well on account of his spotless integrity as of his + practical sense and deep views of things. + </p> + <p> + Consequently, after being released from the clutches of the law, Ben came + into his father’s presence with no small perturbation of mind. + </p> + <p> + “Benjamin, come hither,” began Mr. Franklin, in his customary solemn and + weighty tone. + </p> + <p> + The boy approached and stood before his father’s chair, waiting reverently + to hear what judgment this good man would pass upon his late offence. He + felt that now the right and wrong of the whole matter would be made to + appear. + </p> + <p> + “Benjamin!” said his father, “what could induce you to take property which + did not belong to you?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, father,” replied Ben, hanging his head at first, but then lifting + eyes to Mr. Franklin’s face, “if it had been merely for my own benefit, I + never should have dreamed of it. But I knew that the wharf would be a + public convenience. If the owner of the stones should build a house with + them, nobody will enjoy any advantage except himself. Now, I made use of + them in a way that was for the advantage of many persons. I thought it + right to aim at doing good to the greatest number.” + </p> + <p> + “My son,” said Mr. Franklin, solemnly, “so far as it was in your power, + you have done a greater harm to the public than to the owner of the + stones.” + </p> + <p> + “How can that he, father?” asked Ben. + </p> + <p> + “Because,” answered his father, “in building your wharf with stolen + materials, you have committed a moral wrong. There is no more terrible + mistake than to violate what is eternally right for the sake of a seeming + expediency. Those who act upon such a principle do the utmost in their + power to destroy all that is good in the world.” + </p> + <p> + “Heaven forbid!” said Benjamin. + </p> + <p> + “No act,” continued Mr. Franklin, “can possibly be for the benefit of the + public generally which involves injustice to any individual. It would be + easy to prove this by examples. But, indeed, can we suppose that our + all-wise and just Creator would have so ordered the affairs of the world + that a wrong act should be the true method of attaining a right end? It is + impious to think so. And I do verily believe, Benjamin, that almost all + the public and private misery of mankind arises from a neglect of this + great truth,—that evil can produce only evil,—that good ends + must be wrought out by good means.” + </p> + <p> + “I will never forget it again,” said Benjamin, bowing his head. + </p> + <p> + “Remember,” concluded his father, “that, whenever we vary from the highest + rule of right, just so far we do an injury to the world. It may seem + otherwise for the moment; but, both in time and in eternity, it will be + found so.” + </p> + <p> + To the close of his life Ben Franklin never forgot this conversation with + his father; and we have reason to suppose that, in most of his public and + private career, he endeavored to act upon the principles which that good + and wise man had then taught him. + </p> + <p> + After the great event of building the wharf, Ben continued to cut + wick-yarn and fill candle-moulds for about two years. But, as he had no + love for that occupation, his father often took him to see various + artisans at their work, in order to discover what trade he would prefer. + Thus Ben learned the use of a great many tools, the knowledge of which + afterwards proved very useful to him. But he seemed much inclined to go to + sea. In order to keep him at home, and likewise to gratify his taste for + letters, the lad was bound apprentice to his elder brother, who had lately + set up a printing-office in Boston. + </p> + <p> + Here he had many opportunities of reading new books and of hearing + instructive conversation. He exercised himself so successfully in writing + compositions, that, when no more than thirteen or fourteen years old, he + became a contributor to his brother’s newspaper. Ben was also a versifier, + if not a poet. He made two doleful ballads,—one about the shipwreck + of Captain Worthilake; and the other about the pirate Black Beard, who, + not long before, infested the American seas. + </p> + <p> + When Ben’s verses were printed, his brother sent him to sell them to the + townspeople wet from the press. “Buy my ballads!” shouted Benjamin, as he + trudged through the streets with a basketful on his arm. “Who’ll buy a + ballad about Black Beard? A penny apiece! a penny apiece! Who’ll buy my + ballads?” + </p> + <p> + If one of those roughly composed and rudely printed ballads could be + discovered now, it would be worth more than its weight in gold. + </p> + <p> + In this way our friend Benjamin spent his boyhood and youth, until, on + account of some disagreement with his brother, he left his native town and + went to Philadelphia. He landed in the latter city, a homeless and hungry + young man, and bought three-pence worth of bread to satisfy his appetite. + Not knowing where else to go, he entered a Quaker meeting-house, sat down, + and fell fast asleep. He has not told us whether his slumbers were visited + by any dreams. But it would have been a strange dream, indeed, and an + incredible one, that should have foretold how great a man he was destined + to become, and how much he would be honored in that very city where he was + now friendless and unknown. + </p> + <p> + So here we finish our story of the childhood of Benjamin Franklin. One of + these days, if you would know what he was in his manhood, you must read + his own works and the history of American independence. + </p> + <p> + “Do let us hear a little more of him!” said Edward; “not that I admire him + so much as many other characters; but he interests me, because he was a + Yankee boy.” + </p> + <p> + “My dear son,” replied Mr. Temple, “it would require a whole volume of + talk to tell you all that is worth knowing about Benjamin Franklin. There + is a very pretty anecdote of his flying a kite in the midst of a + thunder-storm, and thus drawing down the lightning from the clouds and + proving that it was the same thing as electricity. His whole life would be + an interesting story, if we had time to tell it.” + </p> + <p> + “But, pray, dear father, tell us what made him so famous,” said George. “I + have seen his portrait a great many tines. There is a wooden bust of him + in one of our streets; and marble ones, I suppose, in some other places. + And towns, and ships of war, and steamboats, and banks, and academies, and + children are often named after Franklin. Why should he have grown so very + famous?” + </p> + <p> + “Your question is a reasonable one, George,” answered his father. “I doubt + whether Franklin’s philosophical discoveries, important as they were, or + even his vast political services, would have given him all the fame which + he acquired. It appears to me that Poor Richard’s Almanac did more than + anything else towards making him familiarly known to the public. As the + writer of those proverbs which Poor Richard was supposed to utter, + Franklin became the counsellor and household friend of almost every family + in America. Thus it was the humblest of all his labors that has done the + most for his fame.” + </p> + <p> + “I have read some of those proverbs,” remarked Edward; “but I do not like + them. They are all about getting money or saving it.” + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said his father, “they were suited to the condition of the + country; and their effect, upon the whole, has doubtless been good, + although they teach men but a very small portion of their duties.” + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> + </p> + <h3> + CHAPTER IX. + </h3> + <p> + Hitherto Mr. Temple’s narratives had all been about boys and men. But, the + next evening, he bethought himself that the quiet little Emily would + perhaps be glad to hear the story of a child of her own sex. He therefore + resolved to narrate the youthful adventures of Christina, of Sweden, who + began to be a queen at the age of no more than six years. If we have any + little girls among our readers, they must not suppose that Christina is + set before them as a pattern of what they ought to be. On the contrary, + the tale of her life is chiefly profitable as showing the evil effects of + a wrong education, which caused this daughter of a king to be both useless + and unhappy. Here follows the story. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /> <a name="christina"></a> + </p> + <h3> + QUEEN CHRISTINA. + </h3> + <h4> + [BORN 1626 DIED 1689] + </h4> + <p> + In the royal palace at Stockholm, the capital city of Sweden, there was + horn, in 1626, a little princess. The king, her father; gave her the name + of Christina, in memory of a Swedish girl with whom he had been in love. + His own name was Gustavus Adolphus; and he was also called the Lion of the + North, because he had gained greater fame in war than any other prince or + general then alive. + </p> + <p> + With this valiant king for their commander, the Swedes had made themselves + terrible to the Emperor of Germany and to the king of France, and were + looked upon as the chief defence of the Protestant religion. + </p> + <p> + The little Christina was by no means a beautiful child. To confess the + truth, she was remarkably plain. The queen, her mother, did not love her + so much as she ought; partly, perhaps, on account of Christina’s want of + beauty, and also because both the king and queen had wished for a son, who + might have gained as great renown in battle as his father had. + </p> + <p> + The king, however, soon became exceedingly fond of the infant princess. + When Christina was very young she was taken violently sick. Gustavus + Adolphus, who was several hundred miles from Stockholm, travelled night + and day, and never rested until he held the poor child in his arms. On her + recovery he made a solemn festival, in order to show his joy to the people + of Sweden and express his gratitude to Heaven. After this event he took + his daughter with him in all the journeys which he made throughout his + kingdom. + </p> + <p> + Christina soon proved herself a bold and sturdy little girl. When she was + two years old, the king and herself, in the course of a journey, came to + the strong fortress of Colmar. On the battlements were soldiers clad in + steel armor, which glittered in the sunshine. There were likewise great + cannons, pointing their black months at Gustavus and little Christina, and + ready to belch out their smoke and thunder; for, whenever a king enters a + fortress, it is customary to receive him with a royal salute of artillery. + </p> + <p> + But the captain of the fortress met Gustavus and his daughter as they were + about to enter the gateway. + </p> + <p> + “May it please your Majesty,” said he, taking off his steel cap and bowing + profoundly, “I fear that, if we receive you with a salute of cannon, the + little princess will be frightened almost to death.” + </p> + <p> + Gustavus looked earnestly at his daughter, and was indeed apprehensive + that the thunder of so many cannon might perhaps throw her into + convulsions. He had almost a mind to tell the captain to let them enter + the fortress quietly, as common people might have done, without all this + head-splitting racket. But no; this would not do. + </p> + <p> + “Let them fire,” said he, waving his hand. “Christina is a soldier’s + daughter, and must learn to bear the noise of cannon.” + </p> + <p> + So the captain uttered the word of command, and immediately there was a + terrible peal of thunder from the cannon, and such a gush of smoke that it + enveloped the whole fortress in its volumes. But, amid all the din and + confusion, Christina was seen clapping her little hands and laughing in an + ecstasy of delight. Probably nothing ever pleased her father so much as to + see that his daughter promised to be fearless as himself. He determined to + educate her exactly as if she had been a boy, and to teach her all the + knowledge needful to the ruler of a kingdom and the commander of an army. + </p> + <p> + But Gustavus should have remembered that Providence had created her to be + a woman, and that it was not for him to make a man of her. + </p> + <p> + However, the king derived great happiness from his beloved Christina. It + must have been a pleasant sight to see the powerful monarch of Sweden + playing in some magnificent hall of the palace with his merry little girl. + Then he forgot that the weight of a kingdom rested upon his shoulders. He + forgot that the wise Chancellor Oxenstiern was waiting to consult with him + how to render Sweden the greatest nation of Europe. He forgot that the + Emperor of Germany and the King of France were plotting together how they + might pull him down from his throne. + </p> + <p> + Yes; Gustavus forgot all the perils, and cares, and pompous irksomeness of + a royal life; and was as happy, while playing with his child, as the + humblest peasant in the realm of Sweden. How gayly did they dance along + the marble floor of the palace, this valiant king, with his upright, + martial figure, his war-worn visage, and commanding aspect, and the small, + round form of Christina, with her rosy face of childish merriment! Her + little fingers were clasped in her father’s hand, which had held the + leading staff in many famous victories. His crown and sceptre were her + playthings. She could disarm Gustavus of his sword, which was so terrible + to the princes of Europe. + </p> + <p> + But, alas! the king was not long permitted to enjoy Christina’s society. + When she was four years old Gustavus was summoned to take command of the + allied armies of Germany, which were fighting against the emperor. His + greatest affliction was the necessity of parting with his child; but + people in such high stations have but little opportunity for domestic + happiness. He called an assembly of the senators of Sweden and confided + Christina to their care, saying, that each one of them must be a father to + her if he himself should fall in battle. + </p> + <p> + At the moment of his departure Christina ran towards him and began to + address him with a speech which somebody had taught her for the occasion. + Gustavus was busied with thoughts about the affairs of the kingdom, so + that he did not immediately attend to the childish voice of his little + girl. Christina, who did not love to be unnoticed, immediately stopped + short and pulled him by the coat. + </p> + <p> + “Father,” said she, “why do not you listen to my speech?” + </p> + <p> + In a moment the king forgot everything except that, he was parting with + what he loved best in all the world. He caught the child in his arms, + pressed her to his bosom, and burst into tears. Yes; though he was a brave + man, and though he wore a steel corselet on his breast, and though armies + were waiting for him to lead them to battle, still his heart melted within + him, and he wept. Christina, too, was so afflicted that her attendants + began to fear that she would actually die of grief. But probably she was + soon comforted; for children seldom remember their parents quite so + faithfully as their parents remember them. + </p> + <p> + For two years more Christina remained in the palace at Stockholm. The + queen, her mother, had accompanied Gustavus to the wars. The child, + therefore, was left to the guardianship of five of the wisest men in the + kingdom. But these wise men knew better how to manage the affairs of state + than how to govern and educate a little girl so as to render her a good + and happy woman. + </p> + <p> + When two years had passed away, tidings were brought to Stockholm which + filled everybody with triumph and sorrow at the same time. The Swedes had + won a glorious victory at Lutzen. But, alas! the warlike King of Sweden, + the Lion of the North, the father of our little Christina, had been slain + at the foot of a great stone, which still marks the spot of that hero’s + death. + </p> + <p> + Soon after this sad event, a general assembly, or congress, consisting of + deputations from the nobles, the clergy, the burghers, and the peasants of + Sweden, was summoned to meet at Stockholm. It was for the purpose of + declaring little Christina to be Queen of Sweden and giving her the crown + and sceptre of her deceased father. Silence being proclaimed, the + Chancellor Oxenstiern arose. + </p> + <p> + “We desire to know,” said he, “whether the people of Sweden will take the + daughter of our dead king, Gustavus Adolphus, to be their queen.” + </p> + <p> + When the chancellor had spoken, an old man, with white hair and in coarse + apparel, stood up in the midst of the assembly. He was a peasant, Lars + Larrson by name, and had spent most of his life in laboring on a farm. + </p> + <p> + “Who is this daughter of Gustavus?” asked the old man. “We do not know + her. Let her be shown to us.” + </p> + <p> + Then Christina was brought into the hall and placed before the old + peasant. It was strange, no doubt, to see a child—a little girl of + six years old—offered to the Swedes as their ruler instead of the + brave king, her father, who had led then to victory so many times. Could + her baby fingers wield a sword in war? Could her childish mind govern the + nation wisely in peace? + </p> + <p> + But the Swedes do not appear to have asked themselves these questions. Old + Lars Larrson took Christina up in his arms and gazed earnestly into her + face. + </p> + <p> + He had known the great Gustavus well; and his heart was touched when he + saw the likeness which the little girl bore to that heroic monarch. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” cried he, with the tears gushing down his furrowed cheeks; “this is + truly the daughter of our Gustavus! Here is her father’s brow!—here + is his piercing eye! She is his very picture! This child shall be our + queen!” + </p> + <p> + Then all the proud nobles of Sweden, and the reverend clergy, and the + burghers, and the peasants, knelt down at the child’s feet and kissed her + hand. + </p> + <p> + “Long live Christina, Queen of Sweden!” shouted they. + </p> + <p> + Even after she was a woman grown Christina remembered the pleasure which + she felt in seeing all of hose men at her feet and hearing them + acknowledge her as their supreme ruler. Poor child! she was yet to learn + that power does not insure happiness. As yet, however, she had not any + real power. All the public business, it is true, was transacted in her + name; but the kingdom was governed by a number of the most experienced + statesmen, who were called a regency. + </p> + <p> + But it was considered necessary that the little queen, should be present + at the public ceremonies, and should behave just as if she were in reality + the ruler of the nation. When she was seven years of age, some ambassadors + from the Czar of Muscovy came to the Swedish court. They wore long beards, + and were clad in a strange fashion, with furs and other outlandish + ornaments; and as they were inhabitants of a half-civilized country, they + did not behave like other people. The Chancellor Oxenstiern was afraid + that the young queen would burst out a laughing at the first sight of + these queer ambassadors, or else that she would be frightened by their + unusual aspect. + </p> + <p> + “Why should I be frightened?” said the little queen. “And do you suppose + that I have no better manners than to laugh? Only tell me how I must + behave, and I will do it.” + </p> + <p> + Accordingly, the Muscovite ambassadors were introduced; and Christina + received them and answered their speeches with as much dignity and + propriety as if sho had been a grown woman. + </p> + <p> + All this time, though Christina was now a queen, you must not suppose that + she was left to act as she pleased. She had a preceptor, named John + Mathias, who was a very learned man and capable of instructing her in all + the branches of science. But there was nobody to teach her the delicate + graces and gentle virtues of a woman. She was surrounded almost entirely + by men, and had learned to despise the society of her own sex. At the age + of nine years she was separated from her mother, whom the Swedes did not + consider a proper person to be intrusted with the charge of her. No little + girl who sits by a New England fireside has cause to envy Christina in the + royal palace at Stockholm. + </p> + <p> + Yet she made great progress in her studies. She learned to read the + classical authors of Greece and Rome, and became a great admirer of the + heroes and poets of old times. Then, as for active exercises, she could + ride on horseback as well as any man in her kingdom. She was fond of + hunting, and could shoot at a mark with wonderful skill. But dancing was + the only feminine accomplishment with which she had any acquaintance. + </p> + <p> + She was so restless in her disposition that none of her attendants were + sure of a moment’s quiet neither day nor night. She grew up, I am sorry to + say, a very unamiable person, ill-tempered, proud, stubborn, and, in + short, unfit to make those around her happy or to be happy herself. Let + every little girl, who has been taught self-control and a due regard for + the rights of others, thank Heaven that she has had better instruction + than this poor little Queen of Sweden. + </p> + <p> + At the age of eighteen Christina was declared free to govern the kingdom + by herself without the aid of a regency. At this period of her life she + was a young woman of striking aspect, a good figure, and intelligent face, + but very strangely dressed. She wore a short habit of gray cloth, with a + man’s vest over it, and a black scarf around her neck; but no jewels nor + ornaments of any kind. + </p> + <p> + Yet, though Christina was so negligent of her appearance, there was + something in her air and manner that proclaimed her as the ruler of a + kingdom. Her eyes, it is said, had a very fierce and haughty look. Old + General Wrangel, who had often caused the enemies of Sweden to tremble in + battle, actually trembled himself when he encountered the eyes of the + queen. But it would have been better for Christina if she could have made + people love her, by means of soft and gentle looks, instead of affrighting + them by such terrible glances. + </p> + <p> + And now I have told you almost all that is amusing or instructive in the + childhood of Christina. Only a few more words need be said about her; for + it is neither pleasant nor profitable to think of many things that she did + after she grew to be a woman. + </p> + <p> + When she had worn the crown a few years, she began to consider it beneath + her dignity to be called a queen, because the name implied that she + belonged to the weaker sex. She therefore caused herself to be proclaimed + KING; thus declaring to the world that she despised her own sex and was + desirous of being ranked among men. But in the twenty-eighth year of her + age Christina grew tired of royalty, and resolved to be neither a king nor + a queen any longer. She took the crown from her head with her own hands, + and ceased to be the ruler of Sweden. The people did not greatly regret + her abdication; for she had governed them ill, and had taken much of their + property to supply her extravagance. + </p> + <p> + Having thus given up her hereditary crown, Christina left Sweden and + travelled over many of the countries of Europe. Everywhere she was + received with great ceremony, because she was the daughter of the renowned + Gustavus, and had herself been a powerful queen. Perhaps you would like to + know something about her personal appearance in the latter part of time + life. She is described as wearing a man’s vest, a short gray petticoat, + embroidered with gold and silver, and a black wig, which was thrust awry + upon her head. She wore no gloves, and so seldom washed her hands that + nobody could fell what had been their original color. In this strange + dress, and, I suppose, without washing her hands or face, she visited the + magnificent court of Louis XIV. + </p> + <p> + She died in 1689. None loved her while she lived, nor regretted her death, + nor planted a single flower upon her grave. Happy are the little girls of + America, who are brought up quietly and tenderly at the domestic hearth, + and thus become gentle and delicate women! May none of them ever lose the + loveliness of their sex by receiving such an education as that of Queen + Christina! + </p> + <p> + Emily, timid, quiet, and sensitive, was the very reverse of little + Christina. She seemed shocked at the idea of such a bold and masculine + character as has been described in the foregoing story. + </p> + <p> + “I never could have loved her,” whispered she to Mrs. Temple; and then she + added, with that love of personal neatness which generally accompanies + purity of heart, “It troubles me to think of her unclean hands!” + </p> + <p> + “Christina was a sad specimen of womankind indeed,” said Mrs. Temple. “But + it is very possible for a woman to have a strong mind, and to be fitted + for the active business of life, without losing any of her natural + delicacy. Perhaps some time or other Mr. Temple will tell you a story of + such a woman.” + </p> + <p> + It was now time for Edward to be left to repose. His brother George shook + him heartily by the hand, and hoped, as he had hoped twenty times before, + that tomorrow or the next day Ned’s eyes would be strong enough to look + the sun right in the face. + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, George,” replied Edward, smiling; “but I am not half so + impatient as at first. If my bodily eyesight were as good as yours, + perhaps I could not see things so distinctly with my mind’s eye. But now + there is a light within which shows me the little Quaker artist, Ben West, + and Isaac Newton with his windmill, and stubborn Sam Johnson, and stout + Noll Cromwell, and shrewd Ben Franklin, and little Queen Christina, with + the Swedes kneeling at her feet. It seems as if I really saw these + personages face to face. So I can bear the darkness outside of me pretty + well.” + </p> + <p> + When Edward ceased speaking, Emily put up her mouth and kissed him as her + farewell for the night. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, I forgot!” said Edward, with a sigh. “I cannot see any of your faces. + What would it signify to see all the famous people in the world, if I must + be blind to the faces that I love?” + </p> + <p> + “You must try to see us with your heart, my dear child,” said his mother. + </p> + <p> + Edward went to bed somewhat dispirited; but, quickly falling asleep, was + visited with such a pleasant dream of the sunshine and of his dearest + friends that he felt the happier for it all the next day. And we hope to + find him still happy when we meet again. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg’s Biographical Stories, by Nathaniel Hawthorne + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BIOGRAPHICAL STORIES *** + +***** This file should be named 9254-h.htm or 9254-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/9/2/5/9254/ + +Produced by David Widger and Al Haines + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Biographical Stories + +Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne + +Posting Date: December 21, 2010 [EBook #9254] +Release Date: November, 2005 +First Posted: September 25, 2003 +Last Updated: February 8, 2007 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BIOGRAPHICAL STORIES *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger. HTML version by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + + TRUE STORIES OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY + + By Nathaniel Hawthorne + + + BIOGRAPHICAL STORIES + + +CONTENTS: + + BENJAMIN WEST. + SIR ISAAC NEWTON. + SAMUEL JOHNSON. + OLIVER CROMWELL. + BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. + QUEEN CHRISTINA. + + + + +BIOGRAPHICAL STORIES + +This small volume and others of a similar character, from the same hand, +have not been composed without a deep sense of responsibility. The +author regards children as sacred, and would not, for the world, cast +anything into the fountain of a young heart that might imbitter and +pollute its waters. And, even in point of the reputation to be aimed +at, juvenile literature is as well worth cultivating as any other. The +writer, if he succeed in pleasing his little readers, may hope to be +remembered by them till their own old age,--a far longer period of +literary existence than is generally attained by those who seek +immortality from the judgments of full-grown men. + + + +CHAPTER I. + +When Edward Temple was about eight or nine years old he was afflicted +with a disorder of the eyes. It was so severe, and his sight was +naturally so delicate, that the surgeon felt some apprehensions lest the +boy should become totally blind. He therefore gave strict directions to +keep him in a darkened chamber, with a bandage over his eyes. Not a ray +of the blessed light of heaven could be suffered to visit the poor lad. + +This was a sad thing for Edward. It was just the same as if there were +to be no more sunshine, nor moonlight, nor glow of the cheerful fire, +nor light of lamps. A night had begun which was to continue perhaps for +months,--a longer and drearier night than that which voyagers are +compelled to endure when their ship is icebound, throughout the winter, +in the Arctic Ocean. His dear father and mother, his brother George, +and the sweet face of little Emily Robinson must all vanish and leave +him in utter darkness and solitude. Their voices and footsteps, it is +true, would be heard around him; he would feel his mother's embrace and +the kind pressure of all their hands; but still it would seem as if they +were a thousand miles away. + +And then his studies,--they were to be entirely given up. This was +another grievous trial; for Edward's memory hardly went back to the +period when he had not known how to read. Many and many a holiday had +he spent at his hook, poring over its pages until the deepening twilight +confused the print and made all the letters run into long words. Then, +would he press his hands across his eyes and wonder why they pained him +so; and when the candles were lighted, what was the reason that they +burned so dimly, like the moon in a foggy night? Poor little fellow! +So far as his eyes were concerned he was already an old man, and needed +a pair of spectacles almost as much as his own grandfather did. + +And now, alas! the time was come when even grandfather's spectacles +could not have assisted Edward to read. After a few bitter tears, which +only pained his eyes the more, the poor boy submitted to the surgeon's +orders. His eyes were bandaged, and, with his mother on one side and +his little friend Emily on the other, he was led into a darkened +chamber. + +"Mother, I shall be very miserable!" said Edward, sobbing. + +"O no, my dear child!" replied his mother, cheerfully. "Your eyesight +was a precious gift of Heaven, it is true; but you would do wrong to be +miserable for its loss, even if there were no hope of regaining it. +There are other enjoyments besides what come to us through our eyes." + +"None that are worth having," said Edward. + +"Ah, but you will not think so long," rejoined Mrs. Temple, with +tenderness. "All of us--your father, and myself, and George, and our +sweet Emily--will try to find occupation and amusement for you. We will +use all our eyes to make you happy. Will they not be better than a +single pair?" + +"I will sit, by you all day long," said Emily, in her low, sweet voice, +putting her hand into that of Edward. + +"And so will I, Ned," said George, his elder brother, "school time and +all, if my father will permit me." + +Edward's brother George was three or four years older than himself,--a +fine, hardy lad, of a bold and ardent temper. He was the leader of his +comrades in all their enterprises and amusements. As to his proficiency +at study there was not much to be said. He had sense and ability enough +to have made himself a scholar, but found so many pleasanter things to +do that he seldom took hold of a book with his whole heart. So fond was +George of boisterous sports and exercises that it was really a great +token of affection and sympathy when he offered to sit all day long in a +dark chamber with his poor brother Edward. + +As for little Emily Robinson, she was the daughter of one of Mr. +Temple's dearest friends. Ever since her mother went to heaven (which +was soon after Emily's birth) the little girl had dwelt in the household +where we now find her. Mr. and Mrs. Temple seemed to love her as well +as their own children; for they had no daughter except Emily; nor would +the boys have known the blessing of a sister had not this gentle +stranger come to teach them what it was. If I could show you Emily's +face, with her dark hair smoothed away from her forehead, you