Thetaleofthisgreatfailureis，tothosewhoremainedtruetohim，thetaleofasuccess.Inhisyouthhetookthoughtfornoonebuthimself;whenhecameashoreagain，hiswholearmadalost，heseemedtothinkofnonebutothers.Suchwashistendernessforothers，suchhisinstinctoffinecourtesyandpride，thatofthatimpurepassionofremorseheneverbreathedasyllable;evenregretwasrarewithhim，andpointedwithajest.Youwouldnothavedreamed，ifyouhadknownhimthen，thatthiswasthatgreatfailure，thatbeacontoyoungmen，overwhosefallawholesocietyhadhissedandpointedfingers.Oftenhavewegonetohim，red—hotwithourownhopefulsorrows，railingontherose—leavesinourprincelybedoflife，andhewouldpatientlygiveearandwiselycounsel;anditwasonlyuponsomereturnofourownthoughtsthatwewereremindedwhatmannerofmanthiswastowhomwedisembosomed：aman，byhisownfault，ruined;shutoutofthegardenofhisgifts;hiswholecityofhopebothploughedandsalted;silentlyawaitingthedeliverer.Thensomethingtookusbythethroat;andtoseehimthere，sogentle，patient，braveandpious，oppressedbutnotcastdown，sorrowwassoswallowedupinadmirationthatwecouldnotdaretopityhim.Eveniftheoldfaultflashedoutagain，itbutawokeourwonderthat，inthatlostbattle，heshouldhavestilltheenergytofight.HehadgonetoruinwithakindofkinglyABANDON，likeonewhocondescended;butonceruined，withthelightsallout，hefoughtasforakingdom.
Mostmen，findingthemselvestheauthorsoftheirowndisgrace，railthelouderagainstGodordestiny.Mostmen，whentheyrepent，obligetheirfriendstosharethebitternessofthatrepentance.Buthehadheldaninquestandpassedsentence：MENE，MENE;andcondemnedhimselftosmilingsilence.Hehadgiventroubleenough;hadearnedmisfortuneamply，andforegonetherighttomurmur.
Thuswasouroldcomrade，likeSamson，carelessinhisdaysofstrength;butonthecomingofadversity，andwhenthatstrengthwasgonethathadbetrayedhim—\"forourstrengthisweakness\"—
hebegantoblossomandbringforth.Well，now，heisoutofthefight：theburdenthatheborethrowndownbeforethegreatdeliverer.We\"Inthevastcathedralleavehim;
Godaccepthim，Christreceivehim！\"
IV
Ifwegonowandlookontheseinnumerableepitaphs，thepathosandtheironyarestrangelyfled.Theydonotstandmerelytothedead，thesefoolishmonuments;theyarepillarsandlegendssetuptoglorifythedifficultbutnotdesperatelifeofman.Thisgroundishallowedbytheheroesofdefeat.
Iseetheindifferentpassbeforemyfriend’slastresting—place;
pause，withashrugofpity，marvellingthatsorichanargosyhadsunk.Apity，nowthatheisdonewithsuffering，apitymostuncalledfor，andanignorantwonder.Beforethosewholovedhim，hismemoryshineslikeareproach;theyhonourhimforsilentlessons;theycherishhisexample;andinwhatremainsbeforethemoftheirtoil，feartobeunworthyofthedead.Forthisproudmanwasoneofthosewhoprosperedinthevalleyofhumiliation;—ofwhomBunyanwrotethat，\"ThoughChristianhadthehardhaptomeetinthevalleywithApollyon，yetImusttellyou，thatinformertimesmenhavemetwithangelshere;havefoundpearlshere;andhaveinthisplacefoundthewordsoflife.\"
CHAPTERIV.ACOLLEGEMAGAZINE
I
ALLthroughmyboyhoodandyouth，Iwasknownandpointedoutforthepatternofanidler;andyetIwasalwaysbusyonmyownprivateend，whichwastolearntowrite.Ikeptalwaystwobooksinmypocket，onetoread，onetowritein.AsIwalked，mymindwasbusyfittingwhatIsawwithappropriatewords;whenIsatbytheroadside，Iwouldeitherread，orapencilandapennyversion—
bookwouldbeinmyhand，tonotedownthefeaturesofthesceneorcommemoratesomehaltingstanzas.ThusIlivedwithwords.AndwhatIthuswrotewasfornoulterioruse，itwaswrittenconsciouslyforpractice.ItwasnotsomuchthatIwishedtobeanauthor（thoughIwishedthattoo）asthatIhadvowedthatI
wouldlearntowrite.Thatwasaproficiencythattemptedme;andIpractisedtoacquireit，asmenlearntowhittle，inawagerwithmyself.Descriptionwastheprincipalfieldofmyexercise;fortoanyonewithsensesthereisalwayssomethingworthdescribing，andtownandcountryarebutonecontinuoussubject.ButIworkedinotherwaysalso;oftenaccompaniedmywalkswithdramaticdialogues，inwhichIplayedmanyparts;andoftenexercisedmyselfinwritingdownconversationsfrommemory.
