of torn and dusty books from a box under his stall. “I can’t say that
I have a French book of any sort, just now; but here is a Latin book,
if that will do as well; and a very famous book it is too, writ by
Cicero,--as great a man as lives--so they tell me, that are scholars.”
Thomas had no particular reason for wishing to learn French rather than
Latin, and therefore he desired to look at the book. Mr. Moth had put
on his spectacles, and seemed to be studying the title page. “It is
called,” said he, “M. Tullii Ciceronis de Officiis libri tres;--that
is to say, Tully’s Offices, in three books--and so forth;--and to make
it easy, you see, here is the English on one page and the Latin on the
other.”
After a little further conversation with Mr. Moth, Thomas comprehended
the nature and use of a _translation_, and it seemed to him that he had
nothing to do but to compare the opposite pages, word by word, in order
to find out the meaning of each.
As the volume had a leaf torn out, Mr. Moth asked no more than eighteen
pence for it, and knowing Thomas Trewellan’s good character, he
consented to let him take it away and pay for it a few pence at a
time, as he should be able to spare the money. He put the book into his
frock pocket and rode home more happy than if he had found a bag of
guineas.
Thomas had no opportunity even to look at the book he had bought, till
the evening of the following day. That he might be quite undisturbed,
he took his book, with paper, pens, and ink, to the top of the hill,
about a mile from his father’s house: there was here, what is called a
cromlech, that is, three huge stones standing upright, near each other:
a flat stone, which was once placed on the top of the upright stones,
had fallen from its place, and now laid on one side, and made a sort
of table. Thomas often came to this place in the long summer evenings.
The sides of the hill, all round, were scattered over with large rough
rocks; between which grew fine soft grass, interspersed with many
delicate flowers. On all the hills in the distance were seen the engine
houses, and round hillocks of earth thrown up from the mines. In the
furthest distance, both to the north and to the south, might be seen
a blue line of sea,--the English Channel on one side, and the Bristol
Channel on the other.
But now, Thomas Trewellan has set himself down to make his first
attempt at learning Latin: for want, however, of some one to give him
needful directions, he seemed only likely to lose all his labour. He
did not know that, in Latin, the words do not follow each other in the
same order that they do in English: and, therefore, he supposed he
could not fall into mistakes if he compared the Latin and the English
together, word by word, in order to learn the meaning of each Latin
word. That he might be the more sure, he determined to write the words
alternately, thus,--“_Quanquam_, Although; _te_, after; _Marce_,
twelve; _fili_, months; _annum_, spent; _jam_, in; _audientem_, the;
_Cratippum_, School:”--and so on. Before he had written out many lines
in this manner, he observed that the word _te_, occurred again: and he
immediately looked back to see if the same English word answered to it
in both places. But how great was his perplexity when he found that in
the one place it seemed to mean _after_; and in the other place _in_:
and as he went on he found that none of the same words in English,
answered to the same words in Latin.
Now, he knew not what to think, or what to do. He began to fear that
he must give up the thought of learning Latin. He resolved, however,
once more to ask a little assistance from John Dawson, who was not yet
returned to school. Thomas thought it very likely that John would only
laugh at him; but his desire to learn was so great, that he was willing
even to have his mistakes exposed to ridicule, if he could, in any way,
gain knowledge. The next time an opportunity occurred he showed what he
had written to John Dawson; requesting him to tell him if it was done
right: but this idle boy, after he had looked at the paper a minute,
burst out into a great fit of laughing. Thomas then endeavoured to take
the paper out of his hand; but he thrust it into his pocket; and ran
off, saying, it would make fine sport for the boys at school.
A few weeks after this occurrence, as Thomas was returning, in the
evening, to the mine, he was overtaken on the road by a gentleman
on horseback, who wore a white wig, and looked like a clergyman:
he stopped his horse, and enquired the way to a farm house in the
neighbourhood. Thomas pointed to the house in the distance, and
described the road to it, saying, “After you pass the bridge, Sir,
there is a horse-path across the heath, that runs at a right-angle with
the road:--this leads directly up to the house.”
“A right-angle!” said the gentleman; “and pray what do you know about
right-angles?”
Thomas was a little confused by the question; but modestly replied
that his Father had taught him a little Geometry in spare hours.
“Indeed,” said the gentleman, “and what is your Father’s name:--he is a
tinner, I suppose?”