would be +pleased with her look of simplicity and loving kindness, but might think +that she was somewhat too grave for a child of seven years old. But you +would not love her the less for that. + +So brother George and this loving little girl were to be Edward's +companions and playmates while he should be kept prisoner in the dark +chamber. When the first bitterness of his grief was over he began to +feel that, there might be some comforts and enjoyments in life even for +a boy whose eyes were covered with a bandage. + +"I thank you, dear mother," said he, with only a few sobs; "and you, +Emily; and you too, George. You will all be very kind to me, I know. +And my father,--will not he come and see me every day?" + +"Yes, my dear boy," said Mr. Temple; for, though invisible to Edward, he +was standing close beside him. "I will spend some hours of every day +with you. And as I have often amused you by relating stories and +adventures while you had the use of your eves, I can do the same now +that you are unable to read. Will this please you, Edward?" + +"O, very much," replied Edward. + +"Well, then," said his father, "this evening we will begin the series of +Biographical Stories which I promised you some time ago." + + + +CHAPTER II. + +When evening came, Mr. Temple found Edward considerably revived in +spirits and disposed to be resigned to his misfortune. Indeed, the +figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a +well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people +might have envied hun. When a man's eyes have grown old with gazing at +the ways of the world, it does not seem such a terrible misfortune to +have them bandaged. + +Little Emily Robinson sat by Edward's side with the air of an +accomplished nurse. As well as the duskiness of the chamber would +permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his +face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue +could utter them. Yet it was noticeable that the child manifested an +indescribable awe and disquietude whenever she fixed her eyes on the +bandage; for, to her simple and affectionate heart, it seemed as if her +dear friend Edward was separated from her because she could not see his +eyes. A friend's eyes tell us many things which could never be spoken +by the tongue. + +George, likewise, looked awkward and confused, as stout and healthy boys +are accustomed to do in the society of the sick or afflicted. Never +having felt pain or sorrow, they are abashed, from not knowing how to +sympathize with the sufferings of others. + +"Well, my dear Edward," inquired Mrs. Temple, "is Your chair quite +comfortable? and has your little nurse provided for all your wants? If +so, your father is ready to begin his stories." + +"O, I am very well now," answered Edward, with a faint smile. "And my +ears have not forsaken me, though my eyes are good for nothing. So +pray, dear father, begin." + +It was Mr. Temple's design to tell the children a series of true +stories, the incidents of which should be taken from the childhood and +early life of eminent people. Thus he hoped to bring George, and +Edward, and Emily into closer acquaintance with the famous persons who +have lived in other times by showing that they also had been children +once. Although Mr. Temple was scrupulous to relate nothing but what was +founded on fact, yet he felt himself at liberty to clothe the incidents +of his narrative in a new coloring, so that his auditors might +understand them the better. + +"My first story," said he, "shall be about a painter of pictures." + +"Dear me!" cried Edward, with a sigh. "I am afraid I shall never look +at pictures any more." + +"We will hope for the best," answered his father. "In the mean time, +you must try to see things within your own mind." + +Mr. Temple then began the following story:-- + + + +BENJAMIN WEST. + +[BORN 1738. DIED 1820] + +In the year 1735 there came into the world, in the town of Springfield, +Pennsylvania, a Quaker infant, from whom his parents and neighbors +looked for wonderful things. A famous preacher of the Society of +Friends had prophesied about little Ben, and foretold that he would be +one of the most remarkable characters that, had appeared on the earth +since the days of William Penn. On this account the eyes of many people +were fixed upon the boy. Some of his ancestors had won great renown in +the old wars of England and France; but it was probably expected that +Ben would become a preacher, and would convert multitudes to the +peaceful doctrines of the Quakers. Friend West and his wife were +thought to be very fortunate in having such a son. + +Little Ben lived to the ripe age of six years without doing anything +that was worthy to be told in history. But one summer afternoon, in his +seventh year, his mother put a fan into his hand and bade him keep the +flies away from the face of a little babe who lay fast asleep in the +cradle. She then left the room. + +The boy waved the fan to and fro and drove away the buzzing flies +whenever they had the impertinence to come near the baby's face. When +they had all flown out of the window or into distant parts of the room, +he bent over the cradle and delighted himself with gazing at the +sleeping infant. It was, indeed, a very pretty sight. The little +personage in the cradle slumbered peacefully, with its waxen hands under +its chin, looking as full of blissful quiet as if angels were singing +lullabies in its ear. Indeed, it must have been dreaming about heaven; +for, while Ben stooped over the cradle, the little baby smiled. + +"How beautiful she looks!" said Ben to himself. "What a pity it is that +such a pretty smile should not last forever!" + +Now Ben, at this period of his life, had never heard of that wonderful +art by which a look, that appears and vanishes in a moment, may be made +to last for hundreds of years. But, though nobody had told him of such +an art, he may be said to have invented it for himself. On a table near +at hand there were pens and paper, and ink of two colors, black and red. +The boy seized a pen and sheet of paper, and, kneeling down beside the +cradle, began to draw a likeness of the infant. While he was busied in +this manner he heard his mother's step approaching, and hastily tried to +conceal the paper. + +"Benjamin, my son, what hast thou been doing?" inquired his mother, +observing marks of confusion in his face. + +At first Ben was unwilling to tell; for he felt as if there might be +something wrong in stealing the baby's face and putting it upon a sheet +of paper. However, as his mother insisted, he finally put the sketch +into her hand, and then hung his head, expecting to be well scolded. +But when the good lady saw what was on the paper, in lines of red and +black ink, she uttered a scream of surprise and joy. + +"Bless me!" cried she. "It is a picture of little Sally!" + +And then she threw her arms round our friend Benjamin, and kissed him so +tenderly that he never afterwards was afraid to show his performances to +his mother. + +As Ben grew older, he was observed to take vast delight in looking at +the lines and forms of nature. For instance, he was greatly pleased +with the blue violets of spring, the wild roses of summer, and the +scarlet cardinal-flowers of early autumn. In the decline of the year, +when the woods were variegated with all the colors of the rainbow, Ben +seemed to desire nothing better than to gaze at them from morn till +night. The purple and golden clouds of sunset were a joy to him. And +he was continually endeavoring to draw the figures of trees, men, +mountains, houses, cattle, geese, ducks, and turkeys, with a piece of +chalk, on barn doors or on the floor. + +In these old times the Mohawk Indians were still numerous in +Pennsylvania. Every year a party of them used to pay a visit to +Springfield, because the wigwams of their ancestors had formerly stood +there. These wild men grew fond of little Ben, and made him very happy +by giving him some of the red and yellow paint with which they were +accustomed to adorn their faces. His mother, too, presented him with a +piece of indigo. Thus he now had three colors,--red, blue, and +yellow,--and could manufacture green by mixing the yellow with the blue. +Our friend Ben was overjoyed, and doubtless showed his gratitude to the +Indians by taking their likenesses in the strange dresses which they +wore, with feathers, tomahawks, and bows and arrows. + +But all this time the young artist had no paint-brushes; nor were there +any to be bought, unless he had sent to Philadelphia on purpose. +However, he was a very ingenious boy, aid resolved to manufacture +paint-brushes for himself. With this design he laid hold upon--what do +you think? Why, upon a respectable old black cat, who was sleeping +quietly by the fireside. + +"Puss," said little Ben to the cat, "pray give me some of the fur from +the tip of thy tail?" + +Though he addressed the black cat so civilly, yet Ben was determined to +have the fur whether she were willing or not. Puss, who had no great +zeal for the fine arts, would have resisted if she could; but the boy +was armed with his mother's scissors, and very dexterously clipped off +fur enough to make a paint-brush. This was of so much use to him that +be applied to Madame Puss again and again, until her warm coat of fur +had become so thin and ragged that she could hardly keep comfortable +through the winter. Poor thing! she was forced to creep close into the +chimney-corner, and eyed Ben with a very rueful physiognomy. But Ben +considered it more necessary that he should have paint-brushes than that +puss should be warm. + +About this period friend West received a visit from Mr. Pennington, a +merchant of Philadelphia, who was likewise a member of the Society of +Friends. The visitor, on entering the parlor, was surprised to see it +ornamented with drawings of Indian chiefs, and of birds with beautiful +plumage, and of the wild flowers of the forest. Nothing of the kind was +ever seen before in the habitation of a Quaker farmer. + +"Why, Friend West," exclaimed the Philadelphia merchant, "what has +possessed thee to cover thy walls with all these pictures? Where on +earth didst then get them?" + +Then Friend West explained that all these pictures were painted by +little Ben, with no better materials than red and yellow ochre and a +piece of indigo, and with brushes made of the black cat's fur. + +"Verily," said Mr. Pennington, "the boy hath a wonderful faculty. Some +of our friends might look upon these matters as vanity; but little +Benjamin appears to have been born a painter; and Providence is wiser +than we are." + +The good merchant patted Benjamin on the head, and evidently considered +him a wonderful boy. When his parents saw how much their son's +performances were admired, they, no doubt, remembered the prophecy of +the old Quaker preacher respecting Ben's future eminence. Yet they +could not understand how he was ever to become a very great and useful +man merely by making pictures. + +One evening, shortly after Mr. Pennington's return to Philadelphia, a +package arrived at Springfield, directed to our little friend Ben. + +"What can it possibly be?" thought Ben, when it was put into his hands. +"Who can have sent me such a great square package as this?" + +On taking off the thick brown paper which enveloped it, behold! there +was a paint-box, with a great many cakes of paint, and brushes of +various sizes. It was the gift of good Mr. Pennington. There were +likewise several squares of canvas such as artists use for painting +pictures upon, and, in addition to all these treasures, some beautiful +engravings of landscapes. These were the first pictures that Ben had +ever seen, except those of his own drawing. + +What a joyful evening was this for the little artist! At bedtime he put +the paint-box under his pillow, and got hardly a wink of sleep; for, all +night long, his fancy was painting pictures in the darkness. In the +morning he hurried to the garret, and was seen no more till the +dinner-hour; nor did he give himself time to eat more than a mouthful or +two of food before he hurried back to the garret again. The next day, +and the next, he was just as busy as ever; until at last his mother +thought it time to ascertain what he was about. She accordingly followed +him to the garret. + +On opening the door, the first object that presented itself to her eyes +was our friend Benjamin, giving the last touches to a beautiful picture. +He had copied portions of two of the engravings, and made one picture +out of both, with such admirable skill that it was far more beautiful +than the originals. The grass, the trees, the water, the sky, and the +houses were all painted in their proper colors. There, too, where the +sunshine and the shadow, looking as natural as life. + +"My dear child, thou hast done wonders!" cried his mother. + +The good lady was in an ecstasy of delight. And well might she be proud +of her boy; for there were touches in this picture which old artists, +who had spent a lifetime in the business, need not have been ashamed of. +Many a year afterwards, this wonderful production was exhibited at the +Royal Academy in London. + +When Benjamin was quite a large lad he was sent to school at +Philadelphia. Not long after his arrival he had a slight attack of +fever, which confined him to his bed. The light, which would otherwise +have disturbed him, was excluded from his chamber by means of closed +wooden shutters. At first it appeared so totally dark that Ben could +not distinguish any object in the room. By degrees, however, his eyes +became accustomed to the scanty light. + +He was lying on his back, looking up towards the ceiling, when suddenly +he beheld the dim apparition of a white cow moving slowly over his head! +Ben started, and rubbed his eyes in the greatest amazement. + +"What can this mean?" thought he. + +The white cow disappeared; and next came several pigs, which trotted +along the ceiling and vanished into the darkness of the chamber. So +lifelike did these grunters look that Ben almost seemed to hear them +squeak. + +"Well, this is very strange!" said Ben to himself. + +When the people of the house came to see him, Benjamin told them of the +marvellous circumstance which had occurred. But they would not believe +him. + +"Benjamin, thou art surely out of thy senses!" cried they. "How is it +possible that a white cow and a litter of pigs should be visible on the +ceiling of a dark chamber?" + +Ben, however, had great confidence in his own eyesight, and was +determined to search the mystery to the bottom. For this purpose, when +he was again left alone, he got out of bed and examined the +window-shutters. He soon perceived a small chink in one of them, through +which a ray of light found its passage and rested upon the ceiling. Now, +the science of optics will inform us that the pictures of the white cow +and the pigs, and of other objects out of doors, came into the dark +chamber through this narrow chink, and were painted over Benjamin's head. +It is greatly to his credit that he discovered the scientific principle +of this phenomenon, and by means of it constructed a camera-obscura, or +magic-lantern, out of a hollow box. This was of great advantage to him +in drawing landscapes. + +Well, time went on, and Benjamin continued to draw and paint pictures +until he had now reached the age when it was proper that he should +choose a business for life. His father and mother were in considerable +perplexity about him. According to the ideas of the Quakers, it is not +right for people to spend their lives in occupations that are of no real +and sensible advantage to the world. Now, what advantage could the +world expect from Benjamin's pictures? This was a difficult question; +and, in order to set their minds at rest, his parents determined to +consult the preachers and wise men of their society. Accordingly, they +all assembled in the meeting-house, and discussed the matter from +beginning to end. + +Finally they came to a very wise decision. It seemed so evident that +Providence had created Benjamin to be a painter, and had given him +abilities which would be thrown away in any other business, that the +Quakers resolved not to oppose his inclination. They even acknowledged +that the sight of a beautiful picture might convey instruction to the +mind and might benefit the heart as much as a good book or a wise +discourse. They therefore committed the youth to the direction of God, +being well assured that he best knew what was his proper sphere of +usefulness. The old men laid their hands upon Benjamin's head and gave +him their blessing, and the women kissed him affectionately. All +consented that he should go forth into the world and learn to be a +painter by studying the best pictures of ancient and modern times. + +So our friend Benjamin left the dwelling of his parents, and his native +woods and streams, and the good Quakers of Springfield, and the Indians +who had given him his first colors; he left all the places and persons +whom he had hitherto known, and returned to them no more. He went first +to Philadelphia, and afterwards to Europe. Here he was noticed by many +great people, but retained all the sobriety and simplicity which he had +learned among the Quakers. It is related of him, that, when he was +presented at the court of the Prince of Parma, he kept his hat upon his +head even while kissing the Prince's hand. + +When he was twenty-five years old he went to London and established +himself there as all artist. In due course of time he acquired great +fame by his pictures, and was made chief painter to King George III. +and president of the Royal Academy of Arts. When the Quakers of +Pennsylvania heard of his success, they felt that the prophecy of the +old preacher as to little Ben's future eminence was now accomplished. +It is true, they shook their heads at his pictures of battle and +bloodshed, such as the Death of Wolfe, thinking that these terrible +scene, should not be held up to the admiration of the world. + +But they approved of the great paintings in which he represented the +miracles and sufferings of the Redeemer of mankind. King George +employed him to adorn a large and beautiful chapel at Windsor Castle +with pictures of these sacred subjects. He likewise painted a +magnificent picture of Christ Healing the Sick, which he gave to the +hospital at Philadelphia. It was exhibited to the public, and produced +so much profit that the hospital was enlarged so as to accommodate +thirty more patients. If Benjamin West had done no other good deed than +this, yet it would have been enough to entitle him to an honorable +remembrance forever. At this very day there are thirty poor people in +the hospital who owe all their comforts to that same picture.. + +We shall mention only a single incident more. The picture of Christ +Healing the Sick was exhibited at the Royal Academy in London, where it +covered a vast space and displayed a multitude of figures as large as +life. On the wall, close beside this admirable picture, hung a small +and faded landscape. It was the same that little Ben had painted in his +father's garret, after receiving the paint-box and engravings from good +Mr. Pennington. + +He lived many years in peace and honor, and died in 1820, at the age of +eighty-two. The story of his life is almost as wonderful as a fairy +tale; for there are few stranger transformations than that of a little +unknown Quaker boy, in the wilds of America, into the most distinguished +English painter of his day. Let us each make the best use of our +natural abilities as Benjamin West did; and, with the blessing of +Providence, we shall arrive at some good end. As for fame, it is but +little matter whether we acquire it or not. + +"Thank you for the story, my dear father," said Edward, when it was +finished. "Do you know that it seems as if I could see things without +the help of my eyes? While you were speaking I have seen little Bert, +and the baby in its cradle, and the Indians, and the white cow, and the +pigs, and kind Mr. Pennington, and all the good old Quakers, almost as +plainly as if they were in this very room." + +"It is because your attention was not disturbed by outward objects," +replied Mr. Temple. "People, when deprived of sight, often have more +vivid ideas than those who possess the perfect use of their eyes. I +will venture to say that George has not attended to the story quite so +closely." + +"No, indeed," said George; "but it was a very pretty story for all that. +How I should have laughed to see Ben making a paint-brush out of the +black cat's tail! I intend to try the experiment with Emily's kitten." + +"O no, no, George!" cried Emily, earnestly. "My kitten cannot spare her +tail." + +Edward being an invalid, it was now time for him to retire to bed. When +the family bade him good night he turned his face towards them, looking +very loath to part. + +"I shall not know when morning comes," said he, sorrowfully. "And +besides, I want to hear your voices all the time; for, when nobody is +speaking, it seems as if I were alone in a dark world." + +"You must have faith, my dear child," replied his mother. "Faith is the +soul's eyesight; and when we possess it the world is never dark nor +lonely." + + + +CHAPTER III. + + + +The next day Edward began to get accustomed to his new condition of +life. Once, indeed, when his parents were out of the way and only +Emily was left to take care of him, he could not resist the temptation +to thrust aside the bandage and peep at the anxious face of his little +nurse. But, in spite of the dimness of the chamber, the experiment +caused him so much pain that he felt no inclination to take another +look. So, with a deep sigh, here signed himself to his fate. + +"Emily, pray talk to me!" said he, somewhat impatiently. + +Now, Emily was a remarkably silent little girl, and did not possess that +liveliness of disposition which renders some children such excellent +companions. She seldom laughed, and had not the faculty of making many +words about small matters. But the love and earnestness of her heart +taught her how to amuse poor Edward in his darkness. She put her +knitting-work into his hands. + +"You must learn how to knit," said she. + +"What! without using my eyes?" cried Edward. + +"I can knit with my eyes shut," replied Emily. + +Then with her own little hands she guided Edward's fingers while he set +about this new occupation. So awkward were his first attempts that any +other little girl would have laughed heartily. But Emily preserved her +gravity, and showed the utmost patience in taking up the innumerable +stitches which he let down. In the course of an hour or two his +progress was quite encouraging. + +When evening came, Edward acknowledged that the day had been far less +wearisome than he anticipated. But he was glad, nevertheless, when his +father and mother, and George and Emily, all took their seats around his +chair. He put out his hand to grasp each of their hands, and smiled +with a very bright expression upon his lips. + +"Now I can see you all with my mind's eye," said he. "And now, father, +pray tell us another story." + +So Mr. Temple began. + + +SIR ISAAC NEWTON. + +[BORN 1642, DIED 1727] + +On Christmas day, in the year 1642, Isaac Newton was born at the small +village of Woolsthorpe, in England. Little did his mother think, when +she beheld her newborn babe, that he was destined to explain many +matters which had been a mystery ever since the creation of the world. + +Isaac's father being dead, Mrs. Newton was married again to a clergyman, +and went to reside at North Witham. Her son was left to the care of his +good old grandmother, who was very kind to him and sent him to school. +In his early years Isaac did not appear to be a very bright scholar, but +was chiefly remarkable for his ingenuity in all mechanical occupations. +He had a set of little tools and saws of various sizes manufactured by +himself. With the aid of these Isaac contrived to make many curious +articles, at which he worked with so much skill that he seemed to have +been born with a saw or chisel in hand. + +The neighbors looked with vast admiration at the things which Isaac +manufactured. And his old grandmother, I suppose, was never weary of +talking about him. + +"He'll make a capital workman one of these days," she would probably +say. "No fear but what Isaac will do well in the world and be a rich +man before he dies." + +It is amusing to conjecture what were the anticipations of his +grandmother and the neighbors about Isaac's future life. Some of them, +perhaps, fancied that he would make beautiful furniture of mahogany, +rosewood, or polished oak, inlaid with ivory and ebony, and +magnificently gilded. And then, doubtless, all the rich people would +purchase these fine things to adorn their drawing-rooms. Others +probably thought that little Isaac was destined to be an architect, and +would build splendid mansions for the nobility and gentry, and churches +too, with the tallest steeples that had ever been seen in England. + +Some of his friends, no doubt, advised Isaac's grandmother to apprentice +him to a clock-maker; for, besides his mechanical skill, the boy seemed +to have a taste for mathematics, which would be very useful to him in +that profession. And then, in due time, Isaac would set up for himself, +and would manufacture curious clocks, like those that contain sets of +dancing figures, which issue from the dial-plate when the hour is +struck; or like those where a ship sails across the face of the clock, +and is seen tossing up and down on the waves as often as the pendulum +vibrates. + +Indeed, there was some ground for supposing that Isaac would devote +himself to the manufacture of clocks; since he had already made one, of +a kind which nobody had ever heard of before. It was set a-going, not +by wheels and weights like other clocks, but by the dropping of water. +This was an object of great wonderment to all the people round about; +and it must be confessed that there are few boys, or men either, who +could contrive to tell what o'clock it is by means of a bowl of water. + +Besides the water-clock, Isaac made a sundial. Thus his grandmother was +never at a loss to know the hour; for the water-clock would tell it in +the shade, and the dial in the sunshine. The sundial is said to be +still in existence at Woolsthorpe, on the corner of the house where +Isaac dwelt. If so, it must have marked the passage of every sunny hour +that has elapsed since Isaac Newton was a boy. It marked all the famous +moments of his life; it marked the hour of his death; and still the +sunshine creeps slowly over it, as regularly as when Isaac first set it +up. + +Yet we must not say that the sundial has lasted longer than its maker; +for Isaac Newton will exist long after the dial--yes, and long after the +sun itself--shall have crumbled to decay. + +Isaac possessed a wonderful faculty of acquiring knowledge by the +simplest means. For instance, what method do you suppose he took to +find out the strength of the wind? You will never guess how the boy +could compel that unseen, inconstant, and ungovernable wonder, the wind, +to tell him the measure of its strength. Yet nothing can be more +simple. He jumped against the wind; and by the length of his jump he +could calculate the force of a gentle breeze, a brisk gale, or a +tempest. Thus, even in his boyish sports, he was continually searching +out the secrets of philosophy. + +Not far from his grandmother's residence there was a windmill which +operated on a new plan. Isaac was in the habit of going thither +frequently, and would spend whole hours in examining its various parts. +While the mill was at rest he pried into its internal machinery. When +its broad sails were set in motion by the wind, he watched the process +by which the mill-stones were made to revolve and crush the grain that +was put into the hopper. After gaining a thorough knowledge of its +construction he was observed to be unusually busy with his tools. + +It was not long before his grandmother and all the neighborhood knew +what Isaac had been about. He had constructed a model of the windmill. +Though not so large, I suppose, as one of the box traps which boys set +to catch squirrels, yet every part of the mill and is machinery was +complete. Its little sails were neatly made of linen, and whirled round +very swiftly when the mill was placed in a draught of air. Even a puff +of wind from Isaac's mouth or from a pair of bellows was sufficient to +set the sails in motion. And, what was most curious, if a handful of +grains of wheat were put into the little hopper, they would soon be +converted into snow-white flour. + +Isaac's playmates were enchanted with his new windmill. They thought +that nothing so pretty and so wonderful had ever been seen in the whole +world. + +"But, Isaac," said one of them, "you have forgotten one thing that +belongs to a mill." + +"What is that?" asked Isaac; for he supposed that, from the roof of the +mill to its foundation, he had forgotten nothing. + +"Why, where is the miller?" said his friend. + +"That is true,--I must look out for one," said Isaac; and he set himself +to consider how the deficiency should be supplied. + +He might easily have made the miniature figure of a man; but then it +would not have been able to move about and perform the duties of a +miller. As Captain Lemuel Gulliver had not yet discovered the island of +Lilliput, Isaac did not know that there were little men in the world +whose size was just suited to his windmill. It so happened, however, +that a mouse had just been caught in the trap; and, as no other miller +could be found, Mr. Mouse was appointed to that important office. The +new miller made a very respectable appearance in his dark gray coat. To +be sure, he had not a very good character for honesty, and was suspected +of sometimes stealing a portion of the grain which was given him to +grind. But perhaps some two-legged millers are quite as dishonest as +this small quadruped. + +As Isaac grew older, it was found that he had far more important matters +in his mind than the manufacture of toys like the little windmill. All +day long, if left to himself, he was either absorbed in thought or +engaged in some book of mathematics or natural philosophy. At night, I +think it probable, he looked up with reverential curiosity to the stars, +and wondered whether they were worlds like our own, and how great was +their distance from the earth, and what was the power that kept them in +their courses. Perhaps, even so early in life, Isaac Newton felt a +presentiment that he should be able, hereafter, to answer all these +questions. + +When Isaac was fourteen years old, his mother's second husband being now +dead, she wished her son to leave school and assist her in managing the +farm at Woolsthorpe. For a year or two, therefore, he tried to turn his +attention to farming. But his mind was so bent on becoming a scholar +that his mother sent him back to school, and afterwards to the +University of Cambridge. + +I have now finished my anecdotes of Isaac Newton's boyhood. My story +would be far too long were I to mention all the splendid discoveries +which he made after he came to be a man. He was the first that found +out the nature of light; for, before his day, nobody could tell what the +sunshine was composed of. You remember, I suppose, the story of an +apple's falling on his head, and thus leading him to discover the force +of gravitation, which keeps the heavenly bodies in their courses. When +he had once got hold of this idea, he never permitted his mind to rest +until he had searched out all the laws by which the planets are guided +through the sky. This he did as thoroughly as if he had gone up among +the stars and tracked them in their orbits. The boy had found out the +mechanism of a windmill; the man explained to his fellow-men the +mechanism of the universe. + +While making these researches he was accustomed to spend night after +night in a lofty tower, gazing at the heavenly bodies through a +telescope. His mind was lifted far above the things of this world. +He may be said, indeed, to have spent the greater part of his life in +worlds that lie thousands and millions of miles away; for where the +thoughts and the heart are, there is our true existence. + +Did you never hear the story of Newton and his little dog Diamond? +One day, when he was fifty years old, and had been hard at work more +than twenty years studying the theory of light, he went out of his +chamber, leaving his little dog asleep before the fire. On the table +lay a heap of manuscript papers, containing all the discoveries which +Newton had made during those twenty years. When his master was gone, up +rose little Diamond, jumped upon the table, and overthrew the lighted +candle. The papers immediately caught fire. + +Just as the destruction was completed Newton opened the chamber door, +and perceived that the labors of twenty years were reduced to a heap of +ashes. There stood little Diamond, the author of all the mischief. +Almost any other man would have sentenced the dog to immediate death. +But Newton patted him on the head with his usual kindness, although +grief was at his heart. + +"O Diamond, Diamond," exclaimed he, "thou little knowest the mischief +then hast done!" + +This incident affected his health and spirits for some time afterwards; +but, from his conduct towards the little dog, you may judge what was the +sweetness of his temper. + +Newton lived to be a very old man, and acquired great renown, and was +made a member of Parliament, and received the honor of knighthood from +the king. But he cared little for earthly fame and honors, and felt no +pride in the vastness of his knowledge. All that he had learned only +made him feel how little he knew in comparison to what remained to be +known. + +"I seem to myself like a child," observed he, "playing on the sea-shore, +and picking up here and there a curious shell or a pretty pebble, while +the boundless ocean of Truth lies undiscovered before me." + +At last, in 1727, when he was fourscore and five years old, Sir Isaac +Newton died,--or rather, he ceased to live on earth. We may be +permitted to believe that he is still searching out the infinite wisdom +and goodness of the Creator as earnestly, and with even more success, +than while his spirit animated a mortal body. He has left a fame behind +him which will be as endurable as if his name were written in letters of +light formed by the stars upon the midnight sky. + +"I love to hear about mechanical contrivances, such as the water-clock +and the little windmill," remarked George. "I suppose, if Sir Isaac +Newton had only thought of it, he might have found out the steam-engine, +and railroads, and all the other famous inventions that have come into +use since his day." + +"Very possibly he might," replied Mr. Temple; "and no doubt a great many +people would think it more useful to manufacture steam-engines than to +search out the system of the universe. Other great astronomers besides +Newton have been endowed with mechanical genius. There was David +Rittenhouse, an American,--lie made a perfect little water-mill when he +was only seven or eight years old. But this sort of ingenuity is but a +mere trifle in comparison with the other talents of such men." + +"It must have been beautiful," said Edward, "to spend whole nights in a +high tower as Newton did, gazing at the stars, and the comets, and the +meteors. But what would Newton have done had he been blind? or if his +eyes had been no better than mine?" + +"Why, even then, my dear child," observed Mrs. Temple, "he would have +found out some way of enlightening his mind and of elevating his soul. +But come; little Emily is waiting to bid you good night. You must go to +sleep and dream of seeing all our faces." + +"But how sad it will be when I awake!" murmured Edward. + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +In the course of the next day the harmony of our little family was +disturbed by something like a quarrel between George and Edward. + +The former, though he loved his brother dearly, had found it quite too +great a sacrifice of his own enjoyments to spend all his play-time in a +darkened chamber. Edward, on the other hand, was inclined to be +despotic. He felt as if his bandaged eyes entitled him to demand that +everybody who enjoyed the blessing of sight should contribute to his +comfort and amusement. He therefore insisted that George, instead of +going out to play at football, should join with himself and Emily in a +game of questions and answers. + +George resolutely refused, and ran out of the house. He did not revisit +Edward's chamber till the evening, when he stole in, looking confused, +yet somewhat sullen, and sat down beside his father's chair. It was +evident, by a motion of Edward's head and a slight trembling of his +lips, that he was aware of George's entrance, though his footsteps had +been almost inaudible. Emily, with her serious and earnest little face, +looked from one to the other, as if she longed to be a messenger of +peace between them. + +Mr. Temple, without seeming to notice any of these circumstances, began +a story. + +SAMUEL JOHNSON + +[BORN 1709 DIED 1784.] + +"Sam," said Mr. Michael Johnson, of Lichfield, one morning, "I am very +feeble and ailing to-day. You must go to Uttoxeter in my stead, and +tend the bookstall in the market-place there." + +This was spoken above a hundred years ago, by an elderly man, who had +once been a thriving bookseller at Lichfield, in England. Being now in +reduced circumstances, he was forced to go every market-day and sell +books at a stall, in the neighboring village of Uttoxeter. + +His son, to whom Mr. Johnson spoke, was a great boy, of very singular +aspect. He had an intelligent face; but it was seamed and distorted by +a scrofulous humor, which affected his eyes so badly that sometimes he +was almost blind. Owing to the same cause his head would often shake +with a tremulous motion as if he were afflicted with the palsy. When +Sam was an infant, the famous Queen Anne had tried to cure him of this +disease by laying her royal hands upon his head. But though the touch +of a king or queen was supposed to be a certain remedy for scrofula, it +produced no good effect upon Sam Johnson. + +At the time which we speak of the poor lad was not very well dressed, +and wore shoes from which his toes peeped out; for his old father had +barely the means of supporting his wife and children. But, poor as the +family were, young Sam Johnson had as much pride as any nobleman's son +in England. The fact was, he felt conscious of uncommon sense and +ability, which, in his own opinion, entitled him to great respect from +the world. Perhaps he would have been glad if grown people had treated +him as reverentially as his schoolfellows did. Three of them were +accustomed to come for him every morning; and while he sat upon the back +of one, the two others supported him on each side; and thus he rode to +school in triumph. + +Being a personage of so much importance, Sam could not bear the idea of +standing all day in Uttoxeter market offering books to the rude and +ignorant country people. Doubtless he felt the more reluctant on +account of his shabby clothes, and the disorder of his eyes, and the +tremulous motion of his head. + +When Mr. Michael Johnson spoke, Sam pouted and made an indistinct +grumbling in his throat; then he looked his old father in the face and +answered him loudly and deliberately. + +"Sir," said he, "I will not go to Uttoxeter market!" + +Mr. Johnson had seen a great deal of the lad's obstinacy ever since his +birth; and while Sam was younger, the old gentleman had probably used +the rod whenever occasion seemed to require. But he was now too feeble +and too much out of spirits to contend with this stubborn and +violent-tempered boy. He therefore gave up the point at once, and +prepared to go to Uttoxeter himself. + +"Well, Sam," said Mr. Johnson, as he took his hat and staff, "if for the +sake of your foolish pride you can suffer your poor sick father to stand +all day in the noise and confusion of the market when he ought to be in +his bed, I have no more to say. But you will think of this, Sam, when I +am dead and gone." + +So the poor old man (perhaps with a tear in his eye, but certainly with +sorrow in his heart) set forth towards Uttoxeter. The gray-haired, +feeble, melancholy Michael Johnson! How sad a thing it was that he +should be forced to go, in his sickness, and toil for the support of an +ungrateful son who was too proud to do anything for his father, or his +mother, or himself! Sam looked after Mr. Johnson with a sullen +countenance till he was out of sight. + +But when the old man's figure, as he went stooping along the street, was +no more to be seen, the boy's heart began to smite him. He had a vivid +imagination, and it tormented him with the image of his father standing +in the market-place of Uttoxeter and offering his books to the noisy +crowd around him. Sam seemed to behold him arranging his literary +merchandise upon the stall in such a way as was best calculated to +attract notice. Here was Addison's Spectator, a long row of little +volumes; here was Pope's translation of the Iliad and Odyssey; here were +Dryden's poems, or those of Prior. Here, likewise, were Gulliver's +Travels, and a variety of little gilt-covered children's books, such as +Tom Thumb, Jack the Giant Queller, Mother Goose's Melodies, and others +which our great-grandparents used to read in their childhood. And here +were sermons for the pious, and pamphlets for the politicians, and +ballads, some merry and some dismal ones, for the country people to +sing. + +Sam, in imagination, saw his father offer these books, pamphlets, and +ballads, now to the rude yeomen who perhaps could not read a word; now +to the country squires, who cared for nothing but to hunt hares and +foxes; now to the children, who chose to spend their coppers for +sugar-plums or gingerbread rather than for picture-books. And if +Mr. Johnson should sell a book to man, woman, or child, it would cost +him an hour's talk to get a profit of only sixpence. + +"My poor father!" thought Sam to himself. "How his head will ache! and +how heavy his heart will be! I am almost sorry that I did not do as he +bade me." + +Then the boy went to his mother, who was busy about the house. She did +not know of what had passed between Mr. Johnson and Sam. + +"Mother," said he, "did you think father seemed very ill to-day?" + +"Yes, Sam," answered his mother, turning with a flushed face from the +fire, where she was cooking their scanty dinner. "Your father did look +very ill; and it is a pity he did not send you to Uttoxeter in his +stead. You are a great boy now, and would rejoice, I am sure, to do +something for your poor father, who has done so much for you." + +The lad made no reply. But again his imagination set to work and +conjured up another picture of poor Michael Johnson. He was standing in +the hot sunshine of the market-place, and looking so weary, sick, and +disconsolate, that the eyes of all the crowd were drawn to him. "Had +this old man no son," the people would say among themselves, "who might +have taken his place at the bookstall while the father kept his bed?" +And perhaps, but this was a terrible thought for Sam!--perhaps his +father would faint away and fall down in the marketplace, with his gray +hair in the dust and his venerable face as deathlike as that of a +corpse. And there would be the bystanders gazing earnestly at Mr. +Johnson and whispering, "Is he dead? Is he dead?" + +And Sam shuddered as he repeated to himself, "Is he dead?" + +"O, I have been a cruel son!" thought he, within his own heart. "God +forgive me! God forgive me!" + +But God could not yet forgive him; for he was not truly penitent. Had +he been so, he would have hastened away that very moment to Uttoxeter, +and have fallen at his father's feet, even in the midst of the crowded +market-place. There he would have confessed his fault, and besought Mr. +Johnson to go home and leave the rest of the day's work to him. But +such was Sam's pride and natural stubbornness that he could not bring +himself to this humiliation. Yet he ought to have done so, for his own +sake, for his father's sake, and for God's sake. + +After sunset old Michael Johnson came slowly home and sat down in his +customary chair. He said nothing to Sam; nor do I know that a single +word ever passed between them on the subject of the son's disobedience. +In a few years his father died, and left Sam to fight his way through +the world by himself. It would make our story much too long were I to +tell you even a few of the remarkable events of Sam's life. Moreover, +there is the less need of this, because many books have been written +about that poor boy, and the fame that he acquired, and all that he did +or talked of doing after he came to be a man. + +But one thing I must not neglect to say. From his boyhood upward until +the latest day of his life he never forgot the story of Uttoxeter +market. Often when he was a scholar of the University of Oxford, or +master of an academy at Edial, or a writer for the London +booksellers,--in all his poverty and toil and in all his success,--while +he was walking the streets without a shilling to buy food, or when the +greatest men of England were proud to feast him at their table,--still +that heavy and remorseful thought came back to him, "I was cruel to my +poor father in his illness!" Many and many a time, awake or in his dreams, +he seemed to see old Michael Johnson standing in the dust and confusion of +the market-place and pressing his withered hand to his forehead as if it +ached. + +Alas! my dear children, it is a sad thing to have such a thought as this +to bear us company through life. + +Though the story was but half finished, yet, as it was longer than +usual, Mr. Temple here made a short pause. He perceived that Emily was +in tears, and Edward turned his half-veiled face towards the speaker +with an air of great earnestness and interest. As for George, he had +withdrawn into the dusky shadow behind his father's chair. + + + +CHAPTER V. + +In a few moments Mr. Temple resumed the story, as follows:-- + + +SAMUEL JOHNSON. + +[CONTINUED] + +Well, my children, fifty years had passed away since young Sam Johnson +had shown himself so hard-hearted towards his father. It was now +market-day in the village of Uttoxeter. + +In the street of the village you might see cattle-dealers with cows and +oxen for sale, and pig-drovers with herds of squeaking swine, and +farmers with cartloads of cabbages, turnips, onions, and all other +produce of the soil. Now and then a farmer's red-faced wife trotted +along on horseback, with butter and cheese in two large panniers. The +people of the village, with country squires, and other visitors from the +neighborhood, walked hither and thither, trading, jesting, quarrelling, +and making just such a bustle as their fathers and grandfathers had made +half a century before. + +In one part of the street there was a puppet-show with a ridiculous +merry-andrew, who kept both grown people and children in a roar of +laughter. On the opposite side was the old stone church of Uttoxeter, +with ivy climbing up its walls and partly obscuring its Gothic windows. + +There was a clock in the gray tower of the ancient church, and the hands +on the dial-plate had now almost reached the hour of noon. At this +busiest hour of the market a strange old gentleman was seen making his +way among the crowd, he was very tall and bulky, and wore a brown coat +and small-clothes, with black worsted stockings and buckled shoes. On +his head was a three cornered hat, beneath which a bushy gray wig thrust +itself out, all in disorder. The old gentleman elbowed the people +aside, and forced his way through the midst of them with a singular kind +of gait, rolling his body hither and thither, so that he needed twice as +much room as any other person there. + +"Make way, sir!" he would cry out, in a loud, harsh voice, when somebody +happened to interrupt his progress. "Sir, you intrude your person into +the public thoroughfare!" + +"What a queer old fellow this is!" muttered the people among themselves, +hardly knowing whether to laugh or to be angry. + +But when they looked into the venerable stranger's face, not the most +thoughtless among them dared to offer him the least impertinence. +Though his features were scarred and distorted with the scrofula, and +though his eyes were dim and bleared, yet there was something of +authority and wisdom in his look, which impressed them all with awe. So +they stood aside to let him pass; and the old gentleman made his way +across the market-place, and paused near the corner of the ivy-mantled +church. Just as he reached it the clock struck twelve. + +On the very spot of ground where the stranger now stood some aged people +remembered that old Michael Johnson had formerly kept his book-stall. +The little children who had once bought picture-books of him were +grandfathers now. + +"Yes; here is the very spot!" muttered the old gentleman to himself. + +There this unknown personage took his stand and removed the three-cornered +hat from his head. It was the busiest hour of the day. What +with the hum of human voices, the lowing of cattle, the squeaking of +pigs, and the laughter caused by the merry-andrew, the marketplace was +in very great confusion. But the stranger seemed not to notice it any +more than if the silence of a desert were around him. He was rapt in +his own thoughts. Sometimes he raised his furrowed brow to heaven, as +if in prayer; sometimes he bent his head, as if an insupportable weight +of sorrow were upon him. It increased the awfulness of his aspect that +there was a motion of his head and an almost continual tremor throughout +his frame, with singular twitches and contortions of his features. + +The hot sun blazed upon his unprotected head; but he seemed not to feel +its fervor. A dark cloud swept across the sky and rain-drops pattered +into the market-place; but the stranger heeded not the shower. The +people began to gaze at the mysterious old gentleman with superstitious +fear and wonder. Who could he be? Whence did he come? Wherefore was +he standing bareheaded in the market-place? Even the school-boys left +the merry-andrew and came to gaze, with wide-open eyes, at this tall, +strange-looking old man. + +There was a cattle-drover in the village who had recently made a journey +to the Smithfield market, in London. No sooner had this man thrust his +way through the throng and taken a look at the unknown personage, than +he whispered to one of his acquaintances,-- + +"I say, Neighbor Hutchins, would ye like to know who this old gentleman +is?" + +"Ay, that I would," replied Neighbor Hutchins, "for a queerer chap I +never saw in my life. Somehow it makes me feel small to look at him. +He's more than a common man." + +"You may well say so," answered the cattle-drover. "Why, that's the +famous Doctor Samuel Johnson, who they say is the greatest and +learnedest man in England. I saw him in London streets, walking with +one Mr. Boswell." + +Yes; the poor boy, the friendless Sam, with whom we began our story, had +become the famous Doctor Samuel Johnson. He was universally +acknowledged as the wisest man and greatest writer in all England. He +had given shape and permanence to his native language by his Dictionary. +Thousands upon thousands of people had read his Idler, his Rambler, and +his Rasselas. Noble and wealthy men and beautiful ladies deemed it +their highest privilege to be his companions. Even the King of Great +Britain had sought his acquaintance, and told him what an honor he +considered it that such a man had been born in his dominions. He was +now at the summit of literary renown. + +But all his fame could not extinguish the bitter remembrance which had +tormented him through life. Never never had he forgotten his father's +sorrowful and upbraiding look. Never, though the old man's troubles had +been over so many years, had he forgiven himself for inflicting such a +pang upon his heart. And now, in his old age, he had come hither to do +penance, by standing at noonday, in the market-place of Uttoxeter, on +the very spot where Michael Johnson had once kept his book-stall. The +aged and illustrious man had done what the poor boy refused to do. By +thus expressing his deep repentance and humiliation of heart, he hoped +to gain peace of conscience and the forgiveness of God. + +My dear children, if you have grieved (I will not say your parents, but +if you have grieved) the heart of any human being who has a claim upon +your love, then think of Samuel Johnson's penance. Will it not be +better to redeem the error now than to endure the agony of remorse for +fifty years? Would you not rather say to a brother, "I have erred; +forgive me!" than perhaps to go hereafter and shed bitter tears upon his +grave? + +Hardly was the story concluded when George hastily arose, and Edward +likewise, stretching forth his hands into the darkness that surrounded +him to find his brother. Both accused themselves of unkindness: each +besought the other's forgiveness; and having done so, the trouble of +their hearts vanished away like a dream. + +"I am glad! I am so glad!" said Emily, in a low, earnest voice. "Now I +shall sleep quietly to-night." + +"My sweet child," thought Mrs. Temple as she kissed her, "mayest thou +never know how much strife there is on earth! It would cost thee many a +night's rest." + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +About this period Mr. Temple found it necessary to take a journey, which +interrupted the series of Biographical Stories for several evenings. In +the interval, Edward practised various methods of employing and amusing +his mind. + +Sometimes he meditated upon beautiful objects which he had formerly +seen, until the intensity of his recollection seemed to restore him the +gift of sight and place everything anew before his eyes. Sometimes he +repeated verses of poetry which he did not know to be in his memory +until he found them there just at the time of need. Sometimes he +attempted to solve arithmetical questions which had perplexed him while +at school. + +Then, with his mother's assistance, he learned the letters of the string +alphabet, which is used in some of the institutions for the blind in +Europe. When one of his friends gave him a leaf of St. Mark's Gospel, +printed in embossed characters, he endeavored to read it by passing his +fingers over the letters as blind children do. + +His brother George was now very kind, and spent so much time in the +darkened chamber that Edward often insisted upon his going out to play. +George told him all about the affairs at school, and related many +amusing incidents that happened among his comrades, and informed him +what sports were now in fashion, and whose kite soared the highest, and +whose little ship sailed fleetest on the Frog Pond. As for Emily, she +repeated stories which she had learned from a new book called THE FLOWER +PEOPLE, in which the snowdrops, the violets, the columbines, the roses, +and all that lovely tribe are represented as telling their secrets to a +little girl. The flowers talked sweetly, as flowers should; and Edward +almost fancied that he could behold their bloom and smell their fragrant +breath. + +Thus, in one way or another, the dark days of Edward's confinement +passed not unhappily. In due time his father returned; and the next +evening, when the family were assembled, he began a story. + +"I must first observe, children," said he, "that some writers deny the +truth of the incident which I am about to relate to you. There +certainly is but little evidence in favor of it. Other respectable +writers, however, tell it for a fact; and, at all events, it is an +interesting story, and has an excellent moral." + +So Mr. Temple proceeded to talk about the early days of + + +OLIVER CROMWELL. + +[BORN 1599 DIED 1658.] + +Not long after King James I. took the place of Queen Elizabeth on the +throne of England, there lived an English knight at a place called +Hinchinbrooke. His name was Sir Oliver Cromwell. He spent his life, I +suppose, pretty much like other English knights and squires in those +days, bunting hares and foxes and drinking large quantities of ale and +wine. The old house in which he dwelt had been occupied by his +ancestors before him for a good many years. In it there was a great +hall, hang round with coats of arms and helmets, cuirasses and swords, +which his forefathers had used in battle, and with horns of deer and +tails of foxes which they or Sir Oliver himself had killed in the chase. + +This Sir Oliver Cromwell had a nephew, who had been called Oliver, after +himself, but who was generally known in the family by the name of little +Noll. His father was a younger brother of Sir Oliver. The child was +often sent to visit his uncle, who probably found him a troublesome +little fellow to take care of. He was forever in mischief, and always +running into some danger or other, from which he seemed to escape only +by miracle. + +Even while he was an infant in the cradle a strange accident had +befallen hum. A huge ape, which was kept in the family, snatched up +little Noll in his fore paws and clambered with him to the roof of the +house. There this ugly beast sat grinning at the affrighted spectators, +as if it had done the most praiseworthy thing imaginable. Fortunately, +however, he brought the child safe down again; and the event was +afterwards considered an omen that Noll would reach a very elevated +station in the world. + +One morning, when Noll was five or six years old a royal messenger +arrived at Hinchinbrooke with tidings that King James was coming to dine +with Sir Oliver Cromwell. This was a high honor, to be sure, but a very +great trouble; for all the lords and ladies, knights, squires, guards +and yeomen, who waited on the king, were to be feasted as well as +himself; and more provisions would be eaten and more wine drunk in that +one day than generally in a month. However, Sir Oliver expressed much +thankfulness for the king's intended visit, and ordered his butler and +cook to make the best preparations in their power. So a great fire was +kindled in the kitchen; and the neighbors knew by the smoke which poured +out of the chimney that boiling, baking, stewing, roasting, and frying +were going on merrily. + +By and by the sound of trumpets was heard approaching nearer and nearer; +a heavy, old-fashioned coach, surrounded by guards on horseback, drove +up to the house. Sir Oliver, with his hat in his hand, stood at the +gate to receive the king. His Majesty was dressed in a suit of green +not very new; he had a feather in his hat and a triple ruff round his +neck, and over his shoulder was slung a hunting-horn instead of a sword. +Altogether he had not the most dignified aspect in the world; but the +spectators gazed at him as if there was something superhuman and divine +in his person. They even shaded their eyes with their hands, as if they +were dazzled by the glory of his countenance. + +"How are ye, man?" cried King James, speaking in a Scotch accent; for +Scotland was his native country. "By my crown, Sir Oliver, but I am +glad to see ye!" + +The good knight thanked the king; at the same time kneeling down while +his Majesty alighted. When King James stood on the ground, he directed +Sir Oliver's attention to a little boy who had come with him in the +coach. He was six or seven years old, and wore a hat and feather, and +was more richly dressed than the king himself. Though by no means an +ill-looking child, he seemed shy, or even sulky; and his cheeks were +rather pale, as if he had been kept moping within doors, instead of +being sent out to play in the sun and wind. + +"I have brought my son Charlie to see ye," said the king. "I hope, Sir +Oliver, ye have a son of your own to be his playmate." + +Sir Oliver Cromwell made a reverential bow to the little prince, whom +one of the attendants had now taken out of the coach. It was wonderful +to see how all the spectators, even the aged men with their gray beards, +humbled themselves before this child. They bent their bodies till their +beards almost swept the dust: They looked as if they were ready to kneel +down and worship him. + +The poor little prince! From his earliest infancy not a soul had dared +to contradict him; everybody around him had acted as if he were a +superior being; so that, of course, he had imbibed the same opinion of +himself. He naturally supposed that the whole kingdom of Great Britain +and all its inhabitants had been created solely for his benefit and +amusement. This was a sad mistake; and it cost him dear enough after he +had ascended his father's throne. + +"What a noble little prince he is!" exclaimed Sir Oliver, lifting his +hands in admiration. "No, please your Majesty, I have no son to be the +playmate of his royal highness; but there is a nephew of mine somewhere +about the house. He is near the prince's age, and will be but too happy +to wait upon his royal highness." + +"Send for him, man! send for him!" said the king. + +But, as it happened, there was no need of sending for Master Noll. +While King James was speaking, a rugged, bold-faced, sturdy little +urchin thrust himself through the throng of courtiers and attendants and +greeted the prince with a broad stare. His doublet and hose (which had +been put on new and clean in honor of the king's visit) were already +soiled and torn with the rough play in which he had spent the morning. +He looked no more abashed than if King James were his uncle and the +prince one of his customary playfellows. + +This was little Noll himself. + +"Here, please your Majesty, is my nephew," said Sir Oliver, somewhat +ashamed of Noll's appearance and demeanor. "Oliver, make your obeisance +to the king's majesty." + +The boy made a pretty respectful obeisance to the king; for in those +days children were taught to pay reverence to their elders. King James, +who prided himself greatly on his scholarship, asked Noll a few +questions in the Latin grammar, and then introduced him to his son. The +little prince, in a very grave and dignified manner, extended his hand, +not for Noll to shake, but that he might kneel down and kiss it. + +"Nephew," said Sir Oliver, "pay your duty to the prince." + +"I owe him no duty," cried Noll, thrusting aside the prince's hand with +a rude laugh. "Why should I kiss that boy's hand?" + +All the courtiers were amazed and confounded, and Sir Oliver the most of +all. But the king laughed heartily, saying, that little Noll had a +stubborn English spirit, and that it was well for his son to learn +betimes what sort of a people he was to rule over. + +So King James and his train entered the house; and the prince, with Noll +and some other children, was sent to play in a separate room while his +Majesty was at dinner. The young people soon became acquainted; for +boys, whether the sons of monarchs or of peasants, all like play, and +are pleased with one another's society. What games they diverted +themselves with I cannot tell. Perhaps they played at ball, perhaps at +blind-man's-buff, perhaps at leap-frog, perhaps at prison-bars. Such +games have been in use for hundreds of years; and princes as well as +poor children have spent some of their happiest hours in playing at +them. + +Meanwhile King James and his nobles were feasting with Sir Oliver in the +great hall. The king sat in a gilded chair, under a canopy, at the head +of a long table. Whenever any of the company addressed him, it was with +the deepest reverence. If the attendants offered him wine or the +various delicacies of the festival, it was upon their bended knees. You +would have thought, by these tokens of worship, that the monarch was a +supernatural being; only he seemed to have quite as much need of those +vulgar matters, food and drink, as any other person at the table. But +fate had ordained that good King James should not finish his dinner in +peace. + +All of a sudden there arose a terrible uproar in the room where the +children were at play. Angry shouts and shrill cries of alarm were +mixed up together; while the voices of elder persons were likewise +heard, trying to restore order among the children. The king and +everybody else at table looked aghast; for perhaps the tumult made them +think that a general rebellion had broken out. + +"Mercy on us!" muttered Sir Oliver; "that graceless nephew of mine is in +some mischief or other. The naughty little whelp!" + +Getting up from table, he ran to see what was the matter, followed by +many of the guests, and the king among them. They all crowded to the +door of the playroom. + +On looking in, they beheld the little Prince Charles, with his rich +dress all torn and covered with the dust of the floor. His royal blood +was streaming from his nose in great abundance. He gazed at Noll with a +mixture of rage and affright, and at the same time a puzzled expression, +as if he could not understand how any mortal boy should dare to give him +a beating. As for Noll, there stood his sturdy little figure, bold as a +lion, looking as if he were ready to fight, not only the prince, but the +king and kingdom too. + +"You little villain!" cried his uncle. "What have you been about? Down +on your knees, this instant, and ask the prince's pardon. How dare you +lay your hands on the king's majesty's royal son?" + +"He struck me first," grumbled the valiant little Noll; "and I've only +given him his due." + +Sir Oliver and the guests lifted up their hands in astonishment and +horror. No punishment seemed severe enough for this wicked little +varlet, who had dared to resent a blow from the king's own son. Some of +the courtiers were of opinion that Noll should be sent prisoner to the +Tower of London and brought to trial for high treason. Others, in their +great zeal for the king's service, were about