He was eager for his sons; eager for
their health, whether of mind or body; eager for their education;
in that, I should have thought, too eager. But he kept a pleasant
face upon all things, believed in play, loved it himself, shared
boyishly in theirs, and knew how to put a face of entertainment
upon business and a spirit of education into entertainment. If he
was to test the progress of the three boys, this advertisement
would appear in their little manuscript paper:- 'Notice: The
Professor of Engineering in the University of Edinburgh intends at
the close of the scholastic year to hold examinations in the
following subjects: (1) For boys in the fourth class of the
Academy - Geometry and Algebra; (2) For boys at Mr. Henderson's
school - Dictation and Recitation; (3) For boys taught exclusively
by their mothers - Arithmetic and Reading.' Prizes were given; but
what prize would be so conciliatory as this boyish little joke? It
may read thin here; it would smack racily in the playroom.
Whenever his sons 'started a new fad' (as one of them writes to me)
they 'had only to tell him about it, and he was at once interested
and keen to help.
Pages:
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215