Thiswasallexcellent，nodoubt;sowerethediariesIsometimestriedtokeep，butalwaysandveryspeedilydiscarded，findingthemaschoolofposturingandmelancholyself—deception.Andyetthiswasnotthemostefficientpartofmytraining.Goodthoughitwas，itonlytaughtme（sofarasIhavelearnedthematall）thelowerandlessintellectualelementsoftheart，thechoiceoftheessentialnoteandtherightword：thingsthattoahappierconstitutionhadperhapscomebynature.Andregardedastraining，ithadonegravedefect;foritsetmenostandardofachievement.
Sothattherewasperhapsmoreprofit，astherewascertainlymoreeffort，inmysecretlaboursathome.WheneverIreadabookorapassagethatparticularlypleasedme，inwhichathingwassaidoraneffectrenderedwithpropriety，inwhichtherewaseithersomeconspicuousforceorsomehappydistinctioninthestyle，Imustsitdownatonceandsetmyselftoapethatquality.Iwasunsuccessful，andIknewit;andtriedagain，andwasagainunsuccessfulandalwaysunsuccessful;butatleastinthesevainbouts，Igotsomepracticeinrhythm，inharmony，inconstructionandtheco—ordinationofparts.IhavethusplayedthesedulousapetoHazlitt，toLamb，toWordsworth，toSirThomasBrowne，toDefoe，toHawthorne，toMontaigne，toBaudelaireandtoObermann.
Irememberoneofthesemonkeytricks，whichwascalledTHEVANITY
OFMORALS：itwastohavehadasecondpart，THEVANITYOF
KNOWLEDGE;andasIhadneithermoralitynorscholarship，thenameswereapt;butthesecondpartwasneverattempted，andthefirstpartwaswritten（whichismyreasonforrecallingit，ghost—like，fromitsashes）nolessthanthreetimes：firstinthemannerofHazlitt，secondinthemannerofRuskin，whohadcastonmeapassingspell，andthird，inalaboriouspasticcioofSirThomasBrowne.Sowithmyotherworks：CAIN，anepic，was（savethemark！）animitationofSORDELLO：ROBINHOOD，ataleinverse，tookaneclecticmiddlecourseamongthefieldsofKeats，ChaucerandMorris：inMONMOUTH，atragedy，IreclinedonthebosomofMr.
Swinburne;inmyinnumerablegouty—footedlyrics，Ifollowedmanymasters;inthefirstdraftofTHEKING’SPARDON，atragedy，IwasonthetrailofnolessermanthanJohnWebster;intheseconddraftofthesamepiece，withstaggeringversatility，IhadshiftedmyallegiancetoCongreve，andofcourseconceivedmyfableinalessseriousvein—foritwasnotCongreve’sverse，itwashisexquisiteprose，thatIadmiredandsoughttocopy.EvenattheageofthirteenIhadtriedtodojusticetotheinhabitantsofthefamouscityofPeeblesinthestyleoftheBOOKOFSNOBS.SoI
mightgoonforever，throughallmyabortivenovels，anddowntomylaterplays，ofwhichIthinkmoretenderly，fortheywerenotonlyconceivedatfirstunderthebracinginfluenceofoldDumas，buthavemetwithresurrection：one，strangelybetteredbyanotherhand，cameonthestageitselfandwasplayedbybodilyactors;theother，originallyknownasSEMIRAMIS：ATRAGEDY，IhaveobservedonbookstallsundertheALIASofPrinceOtto.Butenoughhasbeensaidtoshowbywhatartsofimpersonation，andinwhatpurelyventriloquialeffortsIfirstsawmywordsonpaper.