to lay hands on the boy +and chastise him in the royal presence. + +But King James, who sometimes showed a good deal of sagacity, ordered +them to desist. + +"Thou art a bold boy," said he, looking fixedly at little Noll; "and, +if thou live to be a man, my son Charlie would do wisely to be friends +with thee." + +"I never will!" cried the little prince, stamping his foot. + +"Peace, Charlie, peace!" said the king; then addressing Sir Oliver and +the attendants, "Harm not the urchin; for he has taught my son a good +lesson, if Heaven do but give him grace to profit by it. Hereafter, +should he be tempted to tyrannize over the stubborn race of Englishmen, +let him remember little Noll Cromwell and his own bloody nose." + +So the king finished his dinner and departed; and for many a long year +the childish quarrel between Prince Charles and Noll Cromwell was +forgotten. The prince, indeed, might have lived a happier life, and +have met a more peaceful death, had he remembered that quarrel and the +moral which his father drew from it. But when old King James was dead, +and Charles sat upon his throne, he seemed to forget that he was but a +man, and that his meanest subjects were men as well as he. He wished to +have the property and lives of the people of England entirely at his own +disposal. But the Puritans, and all who loved liberty, rose against him +and beat him in many battles, and pulled him down from his throne. + +Throughout this war between the king and nobles on one side and the +people of England on the other there was a famous leader, who did more +towards the ruin of royal authority than all the rest. The contest +seemed like a wrestling-match between King Charles and this strong man. +And the king was overthrown. + +When the discrowned monarch was brought to trial, that warlike leader +sat in the judgment hall. Many judges were present besides himself; but +he alone had the power to save King Charles or to doom him to the +scaffold. After sentence was pronounced, this victorious general was +entreated by his own children, on their knees, to rescue his Majesty +from death. + +"No!" said he, sternly. "Better that one man should perish than that +the whole country should be ruined for his sake. It is resolved that he +shall die!" + +When Charles, no longer a king, was led to the scaffold, his great enemy +stood at a window of the royal palace of Whitehall. He beheld the poor +victim of pride, and an evil education, and misused power, as he laid +his head upon the block. He looked on with a steadfast gaze while a +black-veiled executioner lifted the fatal axe and smote off that +anointed head at a single blow. + +"It is a righteous deed," perhaps he said to himself. + +"Now Englishmen may enjoy their rights." + +At night, when the body of Charles was laid in the coffin, in a gloomy +chamber, the general entered, lighting himself with a torch. Its gleams +showed that he was now growing old; his visage was scarred with the many +battles in which he had led the van; his brow was wrinkled with care and +with the continual exercise of stern authority. Probably there was not +a single trait, either of aspect or manner, that belonged to the little +Noll who had battled so stoutly with Prince Charles. Yet this was he! + +He lifted the coffin-lid, and caused the light of his torch to fall upon +the dead monarch's face. Then, probably, his mind went back over all +the marvellous events that had brought the hereditary King of England to +this dishonored coffin, and had raised himself, a humble individual, to +the possession of kingly power. He was a king, though without the empty +title or the glittering crown. + +"Why was it," said Cromwell to himself, or might have said, as he gazed +at the pale features in the coffin,--"why was it that this great king +fell, and that poor Noll Cromwell has gained all the power of the +realm?" + +And, indeed, why was it? + +King Charles had fallen, because, in his manhood the same as when a +child, he disdained to feel that every human creature was his brother. +He deemed himself a superior being, and fancied that his subjects were +created only for a king to rule over. And Cromwell rose, because, in +spite of his many faults, he mainly fought for the rights and freedom of +his fellow-men; and therefore the poor and the oppressed all lent their +strength to him. + +"Dear father, how I should hate to be a king!" exclaimed Edward. + +"And would you like to be a Cromwell?" inquired his father. + +"I should like it well," replied George; "only I would not have put the +poor old king to death. I would have sent him out of the kingdom, or +perhaps have allowed him to live in a small house near the gate of the +royal palace. It was too severe to cut off his head." + +"Kings are in such an unfortunate position," said Mr. Temple, "that they +must either be almost deified by their subjects, or else be dethroned +and beheaded. In either case it is a pitiable lot." + +"O, I had rather be blind than be a king!" said Edward. + +"Well, my dear Edward," observed his mother, with a smile, "I am glad +you are convinced that your own lot is not the hardest in the world." + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +It was a pleasant sight, for those who had eyes, to see how patiently +the blinded little boy now submitted to what he had at first deemed an +intolerable calamity. The beneficent Creator has not allowed our +comfort to depend on the enjoyment of any single sense. Though he has +made the world so very beautiful, yet it is possible to be happy without +ever be holding the blue sky, or the green and flowery earth, or the +kind faces of those whom we love. Thus it appears that all the external +beauty of the universe is a free gift from God over and above what is +necessary to our comfort. How grateful, then, should we be to that +divine Benevolence, which showers even superfluous bounties upon us! + +One truth, therefore, which Edward's blindness had taught him was, that +his mind and soul could dispense with the assistance of his eyes. +Doubtless, however, he would have found this lesson far more difficult +to learn had it not been for the affection of those around him. His +parents, and George and Emily, aided him to bear his misfortune; if +possible, they would have lent him their own eyes. And this, too, was a +good lesson for him. It taught him how dependent on one another God has +ordained us to be, insomuch that all the necessities of mankind should +incite them to mutual love. + +So Edward loved his friends, and perhaps all the world, better than he +ever did before. And he felt grateful towards his father for spending +the evenings in telling him stories,--more grateful, probably, than any +of my little readers will feel towards me for so carefully writing these +same stories down. + +"Come, dear father," said he, the next evening, "now tell us about some +other little boy who was destined to be a famous man." + +"How would you like a story of a Boston boy?" asked his father. + +"O, pray let us have it!" cried George, eagerly. "It will be all the +better if he has been to our schools, and has coasted on the Common, and +sailed boats in the Frog Pond. I shall feel acquainted with him. +then." + +"Well, then," said Mr. Temple, "I will introduce you to a Boston boy +whom all the world became acquainted with after he grew to be a man." + +The story was as follows:-- + + + +BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. + +[BORN 1706, DIED 1790] + +In the year 1716, or about that period, a boy used to be seen in the +streets of Boston who was known among his schoolfellows and playmates by +the name of Ben Franklin. Ben was born in 1706; so that he was now +about ten years old. His father, who had come over from England, was a +soap-boiler and tallow-chandler, and resided in Milk Street, not far +from the Old South Church. + +Ben was a bright boy at his book, and even a brighter one when at play +with his comrades. He had some remarkable qualities which always seemed +to give him the lead, whether at sport or in more serious matters. I +might tell you a number of amusing anecdotes about him. You are +acquainted, I suppose, with his famous story of the WHISTLE, and how he +bought it, with a whole pocketful of coppers and afterwards repented of +his bargain. But Ben had grown a great boy since those days, and had +gained wisdom by experience; for it was one of his peculiarities, that +no incident ever happened to him without teaching him some valuable +lesson. Thus he generally profited more by his misfortunes than many +people do by the most favorable events that could befall them. + +Ben's face was already pretty well known to the inhabitants of Boston. +The selectmen and other people of note often used to visit his father, +for the sake of talking about the affairs of the town or province. Mr. +Franklin was considered a person of great wisdom and integrity, and was +respected by all who knew him, although he supported his family by the +humble trade of boiling soap and making tallow candles. + +While his father and the visitors were holding deep consultations about +public affairs, little Ben would sit on his stool in a corner, listening +with the greatest interest, as if he understood every word. Indeed, his +features were so full of intelligence that there could be but little +doubt, not only that he understood what was said, but that he could have +expressed some very sagacious opinions out of his own mind. But in +those days boys were expected to be silent in the presence of their +elders. However, Ben Franklin was looked upon as a very promising lad, +who would talk and act wisely by and by. + +"Neighbor Franklin," his father's friends would sometimes say, "you +ought to send this boy to college and make a minister of him." + +"I have often thought of it," his father would reply; "and my brother +Benjamin promises to give him a great many volumes of manuscript +sermons, in case he should be educated for the church. But I have a +large family to support, and cannot afford the expense." + +In fact, Mr. Franklin found it so difficult to provide bread for his +family, that, when the boy was ten years old, it became necessary to +take him from school. Ben was then employed in cutting candle-wicks +into equal lengths and filling the moulds with tallow; and many families +in Boston spent their evenings by the light of the candles which he had +helped to make. Thus, you see, in his early days, as well as in his +manhood, his labors contributed to throw light upon dark matters. + +Busy as his life now was, Ben still found time to keep company with his +former schoolfellows. He and the other boys were very fond of fishing, +and spent many of their leisure hours on the margin of the mill-pond, +catching flounders, perch, eels, and tomcod, which came up thither with +the tide. The place where they fished is now, probably, covered with +stone pavements and brick buildings, and thronged with people and with +vehicles of all kinds. But at that period it was a marshy spot on the +outskirts of the town, where gulls flitted and screamed overhead and +salt-meadow grass grew under foot. + +On the edge of the water there was a deep bed of clay, in which the boys +were forced to stand while they caught their fish. Here they dabbled in +mud and mire like a flock of ducks. + +"This is very uncomfortable," said Ben Franklin one day to his comrades, +while they were standing mid-leg deep in the quagmire. + +"So it is," said the other boys. "What a pity we have no better place +to stand!" + +If it mad not been for Ben, nothing more would have been done or said +about, the matter. Butt it was not in his nature to be sensible of an +inconvenience without using his best efforts to find a remedy. So, as +he and his comrades were returning from the water-side, Ben suddenly +threw down his string of fish with a very determined air. + +"Boys," cried he, "I have thought of a scheme which will be greatly for +our benefit and for the public benefit." + +It was queer enough, to be sure, to hear this little chap--this +rosy-cheeked, ten-year-old boy--talking about schemes for the public +benefit! Nevertheless, his companions were ready to listen, being assured +that Ben's scheme, whatever it was, would be well worth their attention. +They remembered how sagaciously he had conducted all their enterprises +ever since he had been old enough to wear small-clothes. + +They remembered, too, his wonderful contrivance of sailing across the +mill-pond by lying flat on his back in the water and allowing himself to +be drawn along by a paper kite. If Ben could do that, he might +certainly do anything. + +"What is your scheme, Ben?--what is it?" cried they all. + +It so happened that they had now come to a spot of ground where a new +house was to be built. Scattered round about lay a great many large +stones which were to be used for the cellar and foundation. Ben mounted +upon the highest of these stones, so that he might speak with the more +authority. + +"You know, lads," said he, "what a plague it is to be forced to stand in +the quagmire yonder,--over shoes and stockings (if we wear any) in mud +and water. See! I am bedaubed to the knees of my small-clothes; and you +are all in the same pickle. Unless we can find some remedy for this +evil, our fishing business must be entirely given up. And, surely, this +would be a terrible misfortune!" + +"That it would! that it would!" said his comrades, sorrowfully. + +"Now, I propose," continued Master Benjamin, "that we build a wharf, for +the purpose of carrying on our fisheries. You see these stones. The +workmen mean to use them for the underpinning of a house; but that would +be for only one man's advantage. My plan is to take these same stones +and carry them to the edge of the water and build a wharf with them. +This will not only enable us to carry on the fishing business with +comfort and to better advantage, but it will likewise be a great +convenience to boats passing up and down the stream. Thus, instead of +one man, fifty, or a hundred, or a thousand, besides ourselves, may be +benefited by these stones. What say you, lads? shall we build the +wharf?" + +Bell's proposal was received with one of those uproarious shouts +wherewith boys usually express their delight at whatever completely +suits their views. Nobody thought of questioning the right and justice +of building a wharf with stones that belonged to another person. + +"Hurrah! hurrah!" shouted they. "Let's set about it." + +It was agreed that they should all be on the spot that evening and +commence their grand public enterprise by moonlight. Accordingly, at +the appointed time, the whole gang of youthful laborers assembled, and +eagerly began to remove the stones. They had not calculated how much +toil would be requisite in this important part of their undertaking. +The very first stone which they laid hold of proved so heavy that it +almost seemed to be fastened to the ground. Nothing but Ben Franklin's +cheerful and resolute spirit could have induced them to persevere. + +Ben, as might be expected, was the soul of the enterprise. By his +mechanical genius, he contrived methods to lighten the labor of +transporting the stones, so that one boy, under his directions, would +perform as much as half a dozen if left to themselves. Whenever their +spirits flagged he had some joke ready, which seemed to renew their +strength, by setting them all into a roar of laughter. And when, after +an hour or two of hard work, the stones were transported to the water-side, +Bell Franklin was the engineer to superintend the construction of +the wharf. + +The boys, like a colony of ants, performed a great deal of labor by +their multitude, though the individual strength of each could have +accomplished but little. Finally, just as the moon sank below the +horizon, the great work was finished. + +"Now, boys," cried Ben, "let's give three cheers and go home to bed. +To-morrow we may catch fish at our ease." + +"Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" shouted his comrades. + +Then they all went home in such an ecstasy of delight that they could +hardly get a wink of sleep. + +The story was not yet finished; but George's impatience caused him to +interrupt it. + +"How I wish that I could have helped to build that wharf!" exclaimed he. +"It must have been glorious fun. Ben Franklin forever, say I." + +"It was a very pretty piece of work," said Mr. Temple. "But wait till +you hear the end of the story." + +"Father," inquired Edward, "whereabouts in Boston was the mill-pond on +which Ben built his wharf?" + +"I do not exactly know," answered Mr. Temple; "but I suppose it to have +been on the northern verge of the town, in the vicinity of what are now +called Merrimack and Charlestown Streets. That thronged portion of the +city was once a marsh. Some of it, in fact, was covered with water." + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +As the children had no more questions to ask, Mr. Temple proceeded to +relate what consequences ensued from the building of Bell Franklin's +wharf. + + +BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. + +[CONTINUED] + +In the morning, when the early sunbeams were gleaming on the steeples +and roofs of the town and gilding the water that surrounded it, the +masons came, rubbing their eyes, to begin their work at the foundation +of the new house. But, on reaching the spot, they rubbed their eyes so +much the harder. What had become of their heap of stones? + +"Why, Sam," said one to another, in great perplexity, "here's been some +witchcraft at work while we were asleep. The stones must have flown +away through the air!" + +"More likely they have been stolen!" answered Sam. + +"But who on earth would think of stealing a heap of stones?" cried a +third. "Could a man carry them away in his pocket?" + +The master mason, who was a gruff kind of man, stood scratching his +head, and said nothing at first. But, looking carefully on the ground, +he discerned innumerable tracks of little feet, some with shoes and some +barefoot. Following these tracks with his eye, he saw that they formed +a beaten path towards the water-side. + +"Ah, I see what the mischief is," said he, nodding his head. "Those +little rascals, the boys,--they have stolen our stones to build a wharf +with!" + +The masons immediately went to examine the new structure. And to say +the truth, it was well worth looking at, so neatly and with such +admirable skill had it been planned and finished. The stones were put +together so securely that there was no danger of their being loosened by +the tide, however swiftly it might sweep along. There was a broad and +safe platform to stand upon, whence the little fishermen might cast +their lines into deep water and draw up fish in abundance. Indeed, it +almost seemed as if Ben and his comrades might be forgiven for taking +the stones, because they had done their job in such a workmanlike +manner. + +"The chaps that built this wharf understood their business pretty well," +said one of the masons. "I should not be ashamed of such a piece of +work myself." + +But the master mason did not seem to enjoy the joke. He was one of +those unreasonable people who care a great deal more for their own +rights and privileges than for the convenience of all the rest of the +world. + +"Sam," said he, more gruffly than usual, "go call a constable." + +So Sam called a constable, and inquiries were set on foot to discover +the perpetrators of the theft. In the course of the day warrants were +issued, with the signature of a justice of the peace, to take the bodies +of Benjamin Franklin and other evil-disposed persons who had stolen a +heap of stones. If the owner of the stolen property had not been more +merciful than the master mason, it might have gone hard with our friend +Benjamin and his fellow-laborers. But, luckily for them, the gentleman +had a respect for Ben's father, and, moreover, was amused with the +spirit of the whole affair. He therefore let the culprits off pretty +easily. + +But, when the constables were dismissed, the poor boys had to go through +another trial, and receive sentence, and suffer execution, too, from +their own fathers. Many a rod, I grieve to say, was worn to the stump +on that unlucky night. + +As for Ben, he was less afraid of a whipping than of his father's +disapprobation. Mr. Franklin, as I have mentioned before, was a +sagacious man, and also an inflexibly upright one. He had read much for +a person in his rank of life, and had pondered upon the ways of the +world, until he had gained more wisdom than a whole library of books +could have taught him. Ben had a greater reverence for his father than +for any other person in the world, as well on account of his spotless +integrity as of his practical sense and deep views of things. + +Consequently, after being released from the clutches of the law, Ben +came into his father's presence with no small perturbation of mind. + +"Benjamin, come hither," began Mr. Franklin, in his customary solemn and +weighty tone. + +The boy approached and stood before his father's chair, waiting +reverently to hear what judgment this good man would pass upon his late +offence. He felt that now the right and wrong of the whole matter would +be made to appear. + +"Benjamin!" said his father, "what could induce you to take property +which did not belong to you?" + +"Why, father," replied Ben, hanging his head at first, but then lifting +eyes to Mr. Franklin's face, "if it had been merely for my own benefit, +I never should have dreamed of it. But I knew that the wharf would be a +public convenience. If the owner of the stones should build a house +with them, nobody will enjoy any advantage except himself. Now, I made +use of them in a way that was for the advantage of many persons. I +thought it right to aim at doing good to the greatest number." + +"My son," said Mr. Franklin, solemnly, "so far as it was in your power, +you have done a greater harm to the public than to the owner of the +stones." + +"How can that he, father?" asked Ben. + +"Because," answered his father, "in building your wharf with stolen +materials, you have committed a moral wrong. There is no more terrible +mistake than to violate what is eternally right for the sake of a +seeming expediency. Those who act upon such a principle do the utmost +in their power to destroy all that is good in the world." + +"Heaven forbid!" said Benjamin. + +"No act," continued Mr. Franklin, "can possibly be for the benefit of +the public generally which involves injustice to any individual. It +would be easy to prove this by examples. But, indeed, can we suppose +that our all-wise and just Creator would have so ordered the affairs of +the world that a wrong act should be the true method of attaining a +right end? It is impious to think so. And I do verily believe, +Benjamin, that almost all the public and private misery of mankind +arises from a neglect of this great truth,--that evil can produce only +evil,--that good ends must be wrought out by good means." + +"I will never forget it again," said Benjamin, bowing his head. + +"Remember," concluded his father, "that, whenever we vary from the +highest rule of right, just so far we do an injury to the world. It may +seem otherwise for the moment; but, both in time and in eternity, it +will be found so." + +To the close of his life Ben Franklin never forgot this conversation +with his father; and we have reason to suppose that, in most of his +public and private career, he endeavored to act upon the principles +which that good and wise man had then taught him. + +After the great event of building the wharf, Ben continued to cut wick-yarn +and fill candle-moulds for about two years. But, as he had no love +for that occupation, his father often took him to see various artisans +at their work, in order to discover what trade he would prefer. Thus +Ben learned the use of a great many tools, the knowledge of which +afterwards proved very useful to him. But he seemed much inclined to go +to sea. In order to keep him at home, and likewise to gratify his taste +for letters, the lad was bound apprentice to his elder brother, who had +lately set up a printing-office in Boston. + +Here he had many opportunities of reading new books and of hearing +instructive conversation. He exercised himself so successfully in +writing compositions, that, when no more than thirteen or fourteen years +old, he became a contributor to his brother's newspaper. Ben was also a +versifier, if not a poet. He made two doleful ballads,--one about the +shipwreck of Captain Worthilake; and the other about the pirate Black +Beard, who, not long before, infested the American seas. + +When Ben's verses were printed, his brother sent him to sell them to the +townspeople wet from the press. "Buy my ballads!" shouted Benjamin, as +he trudged through the streets with a basketful on his arm. "Who'll buy +a ballad about Black Beard? A penny apiece! a penny apiece! Who'll buy +my ballads?" + +If one of those roughly composed and rudely printed ballads could be +discovered now, it would be worth more than its weight in gold. + +In this way our friend Benjamin spent his boyhood and youth, until, on +account of some disagreement with his brother, he left his native town +and went to Philadelphia. He landed in the latter city, a homeless and +hungry young man, and bought three-pence worth of bread to satisfy his +appetite. Not knowing where else to go, he entered a Quaker meeting-house, +sat down, and fell fast asleep. He has not told us whether his +slumbers were visited by any dreams. But it would have been a strange +dream, indeed, and an incredible one, that should have foretold how +great a man he was destined to become, and how much he would be honored +in that very city where he was now friendless and unknown. + +So here we finish our story of the childhood of Benjamin Franklin. One +of these days, if you would know what he was in his manhood, you must +read his own works and the history of American independence. + +"Do let us hear a little more of him!" said Edward; "not that I admire +him so much as many other characters; but he interests me, because he +was a Yankee boy." + +"My dear son," replied Mr. Temple, "it would require a whole volume of +talk to tell you all that is worth knowing about Benjamin Franklin. +There is a very pretty anecdote of his flying a kite in the midst of a +thunder-storm, and thus drawing down the lightning from the clouds and +proving that it was the same thing as electricity. His whole life would +be an interesting story, if we had time to tell it." + +"But, pray, dear father, tell us what made him so famous," said George. +"I have seen his portrait a great many tines. There is a wooden bust of +him in one of our streets; and marble ones, I suppose, in some other +places. And towns, and ships of war, and steamboats, and banks, and +academies, and children are often named after Franklin. Why should he +have grown so very famous?" + +"Your question is a reasonable one, George," answered his father. "I +doubt whether Franklin's philosophical discoveries, important as they +were, or even his vast political services, would have given him all the +fame which he acquired. It appears to me that Poor Richard's Almanac +did more than anything else towards making him familiarly known to the +public. As the writer of those proverbs which Poor Richard was supposed +to utter, Franklin became the counsellor and household friend of almost +every family in America. Thus it was the humblest of all his labors +that has done the most for his fame." + +"I have read some of those proverbs," remarked Edward; "but I do not +like them. They are all about getting money or saving it." + +"Well," said his father, "they were suited to the condition of the +country; and their effect, upon the whole, has doubtless been good, +although they teach men but a very small portion of their duties." + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +Hitherto Mr. Temple's narratives had all been about boys and men. But, +the next evening, he bethought himself that the quiet little Emily would +perhaps be glad to hear the story of a child of her own sex. He +therefore resolved to narrate the youthful adventures of Christina, of +Sweden, who began to be a queen at the age of no more than six years. +If we have any little girls among our readers, they must not suppose +that Christina is set before them as a pattern of what they ought to be. +On the contrary, the tale of her life is chiefly profitable as showing +the evil effects of a wrong education, which caused this daughter of a +king to be both useless and unhappy. Here follows the story. + + +QUEEN CHRISTINA. + +[BORN 1626 DIED 1689] + +In the royal palace at Stockholm, the capital city of Sweden, there was +horn, in 1626, a little princess. The king, her father; gave her the +name of Christina, in memory of a Swedish girl with whom he had been in +love. His own name was Gustavus Adolphus; and he was also called the +Lion of the North, because he had gained greater fame in war than any +other prince or general then alive. + +With this valiant king for their commander, the Swedes had made +themselves terrible to the Emperor of Germany and to the king of France, +and were looked upon as the chief defence of the Protestant religion. + +The little Christina was by no means a beautiful child. To confess the +truth, she was remarkably plain. The queen, her mother, did not love +her so much as she ought; partly, perhaps, on account of Christina's +want of beauty, and also because both the king and queen had wished for +a son, who might have gained as great renown in battle as his father +had. + +The king, however, soon became exceedingly fond of the infant princess. +When Christina was very young she was taken violently sick. Gustavus +Adolphus, who was several hundred miles from Stockholm, travelled night +and day, and never rested until he held the poor child in his arms. On +her recovery he made a solemn festival, in order to show his joy to the +people of Sweden and express his gratitude to Heaven. After this event +he took his daughter with him in all the journeys which he made +throughout his kingdom. + +Christina soon proved herself a bold and sturdy little girl. When she +was two years old, the king and herself, in the course of a journey, +came to the strong fortress of Colmar. On the battlements were soldiers +clad in steel armor, which glittered in the sunshine. There were +likewise great cannons, pointing their black months at Gustavus and +little Christina, and ready to belch out their smoke and thunder; for, +whenever a king enters a fortress, it is customary to receive him with a +royal salute of artillery. + +But the captain of the fortress met Gustavus and his daughter as they +were about to enter the gateway. + +"May it please your Majesty," said he, taking off his steel cap and +bowing profoundly, "I fear that, if we receive you with a salute of +cannon, the little princess will be frightened almost to death." + +Gustavus looked earnestly at his daughter, and was indeed apprehensive +that the thunder of so many cannon might perhaps throw her into +convulsions. He had almost a mind to tell the captain to let them enter +the fortress quietly, as common people might have done, without all this +head-splitting racket. But no; this would not do. + +"Let them fire," said he, waving his hand. "Christina is a soldier's +daughter, and must learn to bear the noise of cannon." + +So the captain uttered the word of command, and immediately there was a +terrible peal of thunder from the cannon, and such a gush of smoke that +it enveloped the whole fortress in its volumes. But, amid all the din +and confusion, Christina was seen clapping her little hands and laughing +in an ecstasy of delight. Probably nothing ever pleased her father so +much as to see that his daughter promised to be fearless as himself. He +determined to educate her exactly as if she had been a boy, and to teach +her all the knowledge needful to the ruler of a kingdom and the +commander of an army. + +But Gustavus should have remembered that Providence had created her to +be a woman, and that it was not for him to make a man of her. + +However, the king derived great happiness from his beloved Christina. +It must have been a pleasant sight to see the powerful monarch of Sweden +playing in some magnificent hall of the palace with his merry little +girl. Then he forgot that the weight of a kingdom rested upon his +shoulders. He forgot that the wise Chancellor Oxenstiern was waiting to +consult with him how to render Sweden the greatest nation of Europe. He +forgot that the Emperor of Germany and the King of France were plotting +together how they might pull him down from his throne. + +Yes; Gustavus forgot all the perils, and cares, and pompous irksomeness +of a royal life; and was as happy, while playing with his child, as the +humblest peasant in the realm of Sweden. How gayly did they dance along +the marble floor of the palace, this valiant king, with his upright, +martial figure, his war-worn visage, and commanding aspect, and the +small, round form of Christina, with her rosy face of childish +merriment! Her little fingers were clasped in her father's hand, which +had held the leading staff in many famous victories. His crown and +sceptre were her playthings. She could disarm Gustavus of his sword, +which was so terrible to the princes of Europe. + +But, alas! the king was not long permitted to enjoy Christina's society. +When she was four years old Gustavus was summoned to take command of the +allied armies of Germany, which were fighting against the emperor. His +greatest affliction was the necessity of parting with his child; but +people in such high stations have but little opportunity for domestic +happiness. He called an assembly of the senators of Sweden and confided +Christina to their care, saying, that each one of them must be a father +to her if he himself should fall in battle. + +At the moment of his departure Christina ran towards him and began to +address him with a speech which somebody had taught her for the +occasion. Gustavus was busied with thoughts about the affairs of the +kingdom, so that he did not immediately attend to the childish voice of +his little girl. Christina, who did not love to be unnoticed, +immediately stopped short and pulled him by the coat. + +"Father," said she, "why do not you listen to my speech?" + +In a moment the king forgot everything except that, he was parting with +what he loved best in all the world. He caught the child in his arms, +pressed her to his bosom, and burst into tears. Yes; though he was a +brave man, and though he wore a steel corselet on his breast, and though +armies were waiting for him to lead them to battle, still his heart +melted within him, and he wept. Christina, too, was so afflicted that +her attendants began to fear that she would actually die of grief. But +probably she was soon comforted; for children seldom remember their +parents quite so faithfully as their parents remember them. + +For two years more Christina remained in the palace at Stockholm. The +queen, her mother, had accompanied Gustavus to the wars. The child, +therefore, was left to the guardianship of five of the wisest men in the +kingdom. But these wise men knew better how to manage the affairs of +state than how to govern and educate a little girl so as to render her a +good and happy woman. + +When two years had passed away, tidings were brought to Stockholm which +filled everybody with triumph and sorrow at the same time. The Swedes +had won a glorious victory at Lutzen. But, alas! the warlike King of +Sweden, the Lion of the North, the father of our little Christina, had +been slain at the foot of a great stone, which still marks the spot of +that hero's death. + +Soon after this sad event, a general assembly, or congress, consisting +of deputations from the nobles, the clergy, the burghers, and the +peasants of Sweden, was summoned to meet at Stockholm. It was for the +purpose of declaring little Christina to be Queen of Sweden and giving +her the crown and sceptre of her deceased father. Silence being +proclaimed, the Chancellor Oxenstiern arose. + +"We desire to know," said he, "whether the people of Sweden will take +the daughter of our dead king, Gustavus Adolphus, to be their queen." + +When the chancellor had spoken, an old man, with white hair and in +coarse apparel, stood up in the midst of the assembly. He was a +peasant, Lars Larrson by name, and had spent most of his life in +laboring on a farm. + +"Who is this daughter of Gustavus?" asked the old man. "We do not know +her. Let her be shown to us." + +Then Christina was brought into the hall and placed before the old +peasant. It was strange, no doubt, to see a child--a little girl of six +years old--offered to the Swedes as their ruler instead of the brave +king, her father, who had led then to victory so many times. Could her +baby fingers wield a sword in war? Could her childish mind govern the +nation wisely in peace? + +But the Swedes do not appear to have asked themselves these questions. +Old Lars Larrson took Christina up in his arms and gazed earnestly into +her face. + +He had known the great Gustavus well; and his heart was touched when he +saw the likeness which the little girl bore to that heroic monarch. + +"Yes," cried he, with the tears gushing down his furrowed cheeks; "this +is truly the daughter of our Gustavus! Here is her father's brow!