an autobiography-第13部分

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e　kind；　he　had　very　little　regard　for　money　except　as　it　ministered　to　his　immediate　necessities。　　His　evenings　were　generally　spent　at　a　club　of　brother　artists　〃over　the　water；〃　and　in　their　company　he　enjoyed　many　a　pleasant　hour。　　His　days　were　spent　at　his　easel。　　They　were　occasionally　varied　by　long　walks　into　the　country　near　London；　for　the　purpose　of　refilling　his　sketch…book。

It　was　on　one　of　such　occasionswhen　he　was　sketching　the　details　of　some　picturesque　pollard　old　willows　up　the　Thames；　and　standing　all　the　time　in　wet　groundthat　he　caught　a　severe　cold　which　confined　him　to　the　house。　　He　rapidly　became　worse。　　Two　of　his　sisters；　who　happened　to　be　in　London　at　the　time；　nursed　him　with　devoted　attention。　　But　it　was　too　late。　　The　disease　had　taken　fatal　hold　of　him。　　On　the　evening　of　the　l7th　August　1831　there　was　a　violent　thunderstorm。　　At　length　the　peals　of　thunder　ceased；　the　rain　passed　away；　and　the　clouds　dispersed。　　The　setting　sun　burst　forth　in　a　golden　glow。　　The　patient　turned　round　on　his　couch　and　asked　that　the　curtains　might　be　drawn。　　It　was　done。　　A　blaze　of　sunset　lit　up　his　weary　and　worn…out　face。　　〃How　glorious　it　is！〃　he　said。　　Then；　as　the　glow　vanished　he　fell　into　a　deep　and　tranquil　sleep；　from　which　he　never　awoke。　　Such　was　the　peaceful　end　of　my　brother　Patrick；　at　the　comparatively　early　age　of　forty…four　years。


CHAPTER　4。　　My　Early　Years。

I　WAS　born　on　the　morning　of　the　19th　of　August　1808；　at　my　father's　house　No。　47　York　Place；　Edinburgh。　　I　was　named　James　Hall　after　my　father's　dear　friend；　Sir　James　Hall　of　Dunglass。　　My　mother　afterwards　told　me　that　I　must　have　been　〃a　very　noticin'　　bairn；〃　as　she　observed　me；　when　I　was　only　a　few　days　old；　following　with　my　little　eyes　any　one　who　happened　to　be　in　the　room；　as　if　I　had　been　thinking　to　my　little　self；　〃Who　are　you？〃

After　a　suitable　time　I　was　put　under　the　care　of　a　nursemaid。　I　remember　her　wellMary　Peterkina　truly　Scandinavian　name。　She　came　from　Haddingtonshire；　where　most　of　the　people　are　of　Scandinavian　origin。　　Her　hair　was　of　a　bright　yellow　tint。　She　was　a　cheerful　young　woman；　and　sang　to　me　like　a　nightingale。　She　could　not　only　sing　old　Scotch　songs；　but　had　a　wonderful　memory　　for　fairy　tales。　When　under　the　influence　of　a　merry　laugh；　you　could　scarcely　see　her　eyes；　their　twinkle　was　hidden　by　her　　eyelids　and　lashes。　　She　was　a　willing　worker；　and　was　always　ready　to　lend　a　helping　hand　at　everything　about　the　house；　she　took　great　pride　in　me；　calling　me　her　〃laddie。〃

When　I　was　toddling　about　the　house；　another　sister　was　born；　the　last　of　the　family。　　Little　Mary　was　very　delicate；　and　to　improve　her　health　she　was　sent　to　a　small　farm…house　at　Braid　Hills；　about　four　miles　south　of　Edinburgh。　　It　was　one　of　the　most　rural　and　beautiful　surroundings　of　the　city　at　that　time。　　One　of　my　earliest　recollections　is　that　of　being　taken　to　see　poor　little　Mary　at　the　farmer's　house。　　While　my　nursemaid　was　occupied　in　inquiring　after　my　sister；　I　was　attracted　by　the　bright　red　poppies　in　a　neighbouring　field。　　When　they　made　search　for　me　I　could　not　be　found。　　I　was　lost　for　more　than　an　hour。　　At　last；　seeing　a　slight　local　disturbance　among　the　stalks　of　corn；　they　rushed　to　they　spot；　and　brought　me　out　with　an　armful　of　brilliant　red　poppies。　　To　this　day　poppies　continue　to　be　my　greatest　favourites。