That，likeitornot，isthewaytolearntowritewhetherIhaveprofitedornot，thatistheway.ItwassoKeatslearned，andtherewasneverafinertemperamentforliteraturethanKeats’s;itwasso，ifwecouldtraceitout，thatallmenhavelearned;andthatiswhyarevivaloflettersisalwaysaccompaniedorheraldedbyacastbacktoearlierandfreshermodels.PerhapsIhearsomeonecryout：Butthisisnotthewaytobeoriginal！Itisnot;
noristhereanywaybuttobebornso.Noryet，ifyouarebornoriginal，isthereanythinginthistrainingthatshallclipthewingsofyouroriginality.TherecanbenonemoreoriginalthanMontaigne，neithercouldanybemoreunlikeCicero;yetnocraftsmancanfailtoseehowmuchtheonemusthavetriedinhistimetoimitatetheother.Burnsistheverytypeofaprimeforceinletters：hewasofallmenthemostimitative.Shakespearehimself，theimperial，proceedsdirectlyfromaschool.Itisonlyfromaschoolthatwecanexpecttohavegoodwriters;itisalmostinvariablyfromaschoolthatgreatwriters，theselawlessexceptions，issue.Noristhereanythingherethatshouldastonishtheconsiderate.Beforehecantellwhatcadenceshetrulyprefers，thestudentshouldhavetriedallthatarepossible;
beforehecanchooseandpreserveafittingkeyofwords，heshouldlonghavepractisedtheliteraryscales;anditisonlyafteryearsofsuchgymnasticthathecansitdownatlast，legionsofwordsswarmingtohiscall，dozensofturnsofphrasesimultaneouslybiddingforhischoice，andhehimselfknowingwhathewantstodoand（withinthenarrowlimitofaman’sability）abletodoit.
Anditisthegreatpointoftheseimitationsthattherestillshinesbeyondthestudent’sreachhisinimitablemodel.Lethimtryasheplease，heisstillsureoffailure;anditisaveryoldandaverytruesayingthatfailureistheonlyhighroadtosuccess.Imusthavehadsomedispositiontolearn;forIclear—
sightedlycondemnedmyownperformances.Ilikeddoingthemindeed;butwhentheyweredone，Icouldseetheywererubbish.Inconsequence，Iveryrarelyshowedthemeventomyfriends;andsuchfriendsasIchosetobemyconfidantsImusthavechosenwell，fortheyhadthefriendlinesstobequiteplainwithme，\"Padding，\"
saidone.Anotherwrote：\"Icannotunderstandwhyyoudolyricssobadly.\"NomorecouldI！ThriceIputmyselfinthewayofamoreauthoritativerebuff，bysendingapapertoamagazine.Thesewerereturned;andIwasnotsurprisednorevenpained.Iftheyhadnotbeenlookedat，as（likeallamateurs）Isuspectedwasthecase，therewasnogoodinrepeatingtheexperiment;iftheyhadbeenlookedat—well，thenIhadnotyetlearnedtowrite，andImustkeeponlearningandliving.Lastly，Ihadapieceofgoodfortunewhichistheoccasionofthispaper，andbywhichIwasabletoseemyliteratureinprint，andtomeasureexperimentallyhowfarI
stoodfromthefavourofthepublic.
II
TheSpeculativeSocietyisabodyofsomeantiquity，andhascountedamongitsmembersScott，Brougham，Jeffrey，Horner，BenjaminConstant，RobertEmmet，andmanyalegalandlocalcelebritybesides.Byanaccident，variouslyexplained，ithasitsroomsintheverybuildingsoftheUniversityofEdinburgh：ahall，Turkey—carpeted，hungwithpictures，looking，whenlightedupatnightwithfireandcandle，likesomegoodlydining—room;apassage—likelibrary，walledwithbooksintheirwirecages;andacorridorwithafireplace，benches，atable，manyprintsoffamousmembers，andamuraltablettothevirtuesofaformersecretary.
Hereamembercanwarmhimselfandloafandread;here，indefianceofSenatus—consults，hecansmoke.TheSenatuslooksaskanceattheseprivileges;looksevenwithasomewhatvinegaraspectonthewholesociety;whicharguesalackofproportioninthelearnedmind，fortheworld，wemaybesure，willprizefarhigherthishauntofdeadlionsthanallthelivingdogsoftheprofessorate.
IsatoneDecembermorninginthelibraryoftheSpeculative;averyhumble—mindedyouth，thoughitwasavirtueIneverhadmuchcreditfor;yetproudofmyprivilegesasamemberoftheSpec.;
proudofthepipeIwassmokingintheteethoftheSenatus;andinparticular，proudofbeinginthenextroomtothreeverydistinguishedstudents，whowerethenconversingbesidethecorridorfire.Oneofthesehasnowhisnameonthebackofseveralvolumes，andhisvoice，Ilearn，isinfluentialinthelawcourts.Ofthedeathofthesecond，youhavejustbeenreadingwhatIhadtosay.
