an autobiography-第69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！



But　where　was　I　to　turn　to　for　a　settled　home？　　Many　years　before　I　had　seen　a　charming　picture　by　my　brother　Patrick　of　〃A　Cottage　in　Kent〃　It　took　such　a　hold　of　my　memory　and　imagination　that　I　never　ceased　to　entertain　the　longing　and　ambition　to　possess　such　a　cottage　as　a　cosy　place　of　refuge　for　the　rest　of　my　life。　Accordingly；　about　six　months　before　my　final　retirement；　I　accompanied　my　wife　in　a　visit　to　the　south。　　In　the　first　place　we　made　a　careful　selection　from　the　advertisements　in　the　Times　of　〃desirable　residences〃　in　Kent。　One　in　particular　appeared　very　tempting。　　We　set　out　to　view　it。　It　seemed　to　embody　all　the　conditions　that　we　had　pictured　in　our　imagination　as　necessary　to　fulfil　the　idea　of　our　〃Cottage　in　Kent。〃　It　had　been　the　property　of　F。　R。　Lee；　the　Royal　Academician。　With　a　few　alterations　and　additions　it　would　entirely　answer　our　purpose。　　So　we　bought　the　property。

I　may　mention　that　when　I　retired　from　business；　and　took　out　of　it　the　fortune　that　had　accumulated　during　my　twenty…two　years　of　assiduous　attention　and　labour；　I　invested　the　bulk　of　it　in　Three　per　cent　Consols。　　The　rate　of　interest　was　not　high；　but　it　was　nevertheless　secure。　　High　interest；　as　every　one　knows；　means　riskful　security。　I　desired　to　have　no　anxiety　about　the　source　of　my　income；　such　as　might　hinder　my　enjoying　the　rest　of　my　days　in　the　active　leisure　which　I　desired。　　I　had　for　some　time　before　my　retirement　been　investing　in　consols；　which　my　dear　wife　termed　〃the　true　antibilious　stock；〃　and　I　have　ever　since　had　good　reason　to　be　satisfied　with　that　safe　and　tranquillising　investment。　　All　who　value　the　health…conserving　influence　of　the　absence　of　financial　worry　will　agree　with　me　that　this　antibilious　stock　is　about　the　best。

The　〃Cottage　in　Kent〃　was　beautiful；　especially　in　its　rural　surroundings。　　The　view　from　it　was　charming；　and　embodied　all　the　attractive　elements　of　happy…looking　English　scenery。　　The　noble　old　forest　trees　of　Penshurst　Park　were　close　alongside；　and　the　grand　old　historic　mansion　of　Penshurst　Place　was　within　a　quarter　of　a　mile's　distance　from　our　house。　　There　were　many　other　beautiful　parks　and　country　residences　in　our　neighbourhood；　the　railway　station；　which　was　within　thirty…five　minutes'　pleasant　walk；　enabling　us　to　be　within　reach　of　London；　with　its　innumerable　attractions；　in　little　more　than　an　hour　and　a　quarter。　　Six　acres　of　garden…ground　at　first　surrounded　our　cottage；　but　these　were　afterwards　expanded　to　sixteen；　and　the　whole　was　made　beautiful　by　the　planting　of　trees　and　shrubs　over　the　grounds。　　In　all　this　my　wife　and　myself　took　the　greatest　delight。

＇Image＇　　Hammerfield；　Penshurst。

From　my　hereditary　regard　for　hammerstwo　broken　hammer…shafts　being　the　crest　of　our　family　for　hundreds　of　yearsI　named　the　place　Hammerfield；　and　so　it　remains　to　this　day。　　　The　improvements　and　additions　to　the　house　and　the　grounds　were　considerable。　　A　greenhouse　was　built；　120　feet　long　by　32　feet　wide。　　Roomy　apartments　were　added　to　the　house。　　The　trees　and　shrubs　planted　about　the　grounds　were　carefully　selected。　　The　coniferae　class　were　my　special　favourites。　I　arranged　them　so　that　their　natural　variety　of　tints　should　form　the　most　pleasing　contrasts。　　In　this　respect　I　introduced　the　beech…tree　with　the　happiest　effect。　　It　is　bright　green　in　spring；　and　in　the　autumn　it　retains　its　beautiful　ruddy…tinted　leaves　until　the　end　of　winter；　when　they　are　again　replaced　by　the　new　growth。