--here +is his piercing eye! She is his very picture! This child shall be our +queen!" + +Then all the proud nobles of Sweden, and the reverend clergy, and the +burghers, and the peasants, knelt down at the child's feet and kissed +her hand. + +"Long live Christina, Queen of Sweden!" shouted they. + +Even after she was a woman grown Christina remembered the pleasure which +she felt in seeing all of hose men at her feet and hearing them +acknowledge her as their supreme ruler. Poor child! she was yet to +learn that power does not insure happiness. As yet, however, she had +not any real power. All the public business, it is true, was transacted +in her name; but the kingdom was governed by a number of the most +experienced statesmen, who were called a regency. + +But it was considered necessary that the little queen, should be present +at the public ceremonies, and should behave just as if she were in +reality the ruler of the nation. When she was seven years of age, some +ambassadors from the Czar of Muscovy came to the Swedish court. They +wore long beards, and were clad in a strange fashion, with furs and +other outlandish ornaments; and as they were inhabitants of a +half-civilized country, they did not behave like other people. The +Chancellor Oxenstiern was afraid that the young queen would burst out a +laughing at the first sight of these queer ambassadors, or else that she +would be frightened by their unusual aspect. + +"Why should I be frightened?" said the little queen. "And do you +suppose that I have no better manners than to laugh? Only tell me how +I must behave, and I will do it." + +Accordingly, the Muscovite ambassadors were introduced; and Christina +received them and answered their speeches with as much dignity and +propriety as if sho had been a grown woman. + +All this time, though Christina was now a queen, you must not suppose +that she was left to act as she pleased. She had a preceptor, named +John Mathias, who was a very learned man and capable of instructing her +in all the branches of science. But there was nobody to teach her the +delicate graces and gentle virtues of a woman. She was surrounded +almost entirely by men, and had learned to despise the society of her +own sex. At the age of nine years she was separated from her mother, +whom the Swedes did not consider a proper person to be intrusted with +the charge of her. No little girl who sits by a New England fireside +has cause to envy Christina in the royal palace at Stockholm. + +Yet she made great progress in her studies. She learned to read the +classical authors of Greece and Rome, and became a great admirer of the +heroes and poets of old times. Then, as for active exercises, she could +ride on horseback as well as any man in her kingdom. She was fond of +hunting, and could shoot at a mark with wonderful skill. But dancing +was the only feminine accomplishment with which she had any +acquaintance. + +She was so restless in her disposition that none of her attendants were +sure of a moment's quiet neither day nor night. She grew up, I am sorry +to say, a very unamiable person, ill-tempered, proud, stubborn, and, in +short, unfit to make those around her happy or to be happy herself. Let +every little girl, who has been taught self-control and a due regard for +the rights of others, thank Heaven that she has had better instruction +than this poor little Queen of Sweden. + +At the age of eighteen Christina was declared free to govern the kingdom +by herself without the aid of a regency. At this period of her life she +was a young woman of striking aspect, a good figure, and intelligent +face, but very strangely dressed. She wore a short habit of gray cloth, +with a man's vest over it, and a black scarf around her neck; but no +jewels nor ornaments of any kind. + +Yet, though Christina was so negligent of her appearance, there was +something in her air and manner that proclaimed her as the ruler of a +kingdom. Her eyes, it is said, had a very fierce and haughty look. Old +General Wrangel, who had often caused the enemies of Sweden to tremble +in battle, actually trembled himself when he encountered the eyes of the +queen. But it would have been better for Christina if she could have +made people love her, by means of soft and gentle looks, instead of +affrighting them by such terrible glances. + +And now I have told you almost all that is amusing or instructive in the +childhood of Christina. Only a few more words need be said about her; +for it is neither pleasant nor profitable to think of many things that +she did after she grew to be a woman. + +When she had worn the crown a few years, she began to consider it +beneath her dignity to be called a queen, because the name implied that +she belonged to the weaker sex. She therefore caused herself to be +proclaimed KING; thus declaring to the world that she despised her own +sex and was desirous of being ranked among men. But in the twenty-eighth +year of her age Christina grew tired of royalty, and resolved to +be neither a king nor a queen any longer. She took the crown from her +head with her own hands, and ceased to be the ruler of Sweden. The +people did not greatly regret her abdication; for she had governed them +ill, and had taken much of their property to supply her extravagance. + +Having thus given up her hereditary crown, Christina left Sweden and +travelled over many of the countries of Europe. Everywhere she was +received with great ceremony, because she was the daughter of the +renowned Gustavus, and had herself been a powerful queen. Perhaps you +would like to know something about her personal appearance in the latter +part of time life. She is described as wearing a man's vest, a short +gray petticoat, embroidered with gold and silver, and a black wig, which +was thrust awry upon her head. She wore no gloves, and so seldom washed +her hands that nobody could fell what had been their original color. In +this strange dress, and, I suppose, without washing her hands or face, +she visited the magnificent court of Louis XIV. + +She died in 1689. None loved her while she lived, nor regretted her +death, nor planted a single flower upon her grave. Happy are the little +girls of America, who are brought up quietly and tenderly at the +domestic hearth, and thus become gentle and delicate women! May none of +them ever lose the loveliness of their sex by receiving such an +education as that of Queen Christina! + +Emily, timid, quiet, and sensitive, was the very reverse of little +Christina. She seemed shocked at the idea of such a bold and masculine +character as has been described in the foregoing story. + +"I never could have loved her," whispered she to Mrs. Temple; and then +she added, with that love of personal neatness which generally +accompanies purity of heart, "It troubles me to think of her unclean +hands!" + +"Christina was a sad specimen of womankind indeed," said Mrs. Temple. +"But it is very possible for a woman to have a strong mind, and to be +fitted for the active business of life, without losing any of her +natural delicacy. Perhaps some time or other Mr. Temple will tell you a +story of such a woman." + +It was now time for Edward to be left to repose. His brother George +shook him heartily by the hand, and hoped, as he had hoped twenty times +before, that tomorrow or the next day Ned's eyes would be strong enough +to look the sun right in the face. + +"Thank you, George," replied Edward, smiling; "but I am not half so +impatient as at first. If my bodily eyesight were as good as yours, +perhaps I could not see things so distinctly with my mind's eye. But +now there is a light within which shows me the little Quaker artist, Ben +West, and Isaac Newton with his windmill, and stubborn Sam Johnson, and +stout Noll Cromwell, and shrewd Ben Franklin, and little Queen +Christina, with the Swedes kneeling at her feet. It seems as if I +really saw these personages face to face. So I can bear the darkness +outside of me pretty well." + +When Edward ceased speaking, Emily put up her mouth and kissed him as +her farewell for the night. + +"Ah, I forgot!" said Edward, with a sigh. "I cannot see any of your +faces. What would it signify to see all the famous people in the world, +if I must be blind to the faces that I love?" + +"You must try to see us with your heart, my dear child," said his +mother. + +Edward went to bed somewhat dispirited; but, quickly falling asleep, was +visited with such a pleasant dream of the sunshine and of his dearest +friends that he felt the happier for it all the next day. And we hope +to find him still happy when we meet again. + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Biographical Stories, by Nathaniel Hawthorne + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BIOGRAPHICAL STORIES *** + +***** This file should be named 9254.txt or 9254.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/9/2/5/9254/ + +Produced by David Widger. 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Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**EBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These EBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers***** + + + +Title: Biographical Stories + (From: "True Stories of History and Biography") + +Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne + +Release Date: Nov, 2005 [EBook #9254] +[This file was first posted on September 25, 2003] +[Last updated on February 8, 2007] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + + + + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, BIOGRAPHICAL STORIES *** + + + + +This eBook was produced by David Widger + + + + + + TRUE STORIES OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY + + By Nathaniel Hawthorne + + + BIOGRAPHICAL STORIES + + +CONTENTS: + +BENJAMIN WEST. +SIR ISAAC NEWTON. +SAMUEL JOHNSON. +OLIVER CROMWELL. +BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. +QUEEN CHRISTINA. + + + + +BIOGRAPHICAL STORIES + +This small volume and others of a similar character, from the same hand, +have not been composed without a deep sense of responsibility. The +author regards children as sacred, and would not, for the world, cast +anything into the fountain of a young heart that might imbitter and +pollute its waters. And, even in point of the reputation to be aimed +at, juvenile literature is as well worth cultivating as any other. The +writer, if he succeed in pleasing his little readers, may hope to be +remembered by them till their own old age,--a far longer period of +literary existence than is generally attained by those who seek +immortality from the judgments of full-grown men. + + + +CHAPTER 1. + +When Edward Temple was about eight or nine years old he was afflicted +with a disorder of the eyes. It was so severe, and his sight was +naturally so delicate, that the surgeon felt some apprehensions lest the +boy should become totally blind. He therefore gave strict directions to +keep him in a darkened chamber, with a bandage over his eyes. Not a ray +of the blessed light of heaven could be suffered to visit the poor lad. + +This was a sad thing for Edward. It was just the same as if there were +to be no more sunshine, nor moonlight, nor glow of the cheerful fire, +nor light of lamps. A night had begun which was to continue perhaps for +months,--a longer and drearier night than that which voyagers are +compelled to endure when their ship is icebound, throughout the winter, +in the Arctic Ocean. His dear father and mother, his brother George, +and the sweet face of little Emily Robinson must all vanish and leave +him in utter darkness and solitude. Their voices and footsteps, it is +true, would be heard around him; he would feel his mother's embrace and +the kind pressure of all their hands; but still it would seem as if they +were a thousand miles away. + +And then his studies,--they were to be entirely given up. This was +another grievous trial; for Edward's memory hardly went back to the +period when he had not known how to read. Many and many a holiday had +he spent at his hook, poring over its pages until the deepening twilight +confused the print and made all the letters run into long words. Then, +would he press his hands across his eyes and wonder why they pained him +so; and when the candles were lighted, what was the reason that they +burned so dimly, like the moon in a foggy night? Poor little fellow! +So far as his eyes were concerned he was already an old man, and needed +a pair of spectacles almost as much as his own grandfather did. + +And now, alas! the time was come when even grandfather's spectacles +could not have assisted Edward to read. After a few bitter tears, which +only pained his eyes the more, the poor boy submitted to the surgeon's +orders. His eyes were bandaged, and, with his mother on one side and +his little friend Emily on the other, he was led into a darkened +chamber. + +"Mother, I shall be very miserable!" said Edward, sobbing. + +"O no, my dear child!" replied his mother, cheerfully. "Your eyesight +was a precious gift of Heaven, it is true; but you would do wrong to be +miserable for its loss, even if there were no hope of regaining it. +There are other enjoyments besides what come to us through our eyes." + +"None that are worth having," said Edward. + +"Ah, but you will not think so long," rejoined Mrs. Temple, with +tenderness. "All of us--your father, and myself, and George, and our +sweet Emily--will try to find occupation and amusement for you. We will +use all our eyes to make you happy. Will they not be better than a +single pair?" + +"I will sit, by you all day long," said Emily, in her low, sweet voice, +putting her hand into that of Edward. + +"And so will I, Ned," said George, his elder brother, "school time and +all, if my father will permit me." + +Edward's brother George was three or four years older than himself,--a +fine, hardy lad, of a bold and ardent temper. He was the leader of his +comrades in all their enterprises and amusements. As to his proficiency +at study there was not much to be said. He had sense and ability enough +to have made himself a scholar, but found so many pleasanter things to +do that he seldom took hold of a book with his whole heart. So fond was +George of boisterous sports and exercises that it was really a great +token of affection and sympathy when he offered to sit all day long in a +dark chamber with his poor brother Edward. + +As for little Emily Robinson, she was the daughter of one of Mr. +Temple's dearest friends. Ever since her mother went to heaven (which +was soon after Emily's birth) the little girl had dwelt in the household +where we now find her. Mr. and Mrs. Temple seemed to love her as well +as their own children; for they had no daughter except Emily; nor would +the boys have known the blessing of a sister had not this gentle +stranger come to teach them what it was. If I could show you Emily's +face, with her dark hair smoothed away from her forehead, you would be +pleased with her look of simplicity and loving kindness, but might think +that she was somewhat too grave for a child of seven years old. But you +would not love her the less for that. + +So brother George and this loving little girl were to be Edward's +companions and playmates while he should be kept prisoner in the dark +chamber. When the first bitterness of his grief was over he began to +feel that, there might be some comforts and enjoyments in life even for +a boy whose eyes were covered with a bandage. + +"I thank you, dear mother," said he, with only a few sobs; "and you, +Emily; and you too, George. You will all be very kind to me, I know. +And my father,--will not he come and see me every day?" + +"Yes, my dear boy," said Mr. Temple; for, though invisible to Edward, he +was standing close beside him. "I will spend some hours of every day +with you. And as I have often amused you by relating stories and +adventures while you had the use of your eves, I can do the same now +that you are unable to read. Will this please you, Edward?" + +"O, very much," replied Edward. + +"Well, then," said his father, "this evening we will begin the series of +Biographical Stories which I promised you some time ago." + + + +CHAPTER II. + +When evening came, Mr. Temple found Edward considerably revived in +spirits and disposed to be resigned to his misfortune. Indeed, the +figure of the boy, as it was dimly seen by the firelight, reclining in a +well-stuffed easy-chair, looked so very comfortable that many people +might have envied hun. When a man's eyes have grown old with gazing at +the ways of the world, it does not seem such a terrible misfortune to +have them bandaged. + +Little Emily Robinson sat by Edward's side with the air of an +accomplished nurse. As well as the duskiness of the chamber would +permit she watched all his motions and each varying expression of his +face, and tried to anticipate her patient's wishes before his tongue +could utter them. Yet it was noticeable that the child manifested an +indescribable awe and disquietude whenever she fixed her eyes on the +bandage; for, to her simple and affectionate heart, it seemed as if her +dear friend Edward was separated from her because she could not see his +eyes. A friend's eyes tell us many things which could never be spoken +by the tongue. + +George, likewise, looked awkward and confused, as stout and healthy boys +are accustomed to do in the society of the sick or afflicted. Never +having felt pain or sorrow, they are abashed, from not knowing how to +sympathize with the sufferings of others. + +"Well, my dear Edward," inquired Mrs. Temple, "is Your chair quite +comfortable? and has your little nurse provided for all your wants? If +so, your father is ready to begin his stories." + +"O, I am very well now," answered Edward, with a faint smile. "And my +ears have not forsaken me, though my eyes are good for nothing. So +pray, dear father, begin." + +It was Mr. Temple's design to tell the children a series of true +stories, the incidents of which should be taken from the childhood and +early life of eminent people. Thus he hoped to bring George, and +Edward, and Emily into closer acquaintance with the famous persons who +have lived in other times by showing that they also had been children +once. Although Mr. Temple was scrupulous to relate nothing but what was +founded on fact, yet he felt himself at liberty to clothe the incidents +of his narrative in a new coloring, so that his auditors might +understand them the better. + +"My first story," said he, "shall be about a painter of pictures." + +"Dear me!" cried Edward, with a sigh. "I am afraid I shall never look +at pictures any more." + +"We will hope for the best," answered his father. "In the mean time, +you must try to see things within your own mind." + +Mr. Temple then began the following story:-- + + + +BENJAMIN WEST. + +[BORN 1738. DIED 1820] + +In the year 1735 there came into the world, in the town of Springfield, +Pennsylvania, a Quaker infant, from whom his parents and neighbors +looked for wonderful things. A famous preacher of the Society of +Friends had prophesied about little Ben, and foretold that he would be +one of the most remarkable characters that, had appeared on the earth +since the days of William Penn. On this account the eyes of many people +were fixed upon the boy. Some of his ancestors had won great renown in +the old wars of England and France; but it was probably expected that +Ben would become a preacher, and would convert multitudes to the +peaceful doctrines of the Quakers. Friend West and his wife were +thought to be very fortunate in having such a son. + +Little Ben lived to the ripe age of six years without doing anything +that was worthy to be told in history. But one summer afternoon, in his +seventh year, his mother put a fan into his hand and bade him keep the +flies away from the face of a little babe who lay fast asleep in the +cradle. She then left the room. + +The boy waved the fan to and fro and drove away the buzzing flies +whenever they had the impertinence to come near the baby's face. When +they had all flown out of the window or into distant parts of the room, +he bent over the cradle and delighted himself with gazing at the +sleeping infant. It was, indeed, a very pretty sight. The little +personage in the cradle slumbered peacefully, with its waxen hands under +its chin, looking as full of blissful quiet as if angels were singing +lullabies in its ear. Indeed, it must have been dreaming about heaven; +for, while Ben stooped over the cradle, the little baby smiled. + +"How beautiful she looks!" said Ben to himself. "What a pity it is that +such a pretty smile should not last forever!" + +Now Ben, at this period of his life, had never heard of that wonderful +art by which a look, that appears and vanishes in a moment, may be made +to last for hundreds of years. But, though nobody had told him of such +an art, he may be said to have invented it for himself. On a table near +at hand there were pens and paper, and ink of two colors, black and red. +The boy seized a pen and sheet of paper, and, kneeling down beside the +cradle, began to draw a likeness of the infant. While he was busied in +this manner he heard his mother's step approaching, and hastily tried to +conceal the paper. + +"Benjamin, my son, what hast thou been doing?" inquired his mother, +observing marks of confusion in his face. + +At first Ben was unwilling to tell; for he felt as if there might be +something wrong in stealing the baby's face and putting it upon a sheet +of paper. However, as his mother insisted, he finally put the sketch +into her hand, and then hung his head, expecting to be well scolded. +But when the good lady saw what was on the paper, in lines of red and +black ink, she uttered a scream of surprise and joy. + +"Bless me!" cried she. "It is a picture of little Sally!" + +And then she threw her arms round our friend Benjamin, and kissed him so +tenderly that he never afterwards was afraid to show his performances to +his mother. + +As Ben grew older, he was observed to take vast delight in looking at +the lines and forms of nature. For instance, he was greatly pleased +with the blue violets of spring, the wild roses of sumnmer, and the +scarlet cardinal-flowers of early autumn. In the decline of the year, +when the woods were variegated with all the colors of the rainbow, Ben +seemed to desire nothing better than to gaze at them from morn till +night. The purple and golden clouds of sunset were a joy to him. And +he was continually endeavoring to draw the figures of trees, men, +mountains, houses, cattle, geese, ducks, and turkeys, with a piece of +chalk, on barn doors or on the floor. + +In these old times the Mohawk Indians were still numerous in +Pennsylvania. Every year a party of them used to pay a visit to +Springfield, because the wigwams of their ancestors had formerly stood +there. These wild men grew fond of little Ben, and made him very happy +by giving him some of the red and yellow paint with which they were +accustomed to adorn their faces. His mother, too, presented him with a +piece of indigo. Thus he now had three colors,--red, blue, and yellow, +--and could manufacture green by mixing the yellow with the blue. Our +friend Ben was overjoyed, and doubtless showed his gratitude to the +Indians by taking their likenesses in the strange dresses which they +wore, with feathers, tomahawks, and bows and arrows. + +But all this time the young artist had no paint-brushes; nor were there +any to be bought, unless he had sent to Philadelphia on purpose. +However, he was a very ingenious boy, aid resolved to manufacture paint- +brushes for himself. With this design he laid hold upon--what do you +think? Why, upon a respectable old black cat, who was sleeping quietly +by the fireside. + +"Puss," said little Ben to the cat, "pray give me some of the fur from +the tip of thy tail?" + +Though he addressed the black cat so civilly, yet Ben was determined to +have the fur whether she were willing or not. Puss, who had no great +zeal for the fine arts, would have resisted if she could; but the boy +was armed with his mother's scissors, and very dexterously clipped off +fur enough to make a paint-brush. This was of so much use to him that +be applied to Madame Puss again and again, until her warm coat of fur +had become so thin and ragged that she could hardly keep comfortable +through the winter. Poor thing! she was forced to creep close into the +chimney-corner, and eyed Ben with a very rueful physiognomy. But Ben +considered it more necessary that he should have paint-brushes than that +puss should be warm. + +About this period friend West received a visit from Mr. Pennington, a +merchant of Philadelphia, who was likewise a member of the Society of +Friends. The visitor, on entering the parlor, was surprised to see it +ornamented with drawings of Indian chiefs, and of birds with beautiful +plumage, and of the wild flowers of the forest. Nothing of the kind was +ever seen before in the habitation of a Quaker farmer. + +"Why, Friend West," exclaimed the Philadelphia merchant, "what has +possessed thee to cover thy walls with all these pictures? Where on +earth didst then get them?" + +Then Friend West explained that all these pictures were painted by +little Ben, with no better materials than red and yellow ochre and a +piece of indigo, and with brushes made of the black cat's fur. + +"Verily," said Mr. Pennington, "the boy hath a wonderful faculty. Some +of our friends might look upon these matters as vanity; but little +Benjamin appears to have been born a painter; and Providence is wiser +than we are." + +The good merchant patted Benjamin on the head, and evidently considered +him a wonderful boy. When his parents saw how much their son's +performances were admired, they, no doubt, remembered the prophecy of +the old Quaker preacher respecting Ben's future eminence. Yet they +could not understand how he was ever to become a very great and useful +man merely by making pictures. + +One evening, shortly after Mr. Pennington's return to Philadelphia, a +package arrived at Springfield, directed to our little friend Ben. + +"What can it possibly be?" thought Ben, when it was put into his hands. +"Who can have sent me such a great square package as this?" + +On taking off the thick brown paper which enveloped it, behold! there +was a paint-box, with a great many cakes of paint, and brushes of +various sizes. It was the gift of good Mr. Pennington. There were +likewise several squares of canvas such as artists use for painting +pictures upon, and, in addition to all these treasures, some beautiful +engravings of landscapes. These were the first pictures that Ben had +ever seen, except those of his own drawing. + +What a joyful evening was this for the little artist! At bedtime he put +the paint-box under his pillow, and got hardly a wink of sleep; for, all +night long, his fancy was painting pictures in the darkness. In the +morning he hurried to the garret, and was seen no more till the dinner- +hour; nor did he give himself time to eat more than a mouthful or two of +food before he hurried back to the garret again. The next day, and the +next, he was just as busy as ever; until at last his mother thought it +time to ascertain what he was about. She accordingly followed him to +the garret. + +On opening the door, the first object that presented itself to her eyes +was our friend Benjamin, giving the last touches to a beautiful picture. +He had copied portions of two of the engravings, and made one picture +out of both, with such admirable skill that it was far more beautiful +than the originals. The grass, the trees, the water, the sky, and the +houses were all painted in their proper colors. There, too, where the +sunshine and the shadow, looking as natural as life. + +"My dear child, thou hast done wonders!" cried his mother. + +The good lady was in an ecstasy of delight. And well might she be proud +of her boy; for there were touches in this picture which old artists, +who had spent a lifetime in the business, need not have been ashamed of. +Many a year afterwards, this wonderful production was exhibited at the +Royal Academy in London. + +When Benjamin was quite a large lad he was sent to school at +Philadelphia. Not long after his arrival he had a slight attack of +fever, which confined him to his bed. The light, which would otherwise +have disturbed him, was excluded from his chamber by means of closed +wooden shutters. At first it appeared so totally dark that Ben could +not distinguish any object in the room. By degrees, however, his