Andthethirdalsohasescapedoutofthatbattleofinwhichhefoughtsohard，itmaybesounwisely.Theywereallthree，asI
havesaid，notablestudents;butthiswasthemostconspicuous.
Wealthy，handsome，ambitious，adventurous，diplomatic，areaderofBalzac，andofallmenthatIhaveknown，themostliketooneofBalzac’scharacters，heledalife，andwasattendedbyanillfortune，thatcouldbeproperlysetforthonlyintheCOMEDIE
HUMAINE.HehadthenhiseyeonParliament;andsoonafterthetimeofwhichIwrite，hemadeashowyspeechatapoliticaldinner，wascrieduptoheavennextdayintheCOURANT，andthedayafterwasdashedlowerthanearthwithachargeofplagiarismintheSCOTSMAN.Reportwouldhaveit（Idaresay，verywrongly）thathewasbetrayedbyoneinwhomheparticularlytrusted，andthattheauthorofthechargehadlearneditstruthfromhisownlips.
Thus，atleast，hewasuponedayonapinnacle，admiredandenviedbyall;andthenext，thoughstillbutaboy，hewaspubliclydisgraced.Theblowwouldhavebrokenalessfinelytemperedspirit;andevenhimIsupposeitrenderedreckless;forhetookflighttoLondon，andthere，inafastclub，disposedofthebulkofhisconsiderablepatrimonyinthespaceofonewinter.ForyearsthereafterhelivedIknownothow;alwayswelldressed，alwaysingoodhotelsandgoodsociety，alwayswithemptypockets.
Thecharmofhismannermayhavestoodhimingoodstead;butthoughmyownmannersareveryagreeable，Ihaveneverfoundinthemasourceoflivelihood;andtoexplainthemiracleofhiscontinuedexistence，Imustfallbackuponthetheoryofthephilosopher，thatinhiscase，asinallofthesamekind，\"therewasasufferingrelativeinthebackground.\"Fromthisgenteeleclipsehereappeareduponthescene，andpresentlysoughtmeoutinthecharacterofagenerouseditor.ItisinthispartthatI
bestrememberhim;tall，slender，withanotungracefulstoop;
lookingquitelikearefinedgentleman，andquitelikeanurbaneadventurer;smilingwithanengagingambiguity;cockingatyouonepeakedeyebrowwithagreatappearanceoffinesse;speakinglowandsweetandthick，withatouchofburr;tellingstrangetaleswithsingulardeliberationand，toapatientlistener，excellenteffect.
Afteralltheseupsanddowns，heseemedstill，liketherichstudentthathewasofyore，tobreatheofmoney;seemedstillperfectlysureofhimselfandcertainofhisend.Yethewasthenuponthebrinkofhislastoverthrow.Hehadsethimselftofoundthestrangestthinginoursociety：oneofthoseperiodicalsheetsfromwhichmensupposethemselvestolearnopinions;inwhichyounggentlemenfromtheuniversitiesareencouraged，atsomuchaline，togarblefacts，insultforeignnationsandcalumniateprivateindividuals;andwhicharenowthesourceofglory，sothatifaman’snamebeoftenenoughprintedthere，hebecomesakindofdemigod;andpeoplewillpardonhimwhenhetalksbackandforth，astheydoforMr.Gladstone;andcrowdhimtosuffocationonrailwayplatforms，astheydidtheotherdaytoGeneralBoulanger;
andbuyhisliteraryworks，asIhopeyouhavejustdoneforme.
Ourfathers，whentheywereuponsomegreatenterprise，wouldsacrificealife;building，itmaybe，afavouriteslaveintothefoundationsoftheirpalace.Itwaswithhisownlifethatmycompaniondisarmedtheenvyofthegods.Hefoughthispapersingle—handed;trustingnoone，forhewassomethingofacynic;upearlyanddownlate，forhewasnothingofasluggard;dailyear—
wigginginfluentialmen，forhewasamasterofingratiation.Inthatslenderandsilkenfellowtheremusthavebeenarareveinofcourage，thatheshouldthushavediedathisemployment;anddoubtlessambitionspokeloudlyinhisear，anddoubtlesslovealso，foritseemstherewasamarriageinhisviewhadhesucceeded.Buthedied，andhispaperdiedafterhim;andofallthisgrace，andtact，andcourage，itmustseemtoourblindeyesasiftherehadcomeliterallynothing.