When　I　was　about　four　or　five　years　old；　I　was　observed　to　give　a　decided　preference　to　the　use　of　my　left　hand。　　Everything　was　done　to　prevent　my　using　it　in　preference　to　the　right。　　My　mother　thought　that　it　arose　from　my　being　carried　on　the　wrong　arm　by　my　nurse　while　an　infant。　　The　right　hand　was　thus　confined；　and　the　left　hand　was　used。　I　was　constantly　corrected；　but　〃on　the　sly〃　I　always　used　it；　especially　in　drawing　my　first　little　sketches。　　At　last　my　father；　after　viewing　with　pleasure　one　of　my　artistic　efforts；　done　with　the　forbidden　hand；　granted　it　liberty　and　independence　for　all　time　coming。　　〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃you　may　go　on　in　your　own　way　in　the　use　of　your　left　hand；　but　I　fear　you　will　be　an　awkward　fellow　in　everything　that　requires　handiness　in　life。　　I　used　my　right　hand　in　all　that　was　necessary；　and　my　left　in　all　sorts　of　practical　manipulative　affairs。　My　left　hand　has　accordingly　been　my　most　willing　and　obedient　servant　in　transmitting　my　will　through　my　fingers　into　material　or　visible　forms。　　In　this　way　I　became　ambidexter。

When　I　was　about　four　years　old；　I　often　followed　my　father　into　his　workshop　when　he　had　occasion　to　show　to　his　visitors　some　of　his　mechanical　contrivances　or　artistic　models。　　The　persons　present　usually　expressed　their　admiration　in　warm　terms　of　what　was　shown　to　them。　　On　one　occasion　I　gently　pulled　the　coat…tail　of　one　of　the　listeners　and　confidentially　said　to　him；　as　if　I　knew　all　about　it；　〃My　papa's　a　kevie　Fellae！〃　　My　father　was　so　greatly　amused　by　this　remark　that　he　often　referred　to　it　as　〃the　last　good　thing〃　from　that　old…fashioned　creature　little　Jamie。

One　of　my　earliest　recollections　is　the　annual　celebration　of　my　brother　Patrick's　birthday。　　Being　the　eldest　of　the　family；　his　birthday　was　held　in　special　honour。　　My　father　invited　about　twenty　of　his　most　intimate　friends　to　dinner。　　My　mother　brought　her　culinary　powers　into　full　operation。　　The　younger　members　of　the　family　also　took　a　lively　interest　in　all　that　was　going　on；　with　certain　reversionary　views　as　to　〃the　day　after　the　feast。〃　　We　took　a　great　interest　in　the　Trifle；　which　was　no　trifle　in　reality；　in　so　far　as　regarded　the　care　and　anxiety　involved　in　its　preparation。　In　connection　with　this　celebration；　it　was　all　established　institution　that　a　large　hamper　always　arrived　in　good　time　from　the　farm　attached　to　my　mother's　old　home　at　Woodhall；　near　Edinburgh。　　It　contained　many　substantial　elements　for　the　entertainmenta　fine　turkey；　fowls；　duck；　and　suchlike；　with　two　magnums　of　the　richest　cream。　　There　never　was　such　cream！　　It　established　a　standard　of　cream　in　my　memory；　and　since　then　I　have　always　been　hypercritical　about　the　article。

On　one　of　these　occasions；　when　I　was　about　four　years　old；　and　being　the　youngest　of　the　family；　I　was　taken　into　the　company　after　the　dinner　was　over；　and　held　up　by　my　sister　Jane　to　sing　a　verse　from　a　little　song　which　my　nurse　Mary　Peterkin　had　taught　me；　and　Which　ran　thus：

　〃I'll　no　bide　till　Saturday；　　But　I'll　awa'　tile　morn；　　An'　follow　Donald　Hielandman；　　An'　carry　his　poother…horn。〃

This　was　my　first　and　last　vocal　performance。　　It　was　received　with　great　applause。　　In　fact；　it　was　encored。　　The　word　〃poother；〃　which　I　pronounced　〃pootle〃；　excited　the　enthusiasm　of　the　audience。　I　was　then　sent　to　bed　with　a　bit　of　plum…cake；　and　was　doubtless　awakened　early　next　morning　by　the　irritation　of　the　dried　crumbs　of　the　previous　night's　feast。