eyes +became accustomed to the scanty light. + +He was lying on his back, looking up towards the ceiling, when suddenly +he beheld the dim apparition of a white cow moving slowly over his head! +Ben started, and rubbed his eyes in the greatest amazement. + +"What can this mean?" thought he. + +The white cow disappeared; and next came several pigs, which trotted +along the ceiling and vanished into the darkness of the chamber. So +lifelike did these grunters look that Ben almost seemed to hear them +squeak. + +"Well, this is very strange!" said Ben to himself. + +When the people of the house came to see him, Benjamin told them of the +marvellous circumstance which had occurred. But they would not believe +him. + +"Benjamin, thou art surely out of thy senses!" cried they. "How is it +possible that a white cow and a litter of pigs should be visible on the +ceiling of a dark chamber?" + +Ben, however, had great confidence in his own eyesight, and was +determined to search the mystery to the bottom. For this purpose, when +he was again left alone, he got out of bed and examined the window- +shutters. He soon perceived a small chink in one of them, through which +a ray of light found its passage and rested upon the ceiling. Now, the +science of optics will inform us that the pictures of the white cow and +the pigs, and of other objects out of doors, came into the dark chamber +through this narrow chink, and were painted over Benjamin's head. It is +greatly to his credit that he discovered the scientific principle of +this phenomenon, and by means of it constructed a camera-obscura, or +magic-lantern, out of a hollow box. This was of great advantage to him +in drawing landscapes. + +Well, time went on, and Benjamin continued to draw and paint pictures +until he had now reached the age when it was proper that he should +choose a business for life. His father and mother were in considerable +perplexity about him. According to the ideas of the Quakers, it is not +right for people to spend their lives in occupations that are of no real +and sensible advantage to the world. Now, what advantage could the +world expect from Benjamin's pictures? This was a difficult question; +and, in order to set their minds at rest, his parents determined to +consult the preachers and wise men of their society. Accordingly, they +all assembled in the meeting-house, and discussed the matter from +beginning to end. + +Finally they came to a very wise decision. It seemed so evident that +Providence had created Benjamin to be a painter, and had given him +abilities which would be thrown away in any other business, that the +Quakers resolved not to oppose his inclination. They even acknowledged +that the sight of a beautiful picture might convey instruction to the +mind and might benefit the heart as much as a good book or a wise +discourse. They therefore committed the youth to the direction of God, +being well assured that he best knew what was his proper sphere of +usefulness. The old men laid their hands upon Benjamin's head and gave +him their blessing, and the women kissed him affectionately. All +consented that he should go forth into the world and learn to be a +painter by studying the best pictures of ancient and modern times. + +So our friend Benjamin left the dwelling of his parents, and his native +woods and streams, and the good Quakers of Springfield, and the Indians +who had given him his first colors; he left all the places and persons +whom he had hitherto known, and returned to them no more. He went first +to Philadelphia, and afterwards to Europe. Here he was noticed by many +great people, but retained all the sobriety and simplicity which he had +learned among the Quakers. It is related of him, that, when he was +presented at the court of the Prince of Parma, he kept his hat upon his +head even while kissing the Prince's hand. + +When he was twenty-five years old he went to London and established +himself there as all artist. In due course of time he acquired great +fame by his pictures, and was made chief painter to King George III. +and president of the Royal Academy of Arts. When the Quakers of +Pennsylvania heard of his success, they felt that the prophecy of the +old preacher as to little Ben's future eminence was now accomplished. +It is true, they shook their heads at his pictures of battle and +bloodshed, such as the Death of Wolfe, thinking that these terrible +scene, should not be held up to the admiration of the world. + +But they approved of the great paintings in which he represented the +miracles and sufferings of the Redeemer of mankind. King George +employed him to adorn a large and beautiful chapel at Windsor Castle +with pictures of these sacred subjects. He likewise painted a +magnificent picture of Christ Healing the Sick, which he gave to the +hospital at Philadelphia. It was exhibited to the public, and produced +so much profit that the hospital was enlarged so as to accommodate +thirty more patients. If Benjamin West had done no other good deed than +this, yet it would have been enough to entitle him to an honorable +remembrance forever. At this very day there are thirty poor people in +the hospital who owe all their comforts to that same picture.. + +We shall mention only a single incident more. The picture of Christ +Healing the Sick was exhibited at the Royal Academy in London, where it +covered a vast space and displayed a multitude of figures as large as +life. On the wall, close beside this admirable picture, hung a small +and faded landscape. It was the same that little Ben had painted in his +father's garret, after receiving the paint-box and engravings from good +Mr. Pennington. + +He lived many years in peace and honor, and died in 1820, at the age of +eighty-two. The story of his life is almost as wonderful as a fairy +tale; for there are few stranger transformations than that of a little +unknown Quaker boy, in the wilds of America, into the most distinguished +English painter of his day. Let us each make the best use of our +natural abilities as Benjamin West did; and, with the blessing of +Providence, we shall arrive at some good end. As for fame, it is but +little matter whether we acquire it or not. + +"Thank you for the story, my dear father," said Edward, when it was +finished. "Do you know that it seems as if I could see things without +the help of my eyes? While you were speaking I have seen little Bert, +and the baby in its cradle, and the Indians, and the white cow, and the +pigs, and kind Mr. Pennington, and all the good old Quakers, almost as +plainly as if they were in this very room." + +"It is because your attention was not disturbed by outward objects," +replied Mr. Temple. "People, when deprived of sight, often have more +vivid ideas than those who possess the perfect use of their eyes. I +will venture to say that George has not attended to the story quite so +closely." + +"No, indeed," said George; "but it was a very pretty story for all that. +How I should have laughed to see Ben making a paint-brush out of the +black cat's tail! I intend to try the experiment with Emily's kitten." + +"O no, no, George!" cried Emily, earnestly. "My kitten cannot spare her +tail." + +Edward being an invalid, it was now time for him to retire to bed. When +the family bade him good night he turned his face towards them, looking +very loath to part. + +"I shall not know when morning comes," said he, sorrowfully. "And +besides, I want to hear your voices all the time; for, when nobody is +speaking, it seems as if I were alone in a dark world." + +"You must have faith, my dear child," replied his mother. "Faith is the +soul's eyesight; and when we possess it the world is never dark nor +lonely." + + + +CHAPTER III. + + + +The next day Edward began to get accustomed to his new condition of +life. Once, indeed, when his parents were out of the way and only +Emily was left to take care of him, he could not resist the temptation +to thrust aside the bandage and peep at the anxious face of his little +nurse. But, in spite of the dimness of the chamber, the experiment +caused him so much pain that he felt no inclination to take another +look. So, with a deep sigh, here signed himself to his fate. + +"Emily, pray talk to me!" said he, somewhat impatiently. + +Now, Emily was a remarkably silent little girl, and did not possess that +liveliness of disposition which renders some children such excellent +companions. She seldom laughed, and had not the faculty of making many +words about small matters. But the love and earnestness of her heart +taught her how to amuse poor Edward in his darkness. She put her +knitting-work into his hands. + +"You must learn how to knit," said she. + +"What! without using my eyes?" cried Edward. + +"I can knit with my eyes shut," replied Emily. + +Then with her own little hands she guided Edward's fingers while he set +about this new occupation. So awkward were his first attempts that any +other little girl would have laughed heartily. But Emily preserved her +gravity, and showed the utmost patience in taking up the innumerable +stitches which he let down. In the course of an hour or two his +progress was quite encouraging. + +When evening came, Edward acknowledged that the day had been far less +wearisome than he anticipated. But he was glad, nevertheless, when his +father and mother, and George and Emily, all took their seats around his +chair. He put out his hand to grasp each of their hands, and smiled +with a very bright expression upon his lips. + +"Now I can see you all with my mind's eye," said he. "And now, father, +pray tell us another story." + +So Mr. Temple began. + + +SIR ISAAC NEWTON. + +[BORN 1642, DIED 1727] + +On Christmas day, in the year 1642, Isaac Newton was born at the small +village of Woolsthorpe, in England. Little did his mother think, when +she beheld her newborn babe, that he was destined to explain many +matters which had been a mystery ever since the creation of the world. + +Isaac's father being dead, Mrs. Newton was married again to a clergyman, +and went to reside at North Witham. Her son was left to the care of his +good old grandmother, who was very kind to him and sent him to school. +In his early years Isaac did not appear to be a very bright scholar, but +was chiefly remarkable for his ingenuity in all mechanical occupations. +He had a set of little tools and saws of various sizes manufactured by +himself. With the aid of these Isaac contrived to make many curious +articles, at which he worked with so much skill that he seemed to have +been born with a saw or chisel in hand. + +The neighbors looked with vast admiration at the things which Isaac +manufactured. And his old grandmother, I suppose, was never weary of +talking about him. + +"He'll make a capital workman one of these days," she would probably +say. "No fear but what Isaac will do well in the world and be a rich +man before he dies." + +It is amusing to conjecture what were the anticipations of his +grandmother and the neighbors about Isaac's future life. Some of them, +perhaps, fancied that he would make beautiful furniture of mahogany, +rosewood, or polished oak, inlaid with ivory and ebony, and +magnificently gilded. And then, doubtless, all the rich people would +purchase these fine things to adorn their drawing-rooms. Others +probably thought that little Isaac was destined to be an architect, and +would build splendid mansions for the nobility and gentry, and churches +too, with the tallest steeples that had ever been seen in England. + +Some of his friends, no doubt, advised Isaac's grandmother to apprentice +him to a clock-maker; for, besides his mechanical skill, the boy seemed +to have a taste for mathematics, which would be very useful to him in +that profession. And then, in due time, Isaac would set up for himself, +and would manufacture curious clocks, like those that contain sets of +dancing figures, which issue from the dial-plate when the hour is +struck; or like those where a ship sails across the face of the clock, +and is seen tossing up and down on the waves as often as the pendulum +vibrates. + +Indeed, there was some ground for supposing that Isaac would devote +himself to the manufacture of clocks; since he had already made one, of +a kind which nobody had ever heard of before. It was set a-going, not +by wheels and weights like other clocks, but by the dropping of water. +This was an object of great wonderment to all the people round about; +and it must be confessed that there are few boys, or men either, who +could contrive to tell what o'clock it is by means of a bowl of water. + +Besides the water-clock, Isaac made a sundial. Thus his grandmother was +never at a loss to know the hour; for the water-clock would tell it in +the shade, and the dial in the sunshine. The sundial is said to be +still in existence at Woolsthorpe, on the corner of the house where +Isaac dwelt. If so, it must have marked the passage of every sunny hour +that has elapsed since Isaac Newton was a boy. It marked all the famous +moments of his life; it marked the hour of his death; and still the +sunshine creeps slowly over it, as regularly as when Isaac first set it +up. + +Yet we must not say that the sundial has lasted longer than its maker; +for Isaac Newton will exist long after the dial--yes, and long after the +sun itself--shall have crumbled to decay. + +Isaac possessed a wonderful faculty of acquiring knowledge by the +simplest means. For instance, what method do you suppose he took to +find out the strength of the wind? You will never guess how the boy +could compel that unseen, inconstant, and ungovernable wonder, the wind, +to tell him the measure of its strength. Yet nothing can be more +simple. He jumped against the wind; and by the length of his jump he +could calculate the force of a gentle breeze, a brisk gale, or a +tempest. Thus, even in his boyish sports, he was continually searching +out the secrets of philosophy. + +Not far from his grandmother's residence there was a windmill which +operated on a new plan. Isaac was in the habit of going thither +frequently, and would spend whole hours in examining its various parts. +While the mill was at rest he pried into its internal machinery. When +its broad sails were set in motion by the wind, he watched the process +by which the mill-stones were made to revolve and crush the grain that +was put into the hopper. After gaining a thorough knowledge of its +construction he was observed to be unusually busy with his tools. + +It was not long before his grandmother and all the neighborhood knew +what Isaac had been about. He had constructed a model of the windmill. +Though not so large, I suppose, as one of the box traps which boys set +to catch squirrels, yet every part of the mill and is machinery was +complete. Its little sails were neatly made of linen, and whirled round +very swiftly when the mill was placed in a draught of air. Even a puff +of wind from Isaac's mouth or from a pair of bellows was sufficient to +set the sails in motion. And, what was most curious, if a handful of +grains of wheat were put into the little hopper, they would soon be +converted into snow-white flour. + +Isaac's playmates were enchanted with his new windmill. They thought +that nothing so pretty and so wonderful had ever been seen in the whole +world. + +"But, Isaac," said one of them, "you have forgotten one thing that +belongs to a mill." + +"What is that?" asked Isaac; for he supposed that, from the roof of the +mill to its foundation, he had forgotten nothing. + +"Why, where is the miller?" said his friend. + +"That is true,--I must look out for one," said Isaac; and he set himself +to consider how the deficiency should be supplied. + +He might easily have made the miniature figure of a man; but then it +would not have been able to move about and perform the duties of a +miller. As Captain Lemuel Gulliver had not yet discovered the island of +Lilliput, Isaac did not know that there were little men in the world +whose size was just suited to his windmill. It so happened, however, +that a mouse had just been caught in the trap; and, as no other miller +could be found, Mr. Mouse was appointed to that important office. The +new miller made a very respectable appearance in his dark gray coat. To +be sure, he had not a very good character for honesty, and was suspected +of sometimes stealing a portion of the grain which was given him to +grind. But perhaps some two-legged millers are quite as dishonest as +this small quadruped. + +As Isaac grew older, it was found that he had far more important matters +in his mind than the manufacture of toys like the little windmill. All +day long, if left to himself, he was either absorbed in thought or +engaged in some book of mathematics or natural philosophy. At night, I +think it probable, he looked up with reverential curiosity to the stars, +and wondered whether they were worlds like our own, and how great was +their distance from the earth, and what was the power that kept them in +their courses. Perhaps, even so early in life, Isaac Newton felt a +presentiment that he should be able, hereafter, to answer all these +questions. + +When Isaac was fourteen years old, his mother's second husband being now +dead, she wished her son to leave school and assist her in managing the +farm at Woolsthorpe. For a year or two, therefore, he tried to turn his +attention to farming. But his mind was so bent on becoming a scholar +that his mother sent him back to school, and afterwards to the +University of Cambridge. + +I have now finished my anecdotes of Isaac Newton's boyhood. My story +would be far too long were I to mention all the splendid discoveries +which he made after he came to be a man. He was the first that found +out the nature of light; for, before his day, nobody could tell what the +sunshine was composed of. You remember, I suppose, the story of an +apple's falling on his head, and thus leading him to discover the force +of gravitation, which keeps the heavenly bodies in their courses. When +he had once got hold of this idea, he never permitted his mind to rest +until he had searched out all the laws by which the planets are guided +through the sky. This he did as thoroughly as if he had gone up among +the stars and tracked them in their orbits. The boy had found out the +mechanism of a windmill; the man explained to his fellow-men the +mechanism of the universe. + +While making these researches he was accustomed to spend night after +night in a lofty tower, gazing at the heavenly bodies through a +telescope. His mind was lifted far above the things of this world. +He may be said, indeed, to have spent the greater part of his life in +worlds that lie thousands and millions of miles away; for where the +thoughts and the heart are, there is our true existence. + +Did you never hear the story of Newton and his little dog Diamond? +One day, when he was fifty years old, and had been hard at work more +than twenty years studying the theory of light, he went out of his +chamber, leaving his little dog asleep before the fire. On the table +lay a heap of manuscript papers, containing all the discoveries which +Newton had made during those twenty years. When his master was gone, up +rose little Diamond, jumped upon the table, and overthrew the lighted +candle. The papers immediately caught fire. + +Just as the destruction was completed Newton opened the chamber door, +and perceived that the labors of twenty years were reduced to a heap of +ashes. There stood little Diamond, the author of all the mischief. +Almost any other man would have sentenced the dog to immediate death. +But Newton patted him on the head with his usual kindness, although +grief was at his heart. + +"O Diamond, Diamond," exclaimed he, "thou little knowest the mischief +then hast done!" + +This incident affected his health and spirits for some time afterwards; +but, from his conduct towards the little dog, you may judge what was the +sweetness of his temper. + +Newton lived to be a very old man, and acquired great renown, and was +made a member of Parliament, and received the honor of knighthood from +the king. But he cared little for earthly fame and honors, and felt no +pride in the vastness of his knowledge. All that he had learned only +made him feel how little he knew in comparison to what remained to be +known. + +"I seem to myself like a child," observed he, "playing on the sea-shore, +and picking up here and there a curious shell or a pretty pebble, while +the boundless ocean of Truth lies undiscovered before me." + +At last, in 1727, when he was fourscore and five years old, Sir Isaac +Newton died,--or rather, he ceased to live on earth. We may be +permitted to believe that he is still searching out the infinite wisdom +and goodness of the Creator as earnestly, and with even more success, +than while his spirit animated a mortal body. He has left a fame behind +him which will be as endurable as if his name were written in letters of +light formed by the stars upon the midnight sky. + +"I love to hear about mechanical contrivances, such as the water-clock +and the little windmill," remarked George. "I suppose, if Sir Isaac +Newton had only thought of it, he might have found out the steam-engine, +and railroads, and all the other famous inventions that have come into +use since his day." + +"Very possibly he might," replied Mr. Temple; "and no doubt a great many +people would think it more useful to manufacture steam-engines than to +search out the system of the universe. Other great astronomers besides +Newton have been endowed with mechanical genius. There was David +Rittenhouse, an American,--lie made a perfect little water-mill when he +was only seven or eight years old. But this sort of ingenuity is but a +mere trifle in comparison with the other talents of such men." + +"It must have been beautiful," said Edward, "to spend whole nights in a +high tower as Newton did, gazing at the stars, and the comets, and the +meteors. But what would Newton have done had he been blind? or if his +eyes had been no better than mine?" + +"Why, even then, my dear child," observed Mrs. Temple, "he would have +found out some way of enlightening his mind and of elevating his soul. +But come; little Emily is waiting to bid you good night. You must go to +sleep and dream of seeing all our faces." + +"But how sad it will be when I awake!" murmured Edward. + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +In the course of the next day the harmony of our little family was +disturbed by something like a quarrel between George and Edward. + +The former, though he loved his brother dearly, had found it quite too +great a sacrifice of his own enjoyments to spend all his play-time in a +darkened chamber. Edward, on the other hand, was inclined to be +despotic. He felt as if his bandaged eyes entitled him to demand that +everybody who enjoyed the blessing of sight should contribute to his +comfort and amusement. He therefore insisted that George, instead of +going out to play at football, should join with himself and Emily in a +game of questions and answers. + +George resolutely refused, and ran out of the house. He did not revisit +Edward's chamber till the evening, when he stole in, looking confused, +yet somewhat sullen, and sat down beside his father's chair. It was +evident, by a motion of Edward's head and a slight trembling of his +lips, that he was aware of George's entrance, though his footsteps had +been almost inaudible. Emily, with her serious and earnest little face, +looked from one to the other, as if she longed to be a messenger of +peace between them. + +Mr. Temple, without seeming to notice any of these circumstances, began +a story. + +SAMUEL JOHNSON + +[BORN 1709 DIED 1784.] + +"Sam," said Mr. Michael Johnson, of Lichfield, one morning, "I am very +feeble and ailing to-day. You must go to Uttoxeter in my stead, and +tend the bookstall in the market-place there." + +This was spoken above a hundred years ago, by an elderly man, who had +once been a thriving bookseller at Lichfield, in England. Being now in +reduced circumstances, he was forced to go every market-day and sell +books at a stall, in the neighboring village of Uttoxeter. + +His son, to whom Mr. Johnson spoke, was a great boy, of very singular +aspect. He had an intelligent face; but it was seamed and distorted by +a scrofulous humor, which affected his eyes so badly that sometimes he +was almost blind. Owing to the same cause his head would often shake +with a tremulous motion as if he were afflicted with the palsy. When +Sam was an infant, the famous Queen Anne had tried to cure him of this +disease by laying her royal hands upon his head. But though the touch +of a king or queen was supposed to be a certain remedy for scrofula, it +produced no good effect upon Sam Johnson. + +At the time which we speak of the poor lad was not very well dressed, +and wore shoes from which his toes peeped out; for his old father had +barely the means of supporting his wife and children. But, poor as the +family were, young Sam Johnson had as much pride as any nobleman's son +in England. The fact was, he felt conscious of uncommon sense and +ability, which, in his own opinion, entitled him to great respect from +the world. Perhaps he would have been glad if grown people had treated +him as reverentially as his schoolfellows did. Three of them were +accustomed to come for him every morning; and while he sat upon the back +of one, the two others supported him on each side; and thus he rode to +school in triumph. + +Being a personage of so much importance, Sam could not bear the idea of +standing all day in Uttoxeter market offering books to the rude and +ignorant country people. Doubtless he felt the more reluctant on +account of his shabby clothes, and the disorder of his eyes, and the +tremulous motion of his head. + +When Mr. Michael Johnson spoke, Sam pouted and made an indistinct +grumbling in his throat; then he looked his old father in the face and +answered him loudly and deliberately. + +"Sir," said he, "I will not go to Uttoxeter market!" + +Mr. Johnson had seen a great deal of the lad's obstinacy ever since his +birth; and while Sam was younger, the old gentleman had probably used +the rod whenever occasion seemed to require. But he was now too feeble +and too much out of spirits to contend with this stubborn and violent- +tempered boy. He therefore gave up the point at once, and prepared to +go to Uttoxeter himself. + +"Well, Sam," said Mr. Johnson, as he took his hat and staff, "if for the +sake of your foolish pride you can suffer your poor sick father to stand +all day in the noise and confusion of the market when he ought to be in +his bed, I have no more to say. But you will think of this, Sam, when I +am dead and gone." + +So the poor old man (perhaps with a tear in his eye, but certainly with +sorrow in his heart) set forth towards Uttoxeter. The gray-haired, +feeble, melancholy Michael Johnson! How sad a thing it was that he +should be forced to go, in his sickness, and toil for the support of an +ungrateful son who was too proud to do anything for his father, or his +mother, or himself! Sam looked after Mr. Johnson with a sullen +countenance till he was out of sight. + +But when the old man's figure, as he went stooping along the street, was +no more to be seen, the boy's heart began to smite him. He had a vivid +imagination, and it tormented him with the image of his father standing +in the market-place of Uttoxeter and offering his books to the noisy +crowd around him. Sam seemed to behold him arranging his literary +merchandise upon the stall in such a way as was best calculated to +attract notice. Here was Addison's Spectator, a long row of little +volumes; here was Pope's translation of the Iliad and Odyssey; here were +Dryden's poems, or those of Prior. Here, likewise, were Gulliver's +Travels, and a variety of little gilt-covered children's books, such as +Tom Thumb, Jack the Giant Queller, Mother Goose's Melodies, and others +which our great-grandparents used to read in their childhood. And here +were sermons for the pious, and pamphlets for the politicians, and +ballads, some merry and some dismal ones, for the country people to +sing. + +Sam, in imagination, saw his father offer these books, pamphlets, and +ballads, now to the rude yeomen who perhaps could not read a word; now +to the country squires, who cared for nothing but to hunt hares and +foxes; now to the children, who chose to spend their coppers for sugar- +plums or gingerbread rather than for picture-books. And if Mr. Johnson +should sell a book to man, woman, or child, it would cost him an hour's +talk to get a profit of only sixpence. + +"My poor father!" thought Sam to himself. "How his head will ache! and +how heavy his heart will be! I am almost sorry that I did not do as he +bade me." + +Then the boy went to his mother, who was busy about the house. She did +not know of what had passed between Mr. Johnson and Sam. + +"Mother," said he, "did you think father seemed very ill to-day?" + +"Yes, Sam," answered his mother, turning with a flushed face from the +fire, where she was cooking their scanty dinner. "Your father did look +very ill; and it is a pity he did not send you to Uttoxeter in his +stead. You are a great boy now, and would rejoice, I am sure, to do +something for your poor father, who has done so much for you." + +The lad made no reply. But again his imagination set to work and +conjured up another picture of poor Michael Johnson. He was standing in +the hot sunshine of the market-place, and looking so weary, sick, and +disconsolate, that the eyes of all the crowd were drawn to him. "Had +this old man no son," the people would say among themselves, "who might +have taken his place at the bookstall while the father kept his bed?" +And perhaps, but this was a terrible thought for Sam!