' He would discourage them in nothing unless it
was hopelessly too hard for them; only, if there was any principle
of science involved, they must understand the principle; and
whatever was attempted, that was to be done thoroughly. If it was
but play, if it was but a puppetshow they were to build, he set
them the example of being no sluggard in play. When Frewen, the
second son, embarked on the ambitious design to make an engine for
a toy steamboat, Fleeming made him begin with a proper drawing -
doubtless to the disgust of the young engineer; but once that
foundation laid, helped in the work with unflagging gusto,
'tinkering away,' for hours, and assisted at the final trial 'in
the big bath' with no less excitement than the boy. 'He would take
any amount of trouble to help us,' writes my correspondent. 'We
never felt an affair was complete till we had called him to see,
and he would come at any time, in the middle of any work.' There
was indeed one recognised playhour, immediately after the despatch
of the day's letters; and the boys were to be seen waiting on the
stairs until the mail should be ready and the fun could begin.
Pages:
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216