Thesethreestudentssat，asIwassaying，inthecorridor，underthemuraltabletthatrecordsthevirtuesofMacbean，theformersecretary.WewouldoftensmileatthatineloquentmemorialandthoughtitapoorthingtocomeintotheworldatallandhavenomorebehindonethanMacbean.Andyetofthesethree，twoaregoneandhaveleftless;andthisbook，perhaps，whenitisoldandfoxy，andsomeonepicksitupinacornerofabook—shop，andglancesthroughit，smilingattheold，gracelessturnsofspeech，andperhapsfortheloveofALMAMATER（whichmaybestillextantandflourishing）buysit，notwithouthaggling，forsomepence—
thisbookmayalonepreserveamemoryofJamesWalterFerrierandRobertGlasgowBrown.
TheirthoughtsranverydifferentlyonthatDecembermorning;theywereallonfirewithambition;andwhentheyhadcalledmeintothem，andmademeasharerintheirdesign，Itoobecamedrunkenwithprideandhope.WeweretofoundaUniversitymagazine.A
pairoflittle，activebrothers—Livingstonebyname，greatskippersonthefoot，greatrubbersofthehands，whokeptabook—
shopoveragainsttheUniversitybuilding—hadbeendebauchedtoplaythepartofpublishers.Wefourweretobeconjuncteditorsand，whatwasthemainpointoftheconcern，toprintourownworks;while，byeveryruleofarithmetic—thatflattererofcredulity—theadventuremustsucceedandbringgreatprofit.
Well，well：itwasabrightvision.Iwenthomethatmorningwalkinguponair.Tohavebeenchosenbythesethreedistinguishedstudentswastomethemostunspeakableadvance;itwasmyfirstdraughtofconsideration;itreconciledmetomyselfandtomyfellow—men;andasIsteeredroundtherailingsattheTron，I
couldnotwithholdmylipsfromsmilingpublicly.Yet，inthebottomofmyheart，Iknewthatmagazinewouldbeagrimfiasco;I
knewitwouldnotbeworthreading;Iknew，evenifitwere，thatnobodywouldreadit;andIkeptwonderinghowIshouldbeable，uponmycompactincomeoftwelvepoundsperannum，payablemonthly，tomeetmyshareintheexpense.ItwasacomfortablethoughttomethatIhadafather.
Themagazineappeared，inayellowcover，whichwasthebestpartofit，foratleastitwasunassuming;itranfourmonthsinundisturbedobscurity，anddiedwithoutagasp.Thefirstnumberwaseditedbyallfourofuswithprodigiousbustle;thesecondfellprincipallyintothehandsofFerrierandme;thethirdI
editedalone;andithaslongbeenasolemnquestionwhoitwasthateditedthefourth.Itwouldperhapsbestillmoredifficulttosaywhoreadit.Pooryellowsheet，thatlookedsohopefullyLivingtones’window！Poor，harmlesspaper，thatmighthavegonetoprintaSHAKESPEAREon，andwasinsteadsoclumsilydefacedwithnonsense;And，shallIsay，PoorEditors？Icannotpitymyself，towhomitwasallpuregain.Itwasnonewstome，butonlythewholesomeconfirmationofmyjudgment，whenthemagazinestruggledintohalf—birth，andinstantlysickenedandsubsidedintonight.I
hadsentacopytotheladywithwhommyheartwasatthattimesomewhatengaged，andwhodidallthatinherlaytobreakit;andshe，withsometact，passedoverthegiftandmycherishedcontributionsinsilence.IwillnotsaythatIwaspleasedatthis;butIwilltellhernow，ifbyanychanceshetakesuptheworkofherformerservant，thatIthoughtthebetterofhertaste.
Iclearedthedecksafterthislostengagement;hadthenecessaryinterviewwithmyfather，whichpassedoffnotamiss;paidovermyshareoftheexpensetothetwolittle，activebrothers，whorubbedtheirhandsasmuch，butmethoughtskippedratherlessthanformerly，havingperhaps，thesetwoalso，embarkedupontheenterprisewithsomegracefulillusions;andthen，reviewingthewholeepisode，Itoldmyselfthatthetimewasnotyetripe，northemanready;andtoworkIwentagainwithmypennyversion—
books，havingfallenbackinonedayfromtheprintedauthortothemanuscriptstudent.