--perhaps his +father would faint away and fall down in the marketplace, with his gray +hair in the dust and his venerable face as deathlike as that of a +corpse. And there would be the bystanders gazing earnestly at Mr. +Johnson and whispering, "Is he dead? Is he dead?" + +And Sam shuddered as he repeated to himself, "Is he dead?" + +"O, I have been a cruel son!" thought he, within his own heart. "God +forgive me! God forgive me!" + +But God could not yet forgive him; for he was not truly penitent. Had +he been so, he would have hastened away that very moment to Uttoxeter, +and have fallen at his father's feet, even in the midst of the crowded +market-place. There he would have confessed his fault, and besought Mr. +Johnson to go home and leave the rest of the day's work to him. But +such was Sam's pride and natural stubbornness that he could not bring +himself to this humiliation. Yet he ought to have done so, for his own +sake, for his father's sake, and for God's sake. + +After sunset old Michael Johnson came slowly home and sat down in his +customary chair. He said nothing to Sam; nor do I know that a single +word ever passed between them on the subject of the son's disobedience. +In a few years his father died, and left Sam to fight his way through +the world by himself. It would make our story much too long were I to +tell you even a few of the remarkable events of Sam's life. Moreover, +there is the less need of this, because many books have been written +about that poor boy, and the fame that he acquired, and all that he did +or talked of doing after he came to be a man. + +But one thing I must not neglect to say. From his boyhood upward until +the latest day of his life he never forgot the story of Uttoxeter +market. Often when he was a scholar of the University of Oxford, or +master of an academy at Edial, or a writer for the London booksellers,-- +in all his poverty and toil and in all his success,--while he was +walking the streets without a shilling to buy food, or when the greatest +men of England were proud to feast him at their table,--still that heavy +and remorseful thought came back to him, "I was cruel to my poor father +in his illness!" Many and many a time, awake or in his dreams, he +seemed to see old Michael Johnson standing in the dust and confusion of +the market-place and pressing his withered hand to his forehead as if it +ached. + +Alas! my dear children, it is a sad thing to have such a thought as this +to bear us company through life. + +Though the story was but half finished, yet, as it was longer than +usual, Mr. Temple here made a short pause. He perceived that Emily was +in tears, and Edward turned his half-veiled face towards the speaker +with an air of great earnestness and interest. As for George, he had +withdrawn into the dusky shadow behind his father's chair. + + + +CHAPTER V. + +In a few moments Mr. Temple resumed the story, as follows:-- + + +SAMUEL JOHNSON. + +[CONTINUED] + +Well, my children, fifty years had passed away since young Sam Johnson +had shown himself so hard-hearted towards his father. It was now +market-day in the village of Uttoxeter. + +In the street of the village you might see cattle-dealers with cows and +oxen for sale, and pig-drovers with herds of squeaking swine, and +farmers with cartloads of cabbages, turnips, onions, and all other +produce of the soil. Now and then a farmer's red-faced wife trotted +along on horseback, with butter and cheese in two large panniers. The +people of the village, with country squires, and other visitors from the +neighborhood, walked hither and thither, trading, jesting, quarrelling, +and making just such a bustle as their fathers and grandfathers had made +half a century before. + +In one part of the street there was a puppet-show with a ridiculous +merry-andrew, who kept both grown people and children in a roar of +laughter. On the opposite side was the old stone church of Uttoxeter, +with ivy climbing up its walls and partly obscuring its Gothic windows. + +There was a clock in the gray tower of the ancient church, and the hands +on the dial-plate had now almost reached the hour of noon. At this +busiest hour of the market a strange old gentleman was seen making his +way among the crowd, he was very tall and bulky, and wore a brown coat +and small-clothes, with black worsted stockings and buckled shoes. On +his head was a three cornered hat, beneath which a bushy gray wig thrust +itself out, all in disorder. The old gentleman elbowed the people +aside, and forced his way through the midst of them with a singular kind +of gait, rolling his body hither and thither, so that he needed twice as +much room as any other person there. + +"Make way, sir!" he would cry out, in a loud, harsh voice, when somebody +happened to interrupt his progress. "Sir, you intrude your person into +the public thoroughfare!" + +"What a queer old fellow this is!" muttered the people among themselves, +hardly knowing whether to laugh or to be angry. + +But when they looked into the venerable stranger's face, not the most +thoughtless among them dared to offer him the least impertinence. +Though his features were scarred and distorted with the scrofula, and +though his eyes were dim and bleared, yet there was something of +authority and wisdom in his look, which impressed them all with awe. So +they stood aside to let him pass; and the old gentleman made his way +across the market-place, and paused near the corner of the ivy-mantled +church. Just as he reached it the clock struck twelve. + +On the very spot of ground where the stranger now stood some aged people +remembered that old Michael Johnson had formerly kept his book-stall. +The little children who had once bought picture-books of him were +grandfathers now. + +"Yes; here is the very spot!" muttered the old gentleman to himself. + +There this unknown personage took his stand and removed the three- +cornered hat from his head. It was the busiest hour of the day. What +with the hum of human voices, the lowing of cattle, the squeaking of +pigs, and the laughter caused by the merry-andrew, the marketplace was +in very great confusion. But the stranger seemed not to notice it any +more than if the silence of a desert were around him. He was rapt in +his own thoughts. Sometimes he raised his furrowed brow to heaven, as +if in prayer; sometimes he bent his head, as if an insupportable weight +of sorrow were upon him. It increased the awfulness of his aspect that +there was a motion of his head and an almost continual tremor throughout +his frame, with singular twitches and contortions of his features. + +The hot sun blazed upon his unprotected head; but he seemed not to feel +its fervor. A dark cloud swept across the sky and rain-drops pattered +into the market-place; but the stranger heeded not the shower. The +people began to gaze at the mysterious old gentleman with superstitious +fear and wonder. Who could he be? Whence did he come? Wherefore was +he standing bareheaded in the market-place? Even the school-boys left +the merry-andrew and came to gaze, with wide-open eyes, at this tall, +strange-looking old man. + +There was a cattle-drover in the village who had recently made a journey +to the Smithfield market, in London. No sooner had this man thrust his +way through the throng and taken a look at the unknown personage, than +he whispered to one of his acquaintances,-- + +"I say, Neighbor Hutchins, would ye like to know who this old gentleman +is?" + +"Ay, that I would," replied Neighbor Hutchins, "for a queerer chap I +never saw in my life. Somehow it makes me feel small to look at him. +He's more than a common man." + +"You may well say so," answered the cattle-drover. "Why, that's the +famous Doctor Samuel Johnson, who they say is the greatest and +learnedest man in England. I saw him in London streets, walking with +one Mr. Boswell." + +Yes; the poor boy, the friendless Sam, with whom we began our story, had +become the famous Doctor Samuel Johnson. He was universally +acknowledged as the wisest man and greatest writer in all England. He +had given shape and permanence to his native language by his Dictionary. +Thousands upon thousands of people had read his Idler, his Rambler, and +his Rasselas. Noble and wealthy men and beautiful ladies deemed it +their highest privilege to be his companions. Even the King of Great +Britain had sought his acquaintance, and told him what an honor he +considered it that such a man had been born in his dominions. He was +now at the summit of literary renown. + +But all his fame could not extinguish the bitter remembrance which had +tormented him through life. Never never had he forgotten his father's +sorrowful and upbraiding look. Never, though the old man's troubles had +been over so many years, had he forgiven himself for inflicting such a +pang upon his heart. And now, in his old age, he had come hither to do +penance, by standing at noonday, in the market-place of Uttoxeter, on +the very spot where Michael Johnson had once kept his book-stall. The +aged and illustrious man had done what the poor boy refused to do. By +thus expressing his deep repentance and humiliation of heart, he hoped +to gain peace of conscience and the forgiveness of God. + +My dear children, if you have grieved (I will not say your parents, but +if you have grieved) the heart of any human being who has a claim upon +your love, then think of Samuel Johnson's penance. Will it not be +better to redeem the error now than to endure the agony of remorse for +fifty years? Would you not rather say to a brother, "I have erred; +forgive me!" than perhaps to go hereafter and shed bitter tears upon his +grave? + +Hardly was the story concluded when George hastily arose, and Edward +likewise, stretching forth his hands into the darkness that surrounded +him to find his brother. Both accused themselves of unkindness: each +besought the other's forgiveness; and having done so, the trouble of +their hearts vanished away like a dream. + +"I am glad! I am so glad!" said Emily, in a low, earnest voice. "Now I +shall sleep quietly to-night." + +"My sweet child," thought Mrs. Temple as she kissed her, "mayest thou +never know how much strife there is on earth! It would cost thee many a +night's rest." + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +About this period Mr. Temple found it necessary to take a journey, which +interrupted the series of Biographical Stories for several evenings. In +the interval, Edward practised various methods of employing and amusing +his mind. + +Sometimes he meditated upon beautiful objects which he had formerly +seen, until the intensity of his recollection seemed to restore him the +gift of sight and place everything anew before his eyes. Sometimes he +repeated verses of poetry which he did not know to be in his memory +until he found them there just at the time of need. Sometimes he +attempted to solve arithmetical questions which had perplexed him while +at school. + +Then, with his mother's assistance, he learned the letters of the string +alphabet, which is used in some of the institutions for the blind in +Europe. When one of his friends gave him a leaf of St. Mark's Gospel, +printed in embossed characters, he endeavored to read it by passing his +fingers over the letters as blind children do. + +His brother George was now very kind, and spent so much time in the +darkened chamber that Edward often insisted upon his going out to play. +George told him all about the affairs at school, and related many +amusing incidents that happened among his comrades, and informed him +what sports were now in fashion, and whose kite soared the highest, and +whose little ship sailed fleetest on the Frog Pond. As for Emily, she +repeated stories which she had learned from a new book called THE FLOWER +PEOPLE, in which the snowdrops, the violets, the columbines, the roses, +and all that lovely tribe are represented as telling their secrets to a +little girl. The flowers talked sweetly, as flowers should; and Edward +almost fancied that he could behold their bloom and smell their fragrant +breath. + +Thus, in one way or another, the dark days of Edward's confinement +passed not unhappily. In due time his father returned; and the next +evening, when the family were assembled, he began a story. + +"I must first observe, children," said he, "that some writers deny the +truth of the incident which I am about to relate to you. There +certainly is but little evidence in favor of it. Other respectable +writers, however, tell it for a fact; and, at all events, it is an +interesting story, and has an excellent moral." + +So Mr. Temple proceeded to talk about the early days of + + +OLIVER CROMWELL. + +[BORN 1599 DIED 1658.] + +Not long after King James I. took the place of Queen Elizabeth on the +throne of England, there lived an English knight at a place called +Hinchinbrooke. His name was Sir Oliver Cromwell. He spent his life, I +suppose, pretty much like other English knights and squires in those +days, bunting hares and foxes and drinking large quantities of ale and +wine. The old house in which he dwelt had been occupied by his +ancestors before him for a good many years. In it there was a great +hall, hang round with coats of arms and helmets, cuirasses and swords, +which his forefathers had used in battle, and with horns of deer and +tails of foxes which they or Sir Oliver himself had killed in the chase. + +This Sir Oliver Cromwell had a nephew, who had been called Oliver, after +himself, but who was generally known in the family by the name of little +Noll. His father was a younger brother of Sir Oliver. The child was +often sent to visit his uncle, who probably found him a troublesome +little fellow to take care of. He was forever in mischief, and always +running into some danger or other, from which he seemed to escape only +by miracle. + +Even while he was an infant in the cradle a strange accident had +befallen hum. A huge ape, which was kept in the family, snatched up +little Noll in his fore paws and clambered with him to the roof of the +house. There this ugly beast sat grinning at the affrighted spectators, +as if it had done the most praiseworthy thing imaginable. Fortunately, +however, he brought the child safe down again; and the event was +afterwards considered an omen that Noll would reach a very elevated +station in the world. + +One morning, when Noll was five or six years old a royal messenger +arrived at Hinchinbrooke with tidings that King James was coming to dine +with Sir Oliver Cromwell. This was a high honor, to be sure, but a very +great trouble; for all the lords and ladies, knights, squires, guards +and yeomen, who waited on the king, were to be feasted as well as +himself; and more provisions would be eaten and more wine drunk in that +one day than generally in a month. However, Sir Oliver expressed much +thankfulness for the king's intended visit, and ordered his butler and +cook to make the best preparations in their power. So a great fire was +kindled in the kitchen; and the neighbors knew by the smoke which poured +out of the chimney that boiling, baking, stewing, roasting, and frying +were going on merrily. + +By and by the sound of trumpets was heard approaching nearer and nearer; +a heavy, old-fashioned coach, surrounded by guards on horseback, drove +up to the house. Sir Oliver, with his hat in his hand, stood at the +gate to receive the king. His Majesty was dressed in a suit of green +not very new; he had a feather in his hat and a triple ruff round his +neck, and over his shoulder was slung a hunting-horn instead of a sword. +Altogether he had not the most dignified aspect in the world; but the +spectators gazed at him as if there was something superhuman and divine +in his person. They even shaded their eyes with their hands, as if they +were dazzled by the glory of his countenance. + +"How are ye, man?" cried King James, speaking in a Scotch accent; for +Scotland was his native country. "By my crown, Sir Oliver, but I am +glad to see ye!" + +The good knight thanked the king; at the same time kneeling down while +his Majesty alighted. When King James stood on the ground, he directed +Sir Oliver's attention to a little boy who had come with him in the +coach. He was six or seven years old, and wore a hat and feather, and +was more richly dressed than the king himself. Though by no means an +ill-looking child, he seemed shy, or even sulky; and his cheeks were +rather pale, as if he had been kept moping within doors, instead of +being sent out to play in the sun and wind. + +"I have brought my son Charlie to see ye," said the king. "I hope, Sir +Oliver, ye have a son of your own to be his playmate." + +Sir Oliver Cromwell made a reverential bow to the little prince, whom +one of the attendants had now taken out of the coach. It was wonderful +to see how all the spectators, even the aged men with their gray beards, +humbled themselves before this child. They bent their bodies till their +beards almost swept the dust: They looked as if they were ready to kneel +down and worship him. + +The poor little prince! From his earliest infancy not a soul had dared +to contradict him; everybody around him had acted as if he were a +superior being; so that, of course, he had imbibed the same opinion of +himself. He naturally supposed that the whole kingdom of Great Britain +and all its inhabitants had been created solely for his benefit and +amusement. This was a sad mistake; and it cost him dear enough after he +had ascended his father's throne. + +"What a noble little prince he is!" exclaimed Sir Oliver, lifting his +hands in admiration. "No, please your Majesty, I have no son to be the +playmate of his royal highness; but there is a nephew of mine somewhere +about the house. He is near the prince's age, and will be but too happy +to wait upon his royal highness." + +"Send for him, man! send for him!" said the king. + +But, as it happened, there was no need of sending for Master Noll. +While King James was speaking, a rugged, bold-faced, sturdy little +urchin thrust himself through the throng of courtiers and attendants and +greeted the prince with a broad stare. His doublet and hose (which had +been put on new and clean in honor of the king's visit) were already +soiled and torn with the rough play in which he had spent the morning. +He looked no more abashed than if King James were his uncle and the +prince one of his customary playfellows. + +This was little Noll himself. + +"Here, please your Majesty, is my nephew," said Sir Oliver, somewhat +ashamed of Noll's appearance and demeanor. "Oliver, make your obeisance +to the king's majesty." + +The boy made a pretty respectful obeisance to the king; for in those +days children were taught to pay reverence to their elders. King James, +who prided himself greatly on his scholarship, asked Noll a few +questions in the Latin grammar, and then introduced him to his son. The +little prince, in a very grave and dignified manner, extended his hand, +not for Noll to shake, but that he might kneel down and kiss it. + +"Nephew," said Sir Oliver, "pay your duty to the prince." + +"I owe him no duty," cried Noll, thrusting aside the prince's hand with +a rude laugh. "Why should I kiss that boy's hand?" + +All the courtiers were amazed and confounded, and Sir Oliver the most of +all. But the king laughed heartily, saying, that little Noll had a +stubborn English spirit, and that it was well for his son to learn +betimes what sort of a people he was to rule over. + +So King James and his train entered the house; and the prince, with Noll +and some other children, was sent to play in a separate room while his +Majesty was at dinner. The young people soon became acquainted; for +boys, whether the sons of monarchs or of peasants, all like play, and +are pleased with one another's society. What games they diverted +themselves with I cannot tell. Perhaps they played at ball, perhaps at +blind-man's-buff, perhaps at leap-frog, perhaps at prison-bars. Such +games have been in use for hundreds of years; and princes as well as +poor children have spent some of their happiest hours in playing at +them. + +Meanwhile King James and his nobles were feasting with Sir Oliver in the +great hall. The king sat in a gilded chair, under a canopy, at the head +of a long table. Whenever any of the company addressed him, it was with +the deepest reverence. If the attendants offered him wine or the +various delicacies of the festival, it was upon their bended knees. You +would have thought, by these tokens of worship, that the monarch was a +supernatural being; only he seemed to have quite as much need of those +vulgar matters, food and drink, as any other person at the table. But +fate had ordained that good King James should not finish his dinner in +peace. + +All of a sudden there arose a terrible uproar in the room where the +children were at play. Angry shouts and shrill cries of alarm were +mixed up together; while the voices of elder persons were likewise +heard, trying to restore order among the children. The king and +everybody else at table looked aghast; for perhaps the tumult made them +think that a general rebellion had broken out. + +"Mercy on us!" muttered Sir Oliver; "that graceless nephew of mine is in +some mischief or other. The naughty little whelp!" + +Getting up from table, he ran to see what was the matter, followed by +many of the guests, and the king among them. They all crowded to the +door of the playroom. + +On looking in, they beheld the little Prince Charles, with his rich +dress all torn and covered with the dust of the floor. His royal blood +was streaming from his nose in great abundance. He gazed at Noll with a +mixture of rage and affright, and at the same time a puzzled expression, +as if he could not understand how any mortal boy should dare to give him +a beating. As for Noll, there stood his sturdy little figure, bold as a +lion, looking as if he were ready to fight, not only the prince, but the +king and kingdom too. + +"You little villain!" cried his uncle. "What have you been about? Down +on your knees, this instant, and ask the prince's pardon. How dare you +lay your hands on the king's majesty's royal son?" + +"He struck me first," grumbled the valiant little Noll; "and I've only +given him his due." + +Sir Oliver and the guests lifted up their hands in astonishment and +horror. No punishment seemed severe enough for this wicked little +varlet, who had dared to resent a blow from the king's own son. Some of +the courtiers were of opinion that Noll should be sent prisoner to the +Tower of London and brought to trial for high treason. Others, in their +great zeal for the king's service, were about to lay hands on the boy +and chastise him in the royal presence. + +But King James, who sometimes showed a good deal of sagacity, ordered +them to desist. + +"Thou art a bold boy," said he, looking fixedly at little Noll; "and, +if thou live to be a man, my son Charlie would do wisely to be friends +with thee." + +"I never will!" cried the little prince, stamping his foot. + +"Peace, Charlie, peace!" said the king; then addressing Sir Oliver and +the attendants, "Harm not the urchin; for he has taught my son a good +lesson, if Heaven do but give him grace to profit by it. Hereafter, +should he be tempted to tyrannize over the stubborn race of Englishmen, +let him remember little Noll Cromwell and his own bloody nose." + +So the king finished his dinner and departed; and for many a long year +the childish quarrel between Prince Charles and Noll Cromwell was +forgotten. The prince, indeed, might have lived a happier life, and +have met a more peaceful death, had he remembered that quarrel and the +moral which his father drew from it. But when old King James was dead, +and Charles sat upon his throne, he seemed to forget that he was but a +man, and that his meanest subjects were men as well as he. He wished to +have the property and lives of the people of England entirely at his own +disposal. But the Puritans, and all who loved liberty, rose against him +and beat him in many battles, and pulled him down from his throne. + +Throughout this war between the king and nobles on one side and the +people of England on the other there was a famous leader, who did more +towards the ruin of royal authority than all the rest. The contest +seemed like a wrestling-match between King Charles and this strong man. +And the king was overthrown. + +When the discrowned monarch was brought to trial, that warlike leader +sat in the judgment hall. Many judges were present besides himself; but +he alone had the power to save King Charles or to doom him to the +scaffold. After sentence was pronounced, this victorious general was +entreated by his own children, on their knees, to rescue his Majesty +from death. + +"No!" said he, sternly. "Better that one man should perish than that +the whole country should be ruined for his sake. It is resolved that he +shall die!" + +When Charles, no longer a king, was led to the scaffold, his great enemy +stood at a window of the royal palace of Whitehall. He beheld the poor +victim of pride, and an evil education, and misused power, as he laid +his head upon the block. He looked on with a steadfast gaze while a +black-veiled executioner lifted the fatal axe and smote off that +anointed head at a single blow. + +"It is a righteous deed," perhaps he said to himself. + +"Now Englishmen may enjoy their rights." + +At night, when the body of Charles was laid in the coffin, in a gloomy +chamber, the general entered, lighting himself with a torch. Its gleams +showed that he was now growing old; his visage was scarred with the many +battles in which he had led the van; his brow was wrinkled with care and +with the continual exercise of stern authority. Probably there was not +a single trait, either of aspect or manner, that belonged to the little +Noll who had battled so stoutly with Prince Charles. Yet this was he! + +He lifted the coffin-lid, and caused the light of his torch to fall upon +the dead monarch's face. Then, probably, his mind went back over all +the marvellous events that had brought the hereditary King of England to +this dishonored coffin, and had raised himself, a humble individual, to +the possession of kingly power. He was a king, though without the empty +title or the glittering crown. + +"Why was it," said Cromwell to himself, or might have said, as he gazed +at the pale features in the coffin,--"why was it that this great king +fell, and that poor Noll Cromwell has gained all the power of the +realm?" + +And, indeed, why was it? + +King Charles had fallen, because, in his manhood the same as when a +child, he disdained to feel that every human creature was his brother. +He deemed himself a superior being, and fancied that his subjects were +created only for a king to rule over. And Cromwell rose, because, in +spite of his many faults, he mainly fought for the rights and freedom of +his fellow-men; and therefore the poor and the oppressed all lent their +strength to him. + +"Dear father, how I should hate to be a king!" exclaimed Edward. + +"And would you like to be a Cromwell?" inquired his father. + +"I should like it well," replied George; "only I would not have put the +poor old king to death. I would have sent him out of the kingdom, or +perhaps have allowed him to live in a small house near the gate of the +royal palace. It was too severe to cut off his head." + +"Kings are in such an unfortunate position," said Mr. Temple, "that they +must either be almost deified by their subjects, or else be dethroned +and beheaded. In either case it is a pitiable lot." + +"O, I had rather be blind than be a king!" said Edward. + +"Well, my dear Edward," observed his mother, with a smile, "I am glad +you are convinced that your own lot is not the hardest in the world." + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +It was a pleasant sight, for those who had eyes, to see how patiently +the blinded little boy now submitted to what he had at first deemed an +intolerable calamity. The beneficent Creator has not allowed our +comfort to depend on the enjoyment of any single sense. Though he has +made the world so very beautiful, yet it is possible to be happy without +ever be holding the blue sky, or the green and flowery earth, or the +kind faces of those whom we love. Thus it appears that all the external +beauty of the universe is a free gift from God over and above what is +necessary to our comfort. How grateful, then, should we be to that +divine Benevolence, which showers even superfluous bounties upon us! + +One truth, therefore, which Edward's blindness had taught him was, that +his mind and soul could dispense with the assistance of his eyes. +Doubtless, however, he would have found this lesson far more difficult +to learn had it not been for the affection of those around him. His +parents, and George and Emily, aided him to bear his misfortune; if +possible, they would have lent him their own eyes. And this, too, was a +good lesson for him. It taught him how dependent on one another God has +ordained us to be, insomuch that all the necessities of mankind should +incite them to mutual love. + +So Edward loved his friends, and perhaps all the world, better than he +ever did before. And be felt grateful towards his father for spending +the evenings in telling him stories,--more grateful, probably, than any +of my little readers will feel towards me for so carefully writing these +same stories down. + +"Come, dear father," said he, the next evening, "now tell us about some +other little boy who was destined to be a famous man." + +"How would you like a story of a Boston boy?" asked his father. + +"O, pray let us have it!" cried George, eagerly. "It will be all the +better if he has been to our schools, and has coasted on the Common, and +sailed boats in the Frog Pond. I shall feel acquainted with him. +then." + +"Well, then," said Mr. Temple, "I will introduce you to a Boston boy +whom all the world became acquainted with after he grew to be a man." + +The story was as follows:-- + + + +BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. + +[BORN 1706, DIED 1790] + +In the year 1716, or about that period, a boy used to be seen in the +streets of Boston who was known among his schoolfellows and playmates by +the name of Ben Franklin. Ben was born in 1706; so that he was now +about ten years old. His father, who had come over from England, was a +soap-boiler and tallow-chandler, and resided in Milk Street, not far +from the Old South Church. + +Ben was a bright boy at his book, and even a brighter one when at play +with his comrades. He had some remarkable qualities which always seemed +to give him the lead, whether at sport or in more serious matters. I +might tell you a number of amusing anecdotes about him. You are +acquainted, I suppose, with his famous story of the WHISTLE, and how he +bought it, with a whole pocketful of coppers and afterwards repented of +his bargain. But Ben had grown a great boy since those days, and had +gained wisdom by experience; for it was one of his peculiarities, that +no incident ever happened to him without teaching him some valuable +lesson. Thus he generally profited more by his misfortunes than many +people do by the most favorable events that could befall them. + +Ben's face was already pretty well known to the inhabitants of Boston. +The selectmen and other people of note often used to visit his father, +for the sake of talking about the affairs of the town or province. Mr. +Franklin was considered a person of great wisdom and integrity, and was +respected by all who knew him, although he supported his family by the +humble trade of boiling soap and making tallow candles. + +While his father and the visitors were holding deep consultations about +public affairs, little Ben would sit on his stool in a corner, listening +with the greatest interest, as if he understood every word. Indeed, his +features were so full of intelligence that there could be but little +doubt, not only that he understood what was said, but that he could have +expressed some very sagacious opinions out of his own mind. But in +those days boys were expected to be silent in the presence of their +elders. However, Ben Franklin was looked upon as a very promising lad, +who would talk and act wisely by and by. + +"Neighbor Franklin," his father's friends would sometimes say, "you +ought to send this boy to college and make a minister of him." + +"I have often thought of it," his father would reply; "and my brother +Benjamin promises to give him a great many volumes of manuscript +sermons, in case he should be educated for the church. But I have a +large family to support, and cannot afford the expense." + +In fact, Mr. Franklin found it so difficult to provide bread for his +family, that, when the boy was ten years old, it became necessary to +take him from school. Ben was then employed in cutting candle-wicks +into equal lengths and filling the moulds with tallow; and many families +in Boston spent their evenings by the light of the candles which he had +helped to make. Thus, you see, in his early days, as well as in his +manhood, his labors contributed to throw light upon dark matters. + +Busy as his life now was, Ben still found time to keep company with his +former schoolfellows. He and the other boys were very fond of fishing, +and spent many of their leisure hours on the margin of the mill-pond, +catching flounders, perch, eels, and tomcod, which came up thither with +the tide. The place where they fished is now, probably, covered with +stone pavements and brick buildings, and thronged with people and with +vehicles of all kinds. But at that period it was a marshy spot on the +outskirts of the town, where gulls flitted and screamed overhead and +salt-meadow grass grew under foot. + +On the edge of the water there was a deep bed of clay, in which the boys +were forced to stand while they caught their fish. Here they dabbled in +mud and mire like a flock of ducks. + +"This is very uncomfortable," said Ben Franklin one day to his comrades, +while they were standing mid-leg deep in the quagmire. + +"So it is," said the other boys. "What a pity we have no better place +to stand!" + +If it mad not been for Ben, nothing more would have been done or said +about, the matter. Butt it was not in his nature to be sensible of an +inconvenience without using his best efforts to find a remedy. So, as +he and his comrades were returning from the water-side, Ben suddenly +threw down his string of fish with a very determined air. + +"Boys," cried he, "I have thought of a scheme which will be greatly for +our benefit and for the public benefit." + +It was queer enough, to be sure, to hear this little chap--this rosy- +checked, ten-year-old boy--talking about schemes for the public benefit! +Nevertheless, his companions were ready to listen, being assured that +Ben's scheme, whatever it was, would be well worth their attention. +They remembered how sagaciously he had conducted all their enterprises +ever since he had been old enough to wear small-clothes. + +They remembered, too, his wonderful contrivance of sailing across the +mill-pond by lying flat on his back in the water and allowing himself to +be drawn along by a paper kite. If Ben could do that, he might +certainly do anything. + +"What is your scheme, Ben?--what is it?" cried they all. + +It so happened that they had now come to a spot of ground where a new +house was to be built. Scattered round about lay a great many large +stones which were to be used for the cellar and foundation. Ben mounted +upon the highest of these stones, so that he might speak with the more +authority. + +"You know, lads," said he, "what a plague it is to be forced to stand in +the quagmire yonder,--over shoes and stockings (if we wear any) in mud +and water. See! I am bedaubed to the knees of my small-clothes; and you +are all in the same pickle. Unless we can find some remedy for this +evil, our fishing business must be entirely given up. And, surely, this +would be a terrible misfortune!" + +"That it would! that it would!" said his comrades, sorrowfully. + +"Now, I propose," continued Master Benjamin, "that we build a wharf, for +the purpose of carrying on our fisheries. You see these stones. The +workmen mean to use them for the underpinning of a house; but that would +be for only one man's advantage. My plan is to take these same stones +and carry them to the edge of the water and build a wharf with them. +This will not only enable us to carry on the fishing business with +comfort and to better advantage, but it will likewise be a great +convenience to boats passing up and down the stream. Thus, instead of +one man, fifty, or a hundred, or a thousand, besides ourselves, may be +benefited by these stones. What say you, lads? shall we build the +wharf?" + +Bell's proposal was received with one of those uproarious shouts +wherewith boys usually express their delight at whatever completely +suits their views. Nobody thought of questioning the right and justice +of building a wharf with stones that belonged to another person. + +"Hurrah! hurrah!" shouted they. "Let's set about it." + +It was agreed that they should all be on the spot that evening and +commence their grand public enterprise by moonlight. Accordingly, at +the appointed time, the whole gang of youthful laborers assembled, and +eagerly began to remove the stones. They had not calculated how much +toil would be requisite in this important part of their undertaking. +The very first stone which they laid hold of proved so heavy that it +almost seemed to be fastened to the ground. Nothing but Ben Franklin's +cheerful and resolute spirit could have induced them to persevere. + +Ben, as might be expected, was the soul of the enterprise. By his +mechanical genius, he contrived methods to lighten the labor of +transporting the stones, so that one boy, under his directions, would +perform as much as half a dozen if left to themselves. Whenever their +spirits flagged he had some joke ready, which seemed to renew their +strength, by setting them all into a roar of laughter. And when, after +an hour or two of hard work, the stones were transported to the water- +side, Bell Franklin was the engineer to superintend the construction of +the wharf. + +The boys, like a colony of ants, performed a great deal of labor by +their multitude, though the individual strength of each could have +accomplished but little. Finally, just as the moon sank below the +horizon, the great work was finished. + +"Now, boys," cried Ben, "let's give three cheers and go home to bed. +To-morrow we may catch fish at our ease." + +"Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!" shouted his comrades. + +Then they all went home in such an ecstasy of delight that they could +hardly get a wink of sleep. + +The story was not yet finished; but George's impatience caused him to +interrupt it. + +"How I wish that I could have helped to build that wharf!" exclaimed he. +"It must have been glorious fun. Ben Franklin forever, say I." + +"It was a very pretty piece of work," said Mr. Temple. "But wait till +you hear the end of the story." + +"Father," inquired Edward, "whereabouts in Boston was the mill-pond on +which Ben built his wharf?" + +"I do not exactly know," answered Mr. Temple; "but I suppose it to have +been on the northern verge of the town, in the vicinity of what are now +called Merrimack and Charlestown Streets. That thronged portion of the +city was once a marsh. Some of it, in fact, was covered with water." + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +As the children had no more questions to ask, Mr. Temple proceeded to +relate what consequences ensued from the building of Bell Franklin's +wharf. + + +BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. + +[CONTINUED] + +In the morning, when the early sunbeams were gleaming on the steeples +and roofs of the town and gilding the water that surrounded it, the +masons came, rubbing their eyes, to begin their work at the foundation +of the new house. But, on reaching the spot, they rubbed their eyes so +much the harder. What had become of their heap of stones? + +"Why, Sam," said one to another, in great perplexity, "here's been some +witchcraft at work while we were asleep. The stones must have flown +away through the air!" + +"More likely they have been stolen!" answered Sam. + +"But who on earth would think of stealing a heap of stones?" cried a +third. "Could a man carry them away in his pocket?" + +The master mason, who was a gruff kind of man, stood scratching his +head, and said nothing at first. But, looking carefully on the ground, +he discerned innumerable tracks of little feet, some with shoes and some +barefoot. Following these tracks with his eye, he saw that they formed +a beaten path towards the water-side. + +"Ah, I see what the mischief is," said he, nodding his head. "Those +little rascals, the boys,--they have stolen our stones to build a wharf +with!" + +The masons immediately went to examine the new structure. And to say +the truth, it was well worth looking at, so neatly and with such +admirable skill had it been planned and finished. The stones were put +together so securely that there was no danger of their being loosened by +the tide, however swiftly it might sweep along. There was a broad and +safe platform to stand upon, whence the little fishermen might cast +their lines into deep water and draw up fish in abundance. Indeed, it +almost seemed as if Ben and his comrades might be forgiven for taking +the stones, because they had done their job in such a workmanlike +manner. + +"The chaps that built this wharf understood their business pretty well," +said one of the masons. "I should not be ashamed of such a piece of +work myself." + +But the master mason did not seem to enjoy the joke. He was one of +those unreasonable people who care a great deal more for their own +rights and privileges than for the convenience of all the rest of the +world. + +"Sam," said he, more gruffly than usual, "go call a constable." + +So Sam called a constable, and inquiries were set on foot to discover +the perpetrators of the theft. In the course of the day warrants were +issued, with the signature of a justice of the peace, to take the bodies +of Benjamin Franklin and other evil-disposed persons who had stolen a +heap of stones. If the owner of the stolen property had not been more +merciful than the master mason, it might have gone hard with our friend +Benjamin and his fellow-laborers. But, luckily for them, the gentleman +had a respect for Ben's father, and, moreover, was amused with the +spirit of the whole affair. He therefore let the culprits off pretty +easily. + +But, when the constables were dismissed, the poor boys had to go through +another trial, and receive sentence, and suffer execution, too, from +their own fathers. Many a rod, I grieve to say, was worn to the stump +on that unlucky night. + +As for Ben, he was less afraid of a whipping than of his father's +disapprobation. Mr. Franklin, as I have mentioned before, was a +sagacious man, and also an inflexibly upright one. He had read much for +a person in his rank of life, and had pondered upon the ways of the +world, until he had gained more wisdom than a whole library of books +could have taught him. Ben had a greater reverence for his father than +for any other person in the world, as well on account of his spotless +integrity as of his practical sense and deep views of things. + +Consequently, after being released from the clutches of the law, Ben +came into his father's presence with no small perturbation of mind. + +"Benjamin, come hither," began Mr. Franklin, in his customary solemn and +weighty tone. + +The boy approached and stood before his father's chair, waiting +reverently to hear what judgment this good man would pass upon his late +offence. He felt that now the right and wrong of the whole matter would +be made to appear. + +"Benjamin!" said his father, "what could induce you to take property +which did not belong to you?" + +"Why, father," replied Ben, hanging his head at first, but then lifting +eyes to Mr. Franklin's face, "if it had been merely for my own benefit, +I never should have dreamed of it. But I knew that the wharf would be a +public convenience. If the owner of the stones should build a house +with them, nobody will enjoy any advantage except himself. Now, I made +use of them in a way that was for the advantage of many persons. I +thought it right to aim at doing good to the greatest number." + +"My son," said Mr. Franklin, solemnly, "so far as it was in your power, +you have done a greater harm to the public than to the owner of the +stones." + +"How can that he, father?" asked Ben. + +"Because," answered his father, "in building your wharf with stolen +materials, you have committed a moral wrong. There is no more terrible +mistake than to violate what is eternally right for the sake of a +seeming expediency. Those who act upon such a principle do the utmost +in their power to destroy all that is good in the world." + +"Heaven forbid!" said Benjamin. + +"No act," continued Mr. Franklin, "can possibly be for the benefit of +the public generally which involves injustice to any individual. It +would be easy to prove this by examples. But, indeed, can we suppose +that our all-wise and just Creator would have so ordered the affairs of +the world that a wrong act should be the true method of attaining a +right end? It is impious to think so. And I do verily believe, +Benjamin, that almost all the public and private misery of mankind +arises from a neglect of this great truth,--that evil can produce only +evil,--that good ends must be wrought out by good means." + +"I will never forget it again," said Benjamin, bowing his head. + +"Remember," concluded his father, "that, whenever we vary from the +highest rule of right, just so far we do an injury to the world. It may +seem otherwise for the moment; but, both in time and in eternity, it +will be found so." + +To the close of his life Ben Franklin never forgot this conversation +with his father; and we have reason to suppose that, in most of his +public and private career, he endeavored to act upon the principles +which that good and wise man had then taught him. + +After the great event of building the wharf, Ben continued to cut wick- +yarn and fill candle-moulds for about two years. But, as he had no love +for that occupation, his father often took him to see various artisans +at their work, in order to discover what trade he would prefer. Thus +Ben learned the use of a great many tools, the knowledge of which +afterwards proved very useful to him. But he seemed much inclined to go +to sea. In order to keep him at home, and likewise to gratify his taste +for letters, the lad was bound apprentice to his elder brother, who had +lately set up a printing-office in Boston. + +Here he had many opportunities of reading new books and of hearing +instructive conversation. He exercised himself so successfully in +writing compositions, that, when no more than thirteen or fourteen years +old, he became a contributor to his brother's newspaper. Ben was also a +versifier, if not a poet. He made two doleful ballads,--one about the +shipwreck of Captain Worthilake; and the other about the pirate Black +Beard, who, not long before, infested the American seas. + +When Ben's verses were printed, his brother sent him to sell them to the +townspeople wet from the press. "Buy my ballads!" shouted Benjamin, as +he trudged through the streets with a basketful on his arm. "Who'll buy +a ballad about Black Beard? A penny apiece! a penny apiece! Who'll buy +my ballads?" + +If one of those roughly composed and rudely printed ballads could be +discovered now, it would be worth more than its weight in gold. + +In this way our friend Benjamin spent his boyhood and youth, until, on +account of some disagreement with his brother, he left his native town +and went to Philadelphia. He landed in the latter city, a homeless and +hungry young man, and bought three-pence worth of bread to satisfy his +appetite. Not knowing where else to go, he entered a Quaker meeting- +house, sat down, and fell fast asleep. He has not told us whether his +slumbers were visited by any dreams. But it would have been a strange +dream, indeed, and an incredible one, that should have foretold how +great a man he was destined to become, and how much he would be honored +in that very city where he was now friendless and unknown. + +So here we finish our story of the childhood of Benjamin Franklin. One +of these days, if you would know what he was in his manhood, you must +read his own works and the history of American independence. + +"Do let us hear a little more of him!" said Edward; "not that I admire +him so much as many other characters; but he interests me, because he +was a Yankee boy." + +"My dear son," replied Mr. Temple, "it would require a whole volume of +talk to tell you all that is worth knowing about Benjamin Franklin. +There is a very pretty anecdote of his flying a kite in the midst of a +thunder-storm, and thus drawing down the lightning from the clouds and +proving that it was the same thing as electricity. His whole life would +be an interesting story, if we had time to tell it." + +"But, pray, dear father, tell us what made him so famous," said George. +"I have seen his portrait a great many tines. There is a wooden bust of +him in one of our streets; and marble ones, I suppose, in some other +places. And towns, and ships of war, and steamboats, and banks, and +academies, and children are often named after Franklin. Why should he +have grown so very famous?" + +"Your question is a reasonable one, George," answered his father. "I +doubt whether Franklin's philosophical discoveries, important as they +were, or even his vast political services, would have given him all the +fame which he acquired. It appears to me that Poor Richard's Almanac +did more than anything else towards making him familiarly known to the +public. As the writer of those proverbs which Poor Richard was supposed +to utter, Franklin became the counsellor and household friend of almost +every family in America. Thus it was the humblest of all his labors +that has done the most for his fame." + +"I have read some of those proverbs," remarked Edward; "but I do not +like them. They are all about getting money or saving it." + +"Well," said his father, "they were suited to the condition of the +country; and their effect, upon the whole, has doubtless been good, +although they teach men but a very small portion of their duties." + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +Hitherto Mr. Temple's narratives had all been about boys and men. But, +the next evening, he bethought himself that the quiet little Emily would +perhaps be glad to hear the story of a child of her own sex. He +therefore resolved to narrate the youthful adventures of Christina, of +Sweden, who began to be a queen at the age of no more than six years. +If we have any little girls among our readers, they must not suppose +that Christina is set before them as a pattern of what they ought to be. +On the contrary, the tale of her life is chiefly profitable as showing +the evil effects of a wrong education, which caused this daughter of a +king to be both useless and unhappy. Here follows the story. + + +QUEEN CHRISTINA. + +[BORN 1626 DIED 1689] + +In the royal palace at Stockholm, the capital city of Sweden, there was +horn, in 1626, a little princess. The king, her father; gave her the +name of Christina, in memory of a Swedish girl with whom he had been in +love. His own name was Gustavus Adolphus; and he was also called the +Lion of the North, because he had gained greater fame in war than any +other prince or general then alive. + +With this valiant king for their commander, the Swedes had made +themselves terrible to the Emperor of Germany and to the king of France, +and were looked upon as the chief defence of the Protestant religion. + +The little Christina was by no means a beautiful child. To confess the +truth, she was remarkably plain. The queen, her mother, did not love +her so much as she ought; partly, perhaps, on account of Christina's +want of beauty, and also because both the king and queen had wished for +a son, who might have gained as great renown in battle as his father +had. + +The king, however, soon became exceedingly fond of the infant princess. +When Christina was very young she was taken violently sick. Gustavus +Adolphus, who was several hundred miles from Stockholm, travelled night +and day, and never rested until he held the poor child in his arms. On +her recovery he made a solemn festival, in order to show his joy to the +people of Sweden and express his gratitude to Heaven. After this event +he took his daughter with him in all the journeys which he made +throughout his kingdom. + +Christina soon proved herself a bold and sturdy little girl. When she +was two years old, the king and herself, in the course of a journey, +came to the strong fortress of Colmar. On the battlements were soldiers +clad in steel armor, which glittered in the sunshine. There were +likewise great cannons, pointing their black months at Gustavus and +little Christina, and ready to belch out their smoke and thunder; for, +whenever a king enters a fortress, it is customary to receive him with a +royal salute of artillery. + +But the captain of the fortress met Gustavus and his daughter as they +were about to enter the gateway. + +"May it please your Majesty," said he, taking off his steel cap and +bowing profoundly, "I fear that, if we receive you with a salute of +cannon, the little princess will be frightened almost to death." + +Gustavus looked earnestly at his daughter, and was indeed apprehensive +that the thunder of so many cannon might perhaps throw her into +convulsions. He had almost a mind to tell the captain to let them enter +the fortress quietly, as common people might have done, without all this +head-splitting racket. But no; this would not do. + +"Let them fire," said he, waving his hand. "Christina is a soldier's +daughter, and must learn to bear the noise of cannon." + +So the captain uttered the word of command, and immediately there was a +terrible peal of thunder from the cannon, and such a gush of smoke that +it enveloped the whole fortress in its volumes. But, amid all the din +and confusion, Christina was seen clapping her little hands and laughing +in an ecstasy of delight. Probably nothing ever pleased her father so +much as to see that his daughter promised to be fearless as himself. He +determined to educate her exactly as if she had been a boy, and to teach +her all the knowledge needful to the ruler of a kingdom and the +commander of an army. + +But Gustavus should have remembered that Providence had created her to +be a woman, and that it was not for him to make a man of her. + +However, the king derived great happiness from his beloved Christina. +It must have been a pleasant sight to see the powerful monarch of Sweden +playing in some magnificent hall of the palace with his merry little +girl. Then he forgot that the weight of a kingdom rested upon his +shoulders. He forgot that the wise Chancellor Oxenstiern was waiting to +consult with him how to render Sweden the greatest nation of Europe. He +forgot that the Emperor of Germany and the King of France were plotting +together how they might pull him down from his throne. + +Yes; Gustavus forgot all the perils, and cares, and pompous irksomeness +of a royal life; and was as happy, while playing with his child, as the +humblest peasant in the realm of Sweden. How gayly did they dance along +the marble floor of the palace, this valiant king, with his upright, +martial figure, his war-worn visage, and commanding aspect, and the +small, round form of Christina, with her rosy face of childish +merriment! Her little fingers were clasped in her father's hand, which +had held the leading staff in many famous victories. His crown and +sceptre were her playthings. She could disarm Gustavus of his sword, +which was so terrible to the princes of Europe. + +But, alas! the king was not long permitted to enjoy Christina's society. +When she was four years old Gustavus was summoned to take command of the +allied armies of Germany, which were fighting against the emperor. His +greatest affliction was the necessity of parting with his child; but +people in such high stations have but little opportunity for domestic +happiness. He called an assembly of the senators of Sweden and confided +Christina to their care, saying, that each one of them must be a father +to her if he himself should fall in battle. + +At the moment of his departure Christina ran towards him and began to +address him with a speech which somebody had taught her for the +occasion. Gustavus was busied with thoughts about the affairs of the +kingdom, so that he did not immediately attend to the childish voice of +his little girl. Christina, who did not love to be unnoticed, +immediately stopped short and pulled him by the coat. + +"Father," said she, "why do not you listen to my speech?" + +In a moment the king forgot everything except that, he was parting with +what he loved best in all the world. He caught the child in his arms, +pressed her to his bosom, and burst into tears. Yes; though he was a +brave man, and though he wore a steel corselet on his breast, and though +armies were waiting for him to lead them to battle, still his heart +melted within him, and he wept. Christina, too, was so afflicted that +her attendants began to fear that she would actually die of grief. But +probably she was soon comforted; for children seldom remember their +parents quite so faithfully as their parents remember them. + +For two years more Christina remained in the palace at Stockholm. The +queen, her mother, had accompanied Gustavus to the wars. The child, +therefore, was left to the guardianship of five of the wisest men in the +kingdom. But these wise men knew better how to manage the affairs of +state than how to govern and educate a little girl so as to render her a +good and happy woman. + +When two years had passed away, tidings were brought to Stockholm which +filled everybody with triumph and sorrow at the same time. The Swedes +had won a glorious victory at Lutzen. But, alas! the warlike King of +Sweden, the Lion of the North, the father of our little Christina, had +been slain at the foot of a great stone, which still marks the spot of +that hero's death. + +Soon after this sad event, a general assembly, or congress, consisting +of deputations from the nobles, the clergy, the burghers, and the +peasants of Sweden, was summoned to meet at Stockholm. It was for the +purpose of declaring little Christina to be Queen of Sweden and giving +her the crown and sceptre of her deceased father. Silence being +proclaimed, the Chancellor Oxenstiern arose. + +"We desire to know," said he, "whether the people of Sweden will take +the daughter of our dead king, Gustavus Adolphus, to be their queen." + +When the chancellor had spoken, an old man, with white hair and in +coarse apparel, stood up in the midst of the assembly. He was a +peasant, Lars Larrson by name, and had spent most of his life in +laboring on a farm. + +"Who is this daughter of Gustavus?" asked the old man. "We do not know +her. Let her be shown to us." + +Then Christina was brought into the hall and placed before the old +peasant. It was strange, no doubt, to see a child--a little girl of six +years old--offered to the Swedes as their ruler instead of the brave +king, her father, who had led then to victory so many times. Could her +baby fingers wield a sword in war? Could her childish mind govern the +nation wisely in peace? + +But the Swedes do not appear to have asked themselves these questions. +Old Lars Larrson took Christina up in his arms and gazed earnestly into +her face. + +He had known the great Gustavus well; and his heart was touched when he +saw the likeness which the little girl bore to that heroic monarch. + +"Yes," cried he, with the tears gushing down his furrowed cheeks; "this +is truly the daughter of our Gustavus! Here is her father's brow!--here +is his piercing eye! She is his very picture! This child shall be our +queen!" + +Then all the proud nobles of Sweden, and the reverend clergy, and the +burghers, and the peasants, knelt down at the child's feet and kissed +her hand. + +"Long live Christina, Queen of Sweden!" shouted they. + +Even after she was a woman grown Christina remembered the pleasure which +she felt in seeing all of hose men at her feet and hearing them +acknowledge her as their supreme ruler. Poor child! she was yet to +learn that power does not insure happiness. As yet, however, she had +not any real power. All the public business, it is true, was transacted +in her name; but the kingdom was governed by a number of the most +experienced statesmen, who were called a regency. + +But it was considered necessary that the little queen, should be present +at the public ceremonies, and should behave just as if she were in +reality the ruler of the nation. When she was seven years of age, some +ambassadors from the Czar of Muscovy came to the Swedish court. They +wore long beards, and were clad in a strange fashion, with furs and +other outlandish ornaments; and as they were inhabitants of a half- +civilized country, they did not behave like other people. The +Chancellor Oxenstiern was afraid that the young queen would burst out a +laughing at the first sight of these queer ambassadors, or else that she +would be frightened by their unusual aspect. + +"Why should I be frightened?" said the little queen. "And do you +suppose that I have no better manners than to laugh? Only tell me how +I must behave, and I will do it." + +Accordingly, the Muscovite ambassadors were introduced; and Christina +received them and answered their speeches with as much dignity and +propriety as if sho had been a grown woman. + +All this time, though Christina was now a queen, you must not suppose +that she was left to act as she pleased. She had a preceptor, named +John Mathias, who was a very learned man and capable of instructing her +in all the branches of science. But there was nobody to teach her the +delicate graces and gentle virtues of a woman. She was surrounded +almost entirely by men, and had learned to despise the society of her +own sex. At the age of nine years she was separated from her mother, +whom the Swedes did not consider a proper person to be intrusted with +the charge of her. No little girl who sits by a New England fireside +has cause to envy Christina in the royal palace at Stockholm. + +Yet she made great progress in her studies. She learned to read the +classical authors of Greece and Rome, and became a great admirer of the +heroes and poets of old times. Then, as for active exercises, she could +ride on horseback as well as any man in her kingdom. She was fond of +hunting, and could shoot at a mark with wonderful skill. But dancing +was the only feminine accomplishment with which she had any +acquaintance. + +She was so restless in her disposition that none of her attendants were +sure of a moment's quiet neither day nor night. She grew up, I am sorry +to say, a very unamiable person, ill-tempered, proud, stubborn, and, in +short, unfit to make those around her happy or to be happy herself. Let +every little girl, who has been taught self-control and a due regard for +the rights of others, thank Heaven that she has had better instruction +than this poor little Queen of Sweden. + +At the age of eighteen Christina was declared free to govern the kingdom +by herself without the aid of a regency. At this period of her life she +was a young woman of striking aspect, a good figure, and intelligent +face, but very strangely dressed. She wore a short habit of gray cloth, +with a man's vest over it, and a black scarf around her neck; but no +jewels nor ornaments of any kind. + +Yet, though Christina was so negligent of her appearance, there was +something in her air and manner that proclaimed her as the ruler of a +kingdom. Her eyes, it is said, had a very fierce and haughty look. Old +General Wrangel, who had often caused the enemies of Sweden to tremble +in battle, actually trembled himself when he encountered the eyes of the +queen. But it would have been better for Christina if she could have +made people love her, by means of soft and gentle looks, instead of +affrighting them by such terrible glances. + +And now I have told you almost all that is amusing or instructive in the +childhood of Christina. Only a few more words need be said about her; +for it is neither pleasant nor profitable to think of many things that +she did after she grew to be a woman. + +When she had worn the crown a few years, she began to consider it +beneath her dignity to be called a queen, because the name implied that +she belonged to the weaker sex. She therefore caused herself to be +proclaimed KING; thus declaring to the world that she despised her own +sex and was desirous of being ranked among men. But in the twenty- +eighth year of her age Christina grew tired of royalty, and resolved to +be neither a king nor a queen any longer. She took the crown from her +head with her own hands, and ceased to be the ruler of Sweden. The +people did not greatly regret her abdication; for she had governed them +ill, and had taken much of their property to supply her extravagance. + +Having thus given up her hereditary crown, Christina left Sweden and +travelled over many of the countries of Europe. Everywhere she was +received with great ceremony, because she was the daughter of the +renowned Gustavus, and had herself been a powerful queen. Perhaps you +would like to know something about her personal appearance in the latter +part of time life. She is described as wearing a man's vest, a short +gray petticoat, embroidered with gold and silver, and a black wig, which +was thrust awry upon her head. She wore no gloves, and so seldom washed +her hands that nobody could fell what had been their original color. In +this strange dress, and, I suppose, without washing her hands or face, +she visited the magnificent court of Louis XIV. + +She died in 1689. None loved her while she lived, nor regretted her +death, nor planted a single flower upon her grave. Happy are the little +girls of America, who are brought up quietly and tenderly at the +domestic hearth, and thus become gentle and delicate women! May none of +them ever lose the loveliness of their sex by receiving such an +education as that of Queen Christina! + +Emily, timid, quiet, and sensitive, was the very reverse of little +Christina. She seemed shocked at the idea of such a bold and masculine +character as has been described in the foregoing story. + +"I never could have loved her," whispered she to Mrs. Temple; and then +she added, with that love of personal neatness which generally +accompanies purity of heart, "It troubles me to think of her unclean +hands!" + +"Christina was a sad specimen of womankind indeed," said Mrs. Temple. +"But it is very possible for a woman to have a strong mind, and to be +fitted for the active business of life, without losing any of her +natural delicacy. Perhaps some time or other Mr. Temple will tell you a +story of such a woman." + +It was now time for Edward to be left to repose. His brother George +shook him heartily by the hand, and hoped, as he had hoped twenty times +before, that tomorrow or the next day Ned's eyes would be strong enough +to look the sun right in the face. + +"Thank you, George," replied Edward, smiling; "but I am not half so +impatient as at first. If my bodily eyesight were as good as yours, +perhaps I could not see things so distinctly with my mind's eye. But +now there is a light within which shows me the little Quaker artist, Ben +West, and Isaac Newton with his windmill, and stubborn Sam Johnson, and +stout Noll Cromwell, and shrewd Ben Franklin, and little Queen +Christina, with the Swedes kneeling at her feet. It seems as if I +really saw these personages face to face. So I can bear the darkness +outside of me pretty well." + +When Edward ceased speaking, Emily put up her mouth and kissed him as +her farewell for the night. + +"Ah, I forgot!" said Edward, with a sigh. "I cannot see any of your +faces. What would it signify to see all the famous people in the world, +if I must be blind to the faces that I love?" + +"You must try to see us with your heart, my dear child," said his +mother. + +Edward went to bed somewhat dispirited; but, quickly falling asleep, was +visited with such a pleasant dream of the sunshine and of his dearest +friends that he felt the happier for it all the next day. And we hope +to find him still happy when we meet again. + + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, BIOGRAPHICAL STORIES *** +By Nathaniel Hawthorne + +***** This file should be named haw8110.txt or haw8110.zip ***** + +Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, haw8111.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, haw8110a.txt + +This eBook was produced by David Widger [widger@cecomet.net] + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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