“Yes, Sir: my Father works here, at huel[1] Tolgoth: his name is
Trewellan.”
[1] Pronounced _wheel_.
“Trewellan, hey:--and what is your name?”
“Thomas, Sir.”
“Thomas Trewellan:--now, Thomas, can you tell me what is the meaning of
the word _Quanquam_?”
“_Quanquam_, Sir; that’s Latin, is’nt it: I don’t understand Latin.”
Thomas recollected that this was the first word in Tully’s Offices;
and he wondered how the gentleman should happen to ask him the meaning
of that word.
“No,” said the gentleman, “I dare say you do not understand Latin.
But,” said he, “as you have learned something about Geometry, would’nt
you be pleased to learn Latin also?”
“Aye, Sir, I should like to learn Latin well enough: but my Father
can’t teach me that: besides, he says, ’tis of no use to us tinners.”
After a little more conversation, the gentleman asked Thomas if his
Father did not live very near the farm house to which he had just
inquired the way. Thomas replied, that his Father’s cottage was only
a stone’s throw on this side the farm: the gentleman then spurred his
horse, and rode off.
Thomas went on his way to the mine, greatly wondering what business
the gentleman could have with his Father: and especially how he should
happen to ask him about the word _Quanquam_.
When his work was done, he ran home: “Well, Thomas;” said his Father
and Mother, both speaking at once, when he opened the door;--“Well, who
do you think the gentleman was that overtook you on the road?--Why, to
be sure, Dr. Knowles, that keeps the school where the captain’s son
goes. He has been here, talking a long while about you. He says, that
he overheard John Dawson, (ah, the little varment), making great fun
among the boys, with reading something what you had written; and so he
inquired all about it: and made Master John tell him all he knew about
you; and about what you have learned, and how you tried to learn Latin:
and he says, too, he has known several poor lads, like you, Thomas,
that were so fond of learning, get on and on; and go to college.”
“College!” said Thomas, who stood with his mouth and eyes wide open;
“Where is college, Father: I don’t remember that place in the map?”
“Never mind that now, Thomas,” replied his Father: “I was going to say,
Dr. Knowles says its a pity you should not have an education: and he
says, that if we can any ways contrive to fit you out, and find you
clothes, he will give you your board and learning for nothing.”
Thomas was more pleased than we can easily describe, by this good
news. He continued, however, for several weeks to follow his
employment at the mine, till the necessary preparations for his going
to school could be made: during this time his good fortune was talked
about: and one of the proprietors of the mine hearing of the affair,
and having received a very good character of him from the captain,
promised to allow him a small sum yearly, while he should be at
school. All difficulties being thus removed, Thomas took leave of his
companions at the mine, and left his Father’s cottage to go to Dr.
Knowles’s academy. On his way, however, he did not forget to call on
his old acquaintance, Mr. Moth; to whom he related what had occurred,
and paid the last three-pence that was due for Tully’s Offices.
After Thomas had been a short time at school, he began to feel rather
discouraged on several accounts. In the first place, he was abashed
by being laughed at by many of the boys, for his awkward manners, and
incorrect mode of speaking: he found that little things, which he had
never thought of before; and which seemed to him of no importance, yet
gave the greatest dunce in the school an opportunity of making him
appear ridiculous. He was discouraged also by finding it more wearisome
than he had expected, to be obliged to apply to his learning so many
hours of the day: and he was a little vexed too, when he discovered
some branches of knowledge which he had never even heard mentioned
before, and of which he found it difficult to comprehend the nature,
and which yet seemed to be quite familiar to many boys in the school
five years younger than himself. As his memory had been very little
exercised, except in learning hymns and chapters from the Bible at
home, he found his tasks in the Latin Grammar rather burdensome: these
difficulties, however, diminished every month: and every day he felt a
fresh pleasure in the acquirement of knowledge, and in the employment
of his understanding.
“A year ago,” said Thomas to himself, “I hardly knew enough to know
that I was ignorant: now, I have just learned enough to make me
understand that I am still ignorant.”
THE END.
Printed by John Hill, 32, Water Lane, Blackfriars.
Transcriber’s Notes
A few minor errors in punctuation and spacing were fixed.
Page 72: “I am acqainted” changed to “I am acquainted”
Page 79: “half overtuned” changed to “half overturned”
Page 144: “Farmer Rana” changed to “Farmer Rand”
Page 154: “window-cill,” changed to “window-sill,”