III
FromthisdefunctperiodicalIamgoingtoreprintoneofmyownpapers.Thepoorlittlepieceisalltail—foremost.Ihavedonemybesttostraightenitsarray，Ihavepruneditfearlessly，anditremainsinvertebrateandwordy.Noself—respectingmagazinewouldprintthething;andhereyoubeholditinaboundvolume，notforanyworthofitsown，butforthesakeofthemanwhomitpurportsdimlytorepresentandsomeofwhosesayingsitpreserves;
sothatinthisvolumeofMemoriesandPortraits，RobertYoung，theSwanstongardener，maystandalongsideofJohnTodd，theSwanstonshepherd.NotthatJohnandRobertdrewveryclosetogetherintheirlives;forJohnwasrough，hesmeltofthewindybrae;andRobertwasgentle，andsmackedofthegardeninthehollow.
PerhapsitistomyshamethatIlikedJohnthebetterofthetwo;
hehadgritanddash，andthatsaltoftheOldAdamthatpleasesmenwithanysavageinheritanceofblood;andhewasaway—farerbesides，andtookmygipsyfancy.Buthoweverthatmaybe，andhoweverRobert’sprofilemaybeblurredintheboyishsketchthatfollows，hewasamanofamostquaintandbeautifulnature，whom，ifitwerepossibletorecastapieceofworksoold，Ishouldlikewelltodrawagainwithamaturertouch.AndasIthinkofhimandofJohn，Iwonderinwhatothercountrytwosuchmenwouldbefounddwellingtogether，inahamletofsometwentycottages，inthewoodyfoldofagreenhill.
CHAPTERV.ANOLDSCOTCHGARDENER
ITHINKImightalmosthavesaidthelast：somewhere，indeed，intheuttermostglensoftheLammermuiroramongthesouthwesternhillstheremayyetlingeradecrepidrepresentativeofthisbygonegoodfellowship;butasfarasactualexperiencegoes，IhaveonlymetonemaninmylifewhomightfitlybequotedinthesamebreathwithAndrewFairservice，—thoughwithouthisvices.Hewasamanwhoseverypresencecouldimpartasavourofquaintantiquitytothebaldestandmostmodernflower—plots.Therewasadignityabouthistallstoopingform，andanearnestnessinhiswrinkledfacethatrecalledDonQuixote;butaDonQuixotewhohadcomethroughthetrainingoftheCovenant，andbeennourishedinhisyouthonWALKER’SLIVESandTHEHINDLETLOOSE.
Now，asIcouldnotbeartoletsuchamanpassawaywithnosketchpreservedofhisold—fashionedvirtues，Ihopethereaderwilltakethisasanexcuseforthepresentpaper，andjudgeaskindlyashecantheinfirmitiesofmydescription.Tome，whofinditsodifficulttotellthelittlethatIknow，hestandsessentiallyasaGENIUSLOCI.Itisimpossibletoseparatehisspareformandoldstrawhatfromthegardeninthelapofthehill，withitsrocksovergrownwithclematis，itsshadowywalks，andthesplendidbreadthofchampaignthatonesawfromthenorth—westcorner.Thegardenandgardenerseempartandparcelofeachother.WhenI
takehimfromhisrightsurroundingsandtrytomakehimappearformeonpaper，helooksunrealandphantasmal：thebestthatIcansaymayconveysomenotiontothosethatneversawhim，buttomeitwillbeeverimpotent.
ThefirsttimethatIsawhim，IfancyRobertwasprettyoldalready：hehadcertainlybeguntousehisyearsasastalkinghorse.Latterlyhewasbeyondalltheimpudenciesoflogic，consideringareferencetotheparishregisterworthallthereasonsintheworld，\"IAMOLDANDWELLSTRICKENINYEARS，\"hewaswonttosay;andIneverfoundanyoneboldenoughtoanswertheargument.Apartfromthisvantagethathekeptoverallwhowerenotyetoctogenarian，hehadsomeotherdrawbacksasagardener.
Heshranktheveryplacehecultivated.Thedignityandreducedgentilityofhisappearancemadethesmallgardencutasorryfigure.Hewasfulloftalesofgreatersituationsinhisyoungerdays.Hespokeofcastlesandparkswithahumblingfamiliarity.
