coming! papa is coming!" Works, books, and drawings were quickly laid aside, and all were prepared to share in the anxiously expected pleasure. "Tom," said Mr. Seymour, as he advanced towards his family, who had by this time assembled on the lawn, "I have not forgotten my engagement, and am now prepared to devote the rest of the morning to its fulfilment." At this moment the servant advanced, and announced the arrival of Mr. Twaddleton; Tom and his sisters immediately ran forward to meet him. "My dear boy," exclaimed the vicar, " I am truly rejoiced to see you;—when did you arrive from school? -How goes on Virgil? Hey, my boy?—You must be delighted with the great Mantuan bard;-now confess, you little Trojan, can you eat a cheesecake without being reminded of the Harpy's prophecy, and its fulfilment, as discovered by young Ascanius: 'Heus! etiam mensas consumimus, inquit Iulus,** "The hungry band Invade their trenchers next, and soon devour, "But, bless me, how amazingly you have grown! and how healthy you look!" Tom took advantage of this pause in the vicar's address, which had hitherto flowed in so uninterrupted and rapid a stream as to have precluded the possibility of any reply to his questions, to inform him that his papa was on the lawn, and desirous of seeing him. "Mr. Twaddleton," exclaimed Mr. Seymour, "you are just in time to witness the commencement of a series of amusements, which I have proposed for Tom's instruction during the holidays." "Amusement and instruction," replied the vicar, "are not synonymous in my vocabulary; unless, indeed, they be applied to the glorious works of Virgil; but let me hear your scheme." "I have long thought," said Mr. Seymour, "that all the first principles of natural philosophy might be easily taught, and beautifully illustrated, by the common toys which have been invented for the amusement of youth." "A fig for your philosophy," was the unceremonious and chilling reply of the vicar. philosophy? Let them learn their grammar, scan their hexameters, and construe Virgil; it is time enough to inflict upon them mathematical torments when their names are entered on the University boards." "I differ from you entirely, my worthy friend, the principles of natural philosophy cannot be too early inculcated, nor can they be too widely diffused. Classical learning is, undoubtedly, essential to the polished gentleman; but science is the staff upon which he must rely for support." "Hoity toity!" exclaimed the reverend gentleman, "such principles accord not with my creed; heresy, downright heresy; that a man of your excellent sense and intelligence can be so far deceived! But the world has run mad, and much do I grieve to find, that the seclusion of Overton Lodge has not secured its inmates from the infection. I came here, Mr. Seymour, to receive your sympathy, but, alas! how can I expect consolation from one who entertains such hostile opinions." "You astonish me, what can have happened?" cried Mr. Seymour. "The maiden ladies of Overton, my dear sir, have imposed a charge upon their consciences, for which years of penitence would scarcely atone. There is Tom Plank, the carpenter, under the auspices of Miss Kitty Ryland, Dux fœmina facti*, as Virgil has it, soliciting subscriptions for the establishment of a philosophical society. I understand that this mania, for by what other, or more charitable term can I express such conduct? has seized this deluded man since his return from London, where he unfortunately became acquainted with some of the members of the Mechanics' Institute, who have succeeded in persuading him that all the "hewers of wood, and drawers of water," are about to associate themselves into societies for the promotion of science. Preposterous idea! as if a block of wood could not be split without a knowledge of the doctrine of percussion, nor a pail of water drawn from the well, without an acquaintance with hydrostatics; Miss Kitty Ryland, and her adjective, Miss Margery Noodleton, have eagerly counte * " A woman leads the way." Æn.i. 368. nanced the plan, for no other purpose, as I verily believe, than that of vexing me; Furor arma ministrat*, as Virgil has it; but, as I am a Christian priest, I solemnly declare, that I grieve only for my flock, and raise my feeble voice for no other purpose than that of scaring the wolf from the fold: to be angry, as Pope says, would be to revenge the faults of others upon ourselves; but I am not angry, Mr. Seymour, I am vexed, sorely vexed." "Take it not thus to heart, my dear vicar," replied his consoling friend; "the abuse of science may certainly prove injurious, but its sober and well-timed application cannot fail to increase the happiness of every class of mankind, as well as to advance and improve every branch of the mechanical arts; so thoroughly am I satisfied upon this point, that I shall subscribe to the proposed society with infinite satisfaction." not what "Mr. Seymour! Mr. Seymour! you know you do. Would you scatter the seeds of insubordination? manure the weeds of infidelity? fabricate a battering-ram to demolish 66 Fury supplies the weapons." En. i. 154. |