The　warm　tint　of　the　beech　contrasts　beautifully　with　the　bright　green　of　the　coniferae；　especially　of　the　Lawsoniania　and　the　Douglassi　the　latter　being　one　of　the　finest　accessions　to　our　list　of　conifers。　It　is　graceful　in　form；　and　perfectly　hardy。　　I　also　interspersed　with　these　several　birch…trees；　whose　slender　and　graceful　habit　of　growth　forms　so　fine　a　contrast　to　the　dense　foliage　of　the　conifers。　To　thus　paint；　as　it　were；　with　trees；　is　a　high　source　of　pleasure　in　gardening。　　Among　my　various　enjoyments　this　has　been　about　the　greatest。

During　the　time　that　the　alterations　and　enlargements　were　in　progress　we　rented　a　house　for　six　months　at　Sydenham；　close　to　the　beautiful　grounds　of　the　Crystal　Palace。　　This　was　a　most　happy　episode　in　our　lives；　for；　besides　the　great　attractions　of　the　place；　both　inside　and　out；　there　were　the　admirable　orchestral　daily　concerts；　at　which　we　were　constant　attendants。　　We　had　the　pleasure　of　listening　to　the　noble　compositions　of　the　great　masters　of　music；　the　perfectly　trained　band　being　led　by　Herr　Manns；　who　throws　so　much　of　his　fine　natural　taste　and　enthusiastic　spirit　into　the　productions　as　to　give　them　every　possible　charm。

From　a　very　early　period　of　my　life　I　have　derived　the　highest　enjoyment　from　listening　to　music；　especially　to　melody；　which　is　to　me　the　most　pleasing　form　of　composition。　　When　I　have　the　opportunity　of　listening　to　such　kind　of　music；　it　yields　me　enjoyment　that　transcends　all　others。　　It　suggests　ideas；　and　brings　vividly　before　the　mind's　eye　scenes　that　move　the　imagination。　　This　is；　to　me；　the　highest　order　of　excellence　in　musical　composition。　　I　used　long　ago；　and　still　continue；　to　whistle　a　bit；　especially　when　engaged　in　some　pleasant　occupation。　　I　can　draw　from　my　mental　repository　a　vast　number　of　airs　and　certain　bits　of　compositions　that　I　had　once　heard。　　I　possess　that　important　qualification　for　a　musician〃a　good　ear；〃　and　I　always　worked　most　successfully　at　a　mechanical　drawing　when　I　was　engaged　in　whistling　some　favourite　air。　　The　dual　occupation　of　the　brain　had　always　the　best　results　in　the　quick　development　of　the　constructive　faculty。　　And　even　in　circumstances　where　whistling　is　not　allowed　I　can　think　airs；　and　enjoy　them　almost　as　much　as　when　they　are　distinctly　audible。　　This　power　of　the　brain；　I　am　fain　to　believe；　indicates　the　natural　existence　of　the　true　musical　faculty。　　But　I　had　been　so　busy　during　the　course　of　my　life　that　I　had　never　any　opportunity　of　learning　the　practical　use　of　any　musical　instrument。　And　here　I　must　leave　this　interesting　subject。

So　soon　as　I　was　in　due　possession　of　my　house；　I　had　speedily　transported　thither　all　my　art　treasuresmy　telescopes；　my　home　stock　of　tools；　the　instruments　of　my　own　construction；　made　from　the　very　beginning　of　my　career　as　a　mechanic；　and　associated　with　the　most　interesting　and　active　parts　of　my　life。　　I　lovingly　treasured　them；　and　gave　them　an　honoured　place　in　the　workshop　which　I　added　to　my　residence。　　There　they　are　now；　and　I　often　spend　a　busy　and　delightful　hour　in　handling　my　tools。　　It　is　curious　how　the　mere　sight　of　such　objects　brings　back　to　the　memory　bygone　incidents　and　recollections。　Friends　long　dead　seem　to　start　up　while　looking　at　them。　　You　almost　feel　as　if　you　could　converse　with　the　departed。　　I　do　not　know　of　anything　so　touchingly　powerful　in　vividly　bringing　back　the　treasured　incidents　and　memories　of　one's　life　as　the　sight　of　such　humble　objects。　　Every　one　has；　no　doubt；　a　treasured　store　of　such　material　records　of　a　well…remembered　portion　of　his　past　life。　These　strike；　as　it　were；　the　keynote　to　thoughts　that　bring　back　in　vivid　form　the　most　cherished　remembrances　of　our　lives。　　On　many　occasions　I　have　seen　at　sale　rooms　long　treasured　hoards　of　such　objects　thrown　together　in　a　heap　as　mere　rubbish。　　And　yet　these　had　been　to　some　the　sources　of　many　pleasant　thoughts　and　recollections；　But　the　last　final　break…up　has　come；　and　the　personal　belongings　of　some　departed　kind　heart　are　scattered　far　and　wide。　　These　touching　relics　of　a　long　life；　which　had　almost　become　part　of　himself；　are　〃knocked　down〃　to　the　lowest　class　of　bidders。　　It　is　a　sad　sight　to　witness　the　uncared　for　dispersion　of　such　objectsobjects　that　had　been　lovingly　stored　up　as　the　most　valued　of　personal　treasures。　I　could　have　wished　that；　as　was　the　practice　in　remote　antiquity；　such　touching　relics　were　buried　with　the　dead；　as　their　most　fitting　repository。　　Then　they　might　have　left　some　record；　instead　of　being　desecrated　by　the　harpies　who　wait　at　sales　for　such　〃job　lots。〃

Behold　us；　then；　settled　down　at　Hammerfield　for　life。　　We　had　plenty　to　do。　　My　workshop　was　fully　equipped。　　My　hobbies　were　there；　and　I　could　work　them　to　my　heart's　content。　　The　walls　of　our　various　rooms　were　soon　hung　with　pictures；　and　other　works　of　art；　suggestive　of　many　pleasant　associations　of　former　days。　　Our　library　book…case　was　crowded　with　old　friends；　in　the　shape　of　books　that　had　been　read　and　re…read　many　times；　until　they　had　become　almost　part　of　ourselves。　Old　Lancashire　friends　made　their　way　to　us　when　〃up　in　town；〃　and　expressed　themselves　delighted　with　our　pleasant　house　and　its　beautiful　surroundings。

The　continuous　planting　of　the　shrubs　and　trees　gave　us　great　pleasure。　Those　already　planted　had　grown　luxuriantly；　fed　by　the　fertile　soil　and　the　pure　air。　　Indeed；　in　course　of　time　they　required　the　judicious　use　of　the　axe　in　order　to　allow　the　fittest　to　survive　and　grow　at　their　own　free　will。　　Trees　contrive　to　manage　their　own　affairs　without　the　necessity　of　much　labour　or　interference。　The　〃survival　of　the　fittest〃　prevails　here　as　elsewhere。　　It　is　always　a　pleasure　to　watch　them。　　There　are　many　ordinary　old…fashioned　roadside　flowering　plants　which　I　esteem　for　their　vigorous　beauty；　and　I　enjoy　seeing　them　assume　the　careless　grace　of　Nature。

The　greenhouse　is　also　a　source　of　pleasure；　especially　to　my　dear　wife。　　It　is　full　of　flowers　of　all　kinds；　of　which　she　is　devotedly　fond。　　They　supply　her　with　subjects　for　her　brush　or　her　needle。　She　both　paints　them　and　works　them　by　her　needle　in　beautiful　forms　and　groups。　　This　is　one　of　her　many　favourite　hobbies。　　All　this　is　suitable　to　our　fireside　employments；　and　makes　the　days　and　the　evenings　pass　pleasantly　away。


CHAPTER　21。　　Active　leisure。

When　James　Watt　retired　from　business　towards　the　close　of　his　useful　and　admirable　life；　he　spoke　to　his　friends　of　occupying　himself　with　〃ingenious　trifles；〃　and　of　turning　〃some　of　his　idle　thoughts〃　upon　the　invention　of　an　arithmetical　machine　and　a　machine　for　copying　sculpture。　　These　and　other　useful　works　occupied　his　attentio