Hetoldofplaceswhereunder—gardenershadtrembledathislooks，wherethereweremeresandswanneries，labyrinthsofwalkandwildernessesofsadshrubberyinhiscontrol，tillyoucouldnothelpfeelingthatitwascondescensiononhisparttodressyourhumblergardenplots.Youwerethrownatonceintoaninvidiousposition.Youfeltthatyouwereprofitingbytheneedsofdignity，andthathispovertyandnothiswillconsentedtoyourvulgarrule.InvoluntarilyyoucomparedyourselfwiththeswineherdthatmadeAlfredwatchhiscakes，orsomebloatedcitizenwhomayhavegivenhissonsandhiscondescensiontothefallenDionysius.Norwerethedisagreeablespurelyfancifulandmetaphysical，fortheswaythatheexercisedoveryourfeelingsheextendedtoyourgarden，and，throughthegarden，toyourdiet.Hewouldtrimahedge，throwawayafavouriteplant，orfillthemostfavouredandfertilesectionofthegardenwithavegetablethatnoneofuscouldeat，insupremecontemptforouropinion.Ifyouaskedhimtosendyouinoneofyourownartichokes，\"THATIWULL，MEM，\"hewouldsay，\"WITHPLEASURE，FORITISMAIRBLESSEDTOGIVE
THANTORECEIVE.\"Ay，andevenwhen，byextratwistingofthescrew，weprevailedonhimtopreferourcommandstohisowninclination，andhewentaway，statelyandsad，professingthat\"OURWULLWASHISPLEASURE，\"butyetremindingusthathewoulddoit\"WITHFEELIN’S，\"—eventhen，Isay，thetriumphantmasterfelthumbledinhistriumph，feltthatheruledonsufferanceonly，thathewastakingameanadvantageoftheother’slowestate，andthatthewholescenehadbeenoneofthose\"slightsthatpatientmeritoftheunworthytakes.\"
Inflowershistastewasold—fashionedandcatholic;affectingsunflowersanddahlias，wallflowersandrosesandholdinginsupremeaversionwhatsoeverwasfantastic，new—fashionedorwild.
Therewasoneexceptiontothissweepingban.Foxgloves，thoughundoubtedlyguiltyonthelastcount，henotonlyspared，butloved;andwhentheshrubberywasbeingthinned，hestayedhishandanddexterouslymanipulatedhisbillinordertosaveeverystatelystem.Inboyhood，ashetoldmeonce，speakinginthattonethatonlyactorsandtheold—fashionedcommonfolkcanusenowadays，hisheartgrew\"PROUD\"withinhimwhenhecameonaburn—courseamongthebraesofManorthatshonepurplewiththeirgracefultrophies;
andnotallhisapprenticeshipandpracticeforsomanyyearsofprecisegardeninghadbanishedtheseboyishrecollectionsfromhisheart.Indeed，hewasamankeenlyalivetothebeautyofallthatwasbygone.Heaboundedinoldstoriesofhisboyhood，andkeptpiousaccountofallhisformerpleasures;andwhenhewent（onaholiday）tovisitoneofthefabledgreatplacesoftheearthwherehehadservedbefore，hecamebackfulloflittlepre—Raphaelitereminiscencesthatshowedrealpassionforthepast，suchasmighthaveshakenhandswithHazlittorJean—Jacques.
Buthoweverhissympathywithhisoldfeelingsmightaffecthislikingforthefoxgloves，theverytruthwasthathescornedallflowerstogether.Theywerebutgarnishings，childishtoys，triflingornamentsforladies’chimney—shelves.Itwastowardshiscauliflowersandpeasandcabbagethathisheartgrewwarm.Hispreferenceforthemoreusefulgrowthswassuchthatcabbageswerefoundinvadingtheflower—pots，andanoutpostofsavoyswasoncediscoveredinthecentreofthelawn.Hewouldprelectoversomethrivingplantwithwonderfulenthusiasm，pilingreminiscenceonreminiscenceofformerandperhapsyetfinerspecimens.Yeteventhenhedidnotletthecreditleavehimself.Hehad，indeed，raised\"FINERO’THEM;\"butitseemedthatnooneelsehadbeenfavouredwithalikesuccess.Allothergardeners，infact，weremerefoilstohisownsuperiorattainments;andhewouldrecount，withperfectsobernessofvoiceandvisage，howsoandsohadwondered，andsuchanothercouldscarcelygivecredittohiseyes.
Norwasitwithhisrivalsonlythathepartedpraiseandblame.
Ifyouremarkedhowwellaplantwaslooking，hewouldgravelytouchhishatandthankyouwithsolemnunction;allcreditinthematterfallingtohim.If，ontheotherhand，youcalledhisattentiontosomeback—goingvegetable，hewouldquoteScripture：
\"PAULMAYPLANTANDAPOLLOSMAYWATER;\"allblamebeinglefttoProvidence，onthescoreofdeficientrainoruntimelyfrosts.
Therewasonethinginthegardenthatsharedhispreferencewithhisfavouritecabbagesandrhubarb，andthatotherwasthebeehive.
Theirsound，theirindustry，perhapstheirsweetproductalso，hadtakenholdofhisimaginationandheart，whetherbywayofmemoryornoIcannotsay，althoughperhapsthebeestoowerelinkedtohimbysomerecollectionofManorbraesandhiscountrychildhood.
Nevertheless，hewastoocharyofhispersonalsafetyor（letmerathersay）hispersonaldignitytomingleinanyactiveofficetowardsthem.Buthecouldstandbywhileoneofthecontemnedrivalsdidtheworkforhim，andprotestthatitwasquitesafeinspiteofhisownconsideratedistanceandthecriesofthedistressedassistant.Inregardtobees，hewasratheramanofwordthandeed，andsomeofhismoststrikingsentenceshadthebeesfortext.\"THEYAREINDEEDWONDERFULCREATURES，MEM，\"hesaidonce.\"THEYJUSTMINDMEO’WHATTHEQUEENOFSHEBASAIDTO
SOLOMON—ANDITHINKSHESAIDITWI’ASIGH，—’THEHALFOFIT
HATHNOTBEENTOLDUNTOME.’\"
AsfarastheBiblegoes，hewasdeeplyread.LiketheoldCovenanters，ofwhomhewastheworthyrepresentative，hismouthwasfullofsacredquotations;itwasthebookthathehadstudiedmostandthoughtuponmostdeeply.TomanypeopleinhisstationtheBible，andperhapsBurns，aretheonlybooksofanyvitalliterarymeritthattheyread，feedingthemselves，fortherest，onthedraffofcountrynewspapers，andtheveryinstructivebutnotverypalatablepabulumofsomecheapeducationalseries.ThiswasRobert’sposition.AlldaylonghehaddreamedoftheHebrewstories，andhisheadhadbeenfullofHebrewpoetryandGospelethics;untiltheyhadstruckdeeprootintohisheart，andtheveryexpressionshadbecomeapartofhim;sothatherarelyspokewithoutsomeantiqueidiomorScripturemannerismthatgavearacinesstothemeresttrivialitiesoftalk.ButtheinfluenceoftheBibledidnotstophere.TherewasmoreinRobertthanquaintphraseandreadystoreofreference.Hewasimbuedwithaspiritofpeaceandlove：heinterposedbetweenmanandwife：hethrewhimselfbetweentheangry，touchinghishatthewhilewithalltheceremonyofanusher：heprotectedthebirdsfromeverybodybuthimself，seeing，Isuppose，agreatdifferencebetweenofficialexecutionandwantonsport.Hismistresstellinghimonedaytoputsomefernsintohismaster’sparticularcorner，andadding，\"Though，indeed，Robert，hedoesn’tdeservethem，forhewouldn’thelpmetogatherthem，\"\"EH，MEM，\"repliesRobert，\"BUTIWOULDNAE
SAYTHAT，FORITHINKHE’SJUSTAMOSTDESERVIN’GENTLEMAN.\"
Again，twoofourfriends，whowereonintimateterms，andaccustomedtouselanguagetoeachother，somewhatwithouttheboundsoftheparliamentary，happenedtodifferaboutthepositionofaseatinthegarden.Thediscussion，aswasusualwhenthesetwowereatit，soonwaxedtolerablyinsultingonbothsides.
Everyoneaccustomedtosuchcontroversiesseveraltimesadaywasquietlyenjoyingthisprize—fightofsomewhatabusivewit—everyonebutRobert，towhomtheperfectgoodfaithofthewholequarrelseemedunquestionable，andwho，afterhavingwaitedtillhisconsciencewouldsufferhimtowaitnomore，andtillheexpectedeverymomentthatthedisputantswouldfalltoblows，cutsuddenlyinwithtonesofalmosttearfulentreaty：\"EH，BUT，GENTLEMEN，I
WADHAENAEMAIRWORDSABOUTIT！\"OnethingwasnoticeableaboutRobert’sreligion：itwasneitherdogmaticnorsectarian.Heneverexpatiated（atleast，inmyhearing）onthedoctrinesofhiscreed，andhenevercondemnedanybodyelse.IhavenodoubtthatheheldallRomanCatholics，Atheists，andMahometansasconsiderablyoutofit;Idon’tbelievehehadanysympathyforPrelacy;andthenaturalfeelingsofmanmusthavemadehimalittlesoreaboutFree—Churchism;butatleast，henevertalkedabouttheseviews，nevergrewcontroversiallynoisy，andneveropenlyaspersedthebelieforpracticeofanybody.NowallthisisnotgenerallycharacteristicofScotchpiety;Scotchsectsbeingchurchesmilitantwithavengeance，andScotchbelