an autobiography-第11部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ce　of　them　lights　up　my　recollection　of　the　happiest　period　of　a　generally　happy　life。　　Could　I　have　been　able　to　set　forth　the　brightness　and　cheerfulness　of　these　happy　evenings　at　my　father's　house；　I　am　fain　to　think　that　my　description　might　have　been　well　worth　reading。　　But　all　the　record　of　them　that　remains　is　a　most　cherished　recollection　of　their　genial　tone　and　harmony；　which　makes　me　think　that；　although　in　these　days　of　rapid　transit　over　earth　and　ocean；　and　surrounded　as　we　are　with　the　results　of　applied　scientific　knowledge；　we　are　not　a　bit　more　happy　than　when　all　the　vaunted　triumphs　of　science　and　so…called　education　were　in　embryo。

The　supper　usually　followed；　for　my　father　would　not　allow　his　visitors　to　go　away　supperless。　　The　meal　did　not　amount　to　much。　　Rizard　or　Finnan　harddies；　or　a　dish　of　oysters；　with　a　glass　of　Edinburgh　ale；　and　a　rummer　of　toddy；　concluded　these　friendly　evenings。　　The　cry　of　〃Caller　Aou〃　was　constantly　heard　in　the　streets　below　of　an　evening。　When　the　letter　r　was　in　the　name　of　the　month；　the　supply　of　oysters　was　abundant。　　The　freshest　oysters；　of　the　most　glorious　quality；　were　to　be　had　at　2s。　6d。　the　hundred！　　And　what　could　be　more　refreshing　food　for　my　father's　guests？　　These　unostentatious　and　inexpensive　gatherings　of　friends　were　a　most　delightful　social　institution　among　the　best　middle…class　people　of　Edinburgh　some　sixty　or　seventy　years　ago。　　What　they　are　now　I　cannot　tell。　　But　I　fear　they　have　disappeared　in　the　more　showy　and　costly　tastes　that　have　sprung　up　in　the　progress　of　what　is　called　〃modern　society。〃

No　part　of　my　father's　character　was　more　admirable　than　his　utter　unselfishness。　　He　denied　himself　many　things；　that　he　might　give　the　greater　pleasure　to　his　wife　and　children。　　He　would　scarcely　take　part　in　any　enjoyment；　unless　they　could　have　their　fair　share　of　it。　In　all　this　he　was　faithfully　followed　by　my　mother。　　The　admirable　example　of　well…sustained　industry　that　was　always　before　her；　sustained　her　in　her　efforts　for　the　good　of　her　family。　　She　was　intelligently　interested　in　all　that　related　to　her　husband's　business　and　interests；　as　well　as　in　his　recreative　enjoyments。　　The　household　affairs　were　under　her　skilful　guidance。　　She　conducted　them　with　economy；　and　yet　with　generous　liberality；　free　from　the　least　taint　of　ostentation　or　extravagance。　　The　home　fireside　was　a　scene　of　cheerfulness。　And　most　of　our　family　have　been　blest　with　this　sunny　gift。　　Indeed；　a　merrier　family　circle　I　have　never　seen。　　There　were　twelve　persons　round　the　table　to　be　provided　for；　besides　two　servants。　This　required；　on　my　mother's　part；　a　great　deal　of　management；　as　every　housekeeper　will　know。　　Yet　everything　was　provided　and　paid　for　within　the　year's　income。

The　family　result　of　my　father　and　mother's　happy　marriage　was　four　sons　and　seven　daughters。　　Patrick；　the　eldest；　was　born　in　1787。　He　was　called　after　my　father's　dear　and　constant　friend；　Patrick　Miller　of　Dalswinton。　　I　will　speak　by　and　by　of　his　artistic　reputation。　　Then　followed　a　long　succession　of　daughters　Jane；　the　eldest'；　was　born　in　1788；　Barbara　1790；　Margaret　in　1791；　Elizabeth　in　1793；　Anne　in　1798；　Charlotte　in　1804。　Then　came　a　succession　of　three　sonsAlexander；　George；and　James。　There　followed　another　daughter；　Mary；　but　as　she　only　lived　for　about　eighteen　months；　I　remained　the　youngest　of　the　family。

My　sisters　all　possessed；　in　a　greater　or　less　degree；　an　innate　love　of　art；　and　by　their　diligent　application　they　acquired　the　practice　of　painting　landscape　in　oils。　　My　father's　admirable　system　and　method　of　teaching　rendered　them　expert　in　making　accurate　sketches　from　nature；　which；　as　will　afterwards　be　seen；　they　turned　to　good　account。　My　eldest　sister；　Jane；　was　in　all　respects　a　most　estimable　character；　and　a　great　help　to　my　mother　in　the　upbringing　of　the　children。　Jane　was　full　of　sound　common　sense；　her　judgment　seemed　to　be　beyond　her　years。　　Because　of　this　the　younger　members　of　the　family　jokingly　nicknamed　her　〃Old　Solid〃！Even　my　father　consulted　her　in　every　case　of　importance　in　reference　to　domestic　and　financial　affairs。　I　had　the　great　good　fortune；　when　a　child；　to　be　placed　under　her　special　protection；　and　I　have　reason　to　be　thankful　for　the　affectionate　care　which　she　took　of　me　during　the　first　six　years　of　my　life。

Besides　their　early　education　in　art；　my　mother　was　equally　earnest　in　her　desire　to　give　her　daughters　a　thorough　practical　knowledge　in　every　department　and　detail　of　household　management。　　When　they　had　attained　a　suitable　age　they　were　in　succession　put　in　charge　of　all　the　household　duties　for　two　weeks　at　a　time。　　The　keys　were　given　over　to　them；　together　with　the　household　books；　and　at　the　end　of　their　time　their　books　were　balanced　to　a　farthing。　　They　were　then　passed　on　to　the　next　in　succession。　　One　of　the　most　important　branches　of　female　educationthe　management　of　the　domestic　affairs　of　a　family；　the　superintendence　of　the　cooking　so　as　to　avoid　waste　of　food；　the　regularity　of　the　meals；　and　the　general　cleaning　up　of　the　rooms　was　thus　thoroughly　attained　in　its　best　and　most　practical　forms。　And　under　the　admirable　superintendence　of　my　mother　everything　in　our　family　went　on　like　clockwork。

My　father's　object　was　to　render　each　and　all　of　his　children　whether　boys　or　girlsindependent　on　their　arrival　at　mature　years。　Accordingly；　he　sedulously　kept　up　the　attention　of　his　daughters　to　fine　art。　　By　this　means　he　enabled　them　to　assist　in　the　maintenance　of　the　family　while　at　home；　and　afterwards　to　maintain　themselves　by　the　exercise　of　their　own　abilities　and　industry　after　they　had　left。　To　accomplish　this　object；　as　already　described；　he　set　on　foot　drawing　classes；　which　were　managed　by　his　six　daughters；　superintended　by　himself。

Edinburgh　was　at　that　time　the　resort　of　many　county　families。　The　war　which　raged　abroad　prevented　their　going　to　the　Continent。　They　therefore　remained　at　home；　and　the　Scotch　families　for　the　most　part　took　up　their　residence　in　Edinburgh。　　There　were　many　young　ladies　desiring　to　complete　their　accomplishments；　and　hence　the　establishment　of　my　sisters'　art　class。　　It　was　held　in　the　large　painting…room　in　the　upper　part　of　the　house。　　It　soon　became　one　of　the　most　successful　institutions　in　Edinburgh。　　When　not　engaged　in　drawing　and　oil　painting；　the　young　ladies　were　occupied　in　sketching　from　nature；　under　the　superintendence　of　my　sisters；　in　the　outskirts　of　Edinburgh。　　This　was　one　of　the　most　delightful　exercises　in　which　they　could　be　engaged；　and　it　also　formed　the　foundation　for　many　friendships　which　only　terminated　with　life。

My　father　increased　the　interest　of　the　classes　by　giving　little　art　lectures。　　They　were　familiar　but　practical。　　He　never　gave　lectures　as　such；　but　rather　demonstrations。　　It　was　only　when　a　pupil　encountered　some　technical　difficulty；　or　was　adopting　some　wrong　method　of　proceeding；　that　he　undertook　to　guide　them　by　his　words　and　practical　illustrations。　　His　object　was　to　embue　the　minds　of　the　pupils　with　high　principles　of　art。　　He　would　take　up　their　brushes　and　show　by　his　dexterous　and　effective　touches　how　to　bring　out；　with　marvellous　ease；　the　right　effects　of　the　landscape。　　The　other　pupils　would　come　and　stand　behind　him；　to　see　and　hear　his　clear　instructions　carried　into　actual　practice　on　the　work　before　him。　　He　often　illustrated　his　little　special　lessons　by　his　stores　of　instructive　and　interesting　anecdotes；　which　no　doubt　helped　to　rivet　his　practice　all　the　deeper　into　their　minds。　　Thus　the　Nasmyth　classes　soon　became　the　fashion。　In　many　cases　both　mothers　and　daughters　might　be　seen　at　work　together　in　that　delightful　painting…room。　　I　have　occasionally　met　with　some　of　them　in　after　years；　who　referred　to　those　pleasant　hours　as　among　the　most　delightful　they　had　ever　spent。

These　classes　were　continued　for　many　years。　　In　the　meantime　my　sisters'　diligence　and　constant　practice　enabled　them　in　course　of　time　to　exhibit　their　works　in　the　fine　art　exhibitions　of　Edinburgh。　Each　had　her　own　individuality　of　style　and　manner；　by　which　their　several　works　were　easily　distinguished　from　each　other。　　Indeed；　whoever　works　after　Nature　will　have　a　style　of　their　own。　　They　all　continued　the　practice　of　oil　painting　until　an　advanced　age。　The　average　duration　of　their　lives　was　about　seventy…eight。

There　was　one　point　which　my　father　diligently　impressed　upon　his　pupils；　and　that　was　the　felicity　and　the　happiness　attendant　upon　pencil　drawing。　　He　was　a　master　of　the　pencil；　and　in　his　off…hand　sketches　communicated　his　ideas　to　others　in　a　way　that　mere　words　could　never　have　done。　　It　was　his　Graphic　Language。　　A　few　strokes　of　the　pencil　can　convey　ideas　which　quires　of　writing　would　fail　to　impart。　　This　is　one　of　the　most　valuable　gifts　which　a　man　who　has　to　do　with　practical　subjects　can　possess。　　〃The　language　of　the　pencil〃　is　a　truly　universal　one；　especially　in　communicating　ideas　which　have　reference　to　material　forms。　　And　yet　it　is　in　a　great　measure　neglected　in　our　modern　system　of　education。

The　language　of　the　tongue　is　often　used　to　disguise　our　thoughts；　whereas　the　language　of　the　pencil　is　clear　and　explicit。　　Who　that　possesses　this　language　can　fail　to　look　back　with　pleasure　on　the　course　of　a　journey　illustrated　by　pencil　drawings？　　They　bring　back　to　you　the　landscapes　you　have　seen；　the　old　streets；　the　pointed　gables；　the　entrances　to　the　old　churches；　even　the　bits　of　tracery；　with　a　vividness　of　association　such　as　mere　words　could　never　convey。　Thus；　looking　at　an　old　sketch…book　brings　back　to　you　the　recollection　of　a　tour；　however　varied；　and　you　virtually　make　the　journey　over　again　with　its　picturesque　and　beautiful　associations。　　On　many　a　fine　summer's　day　did　my　sisters　make　a　picnic　excursion　into　the　neighbourhood　of　Edinburgh。　　They　were　accompanied　by　their　pupils；　sketch…book　and　pencil　in　hand。　　As　I　have　already　said；　there　is　no　such　scenery　near　any　city　that　I　know　of。　　Arthur's　Seat　and　Salisbury　Crags；　Duddingston　Loch；　the　Braid　Hills；　Craigmillar　Castle；　Hawthornden；　Roslin；　Habbie's　How；　and　the　many　valleys　and　rifts　in　the　Pen