I　am　reminded；　by　reading　over　a　letter　of　my　brother　Patrick's；　of　an　awkward　circumstance　that　happened　to　me　when　I　was　six　years　old。　In　his　letter　to　my　father；　dated　London；　22d　September　1814；　he　says：　〃I　did　get　a　surprise　when　Margaret's　letter　informed　me　of　my　little　brother　Jamie's　fall。　　It　was　a　wonderful　escape。　　For　God's　sake　keep　an　eye　upon　him！〃　　Like　other　strong　and　healthy　boys；　I　had　a　turn　for　amusing　myself　in　my　own　way。　　When　sliding　down　the　railing　of　the　stairs　I　lost　my　grip　and　fell　suddenly　over。　　The　steps　were　of　stone。　Fortunately；　the　servants　were　just　coming　up　laden　with　carpets　which　they　had　been　beating。　　I　fell　into　their　midst　and　knocked　them　out　of　their　hands。　　I　was　thus　saved　from　cracking　my　poor　little　skull。　But　for　that　there　might　have　been　no　steam　hammerat　least　of　my　contrivance！

Everything　connected　with　war　and　warlike　exploits　is　interesting　to　a　boy。　　The　war　with　France　was　then　in　full　progress。　　Troops　and　bands　paraded　the　streets。　　Recruits　were　sent　away　as　fast　as　they　could　be　drilled。　　The　whole　air　was　filled　with　war。　　Everybody　was　full　of　excitement　about　the　progress　of　events　in　Spain。　　When　the　great　guns　boomed　forth　from　the　Castle；　the　people　were　first　startled。　Then　they　were　surprised　and　anxious。　　There　had　been　a　battle　and　a　victory！　　〃Who　had　fallen？〃　was　the　first　thought　in　many　minds。　Where　had　the　battle　been；　and　what　was　the　victory？　　Business　was　suspended。　　People　rushed　about　the　streets　to　ascertain　the　facts。　It　might　have　been　at　Salamanca；　Talavera；　or　Vittoria。　　But　a　long　time　elapsed　before　the　details　could　be　received；　and　during　that　time　sad　suspense　and　anxiety　prevailed　in　almost　every　household。　There　was　no　telegraph　then。　　It　was　only　after　the　Gazette　had　been　published　that　people　knew　who　had　fallen　and　who　had　survived。

The　war　proceeded。　　The　volunteering　which　went　on　at　the　time　gave　quite　a　military　aspect　to　the　city。　　I　remember　how　odd　it　appeared　to　me　to　see　some　well…known　faces　and　figures　metamorphosed　into　soldiers　It　was　considered　a　test　of　loyalty　as　well　as　of　patriotism；　to　give　time；　money；　and　leisure　to　take　up　the　arms　of　defence；　and　to　practise　daily　in　military　uniform　in　the　Meadows　or　on　Bruntsfield　Links。　　Windows　were　thrown　up　to　hear　the　bands　playing　at　the　head　of　the　troops；　and　crowds　of　boys；　full　of　military　ardour；　went；　as　usual；　hand　to　hand　in　front　of　the　drums　and　fifes。　　The　most　interesting　part　of　the　procession　to　my　mind　was　the　pioneers　in　front；　with　their　leather　aprons；　their　axes　and　saws；　and　their　big　hairy　caps　and　beards。　　They　were　to　me　so　suggestive　of　clearing　the　way　through　hedges　and　forests；　and　of　what　war　was　in　its　actual　progress。

Every　victory　was　followed　by　the　importation　of　large　numbers　of　French　prisoners。　　Many　of　them　were　sent　to　Edinburgh　Castle。　They　were　permitted　to　relieve　the　tedium　of　their　confinement　by　manufacturing　and　selling　toys；　workboxes；　brooches；　and　carved　work　of　different　kinds。　　In　the　construction　of　these　they　exhibited　great　skill；　taste；　and　judgment。　　They　carved　them　out　of　bits　of　bone　and　wood。　　The　patterns　were　most　beautiful；　and　they　were　ingeniously　and　tastefully　ornamented。　　The　articles　were　to　be　had　for　a　mere　trifle；　although　fit　to　be　placed　with　the　most　choice　objects　of　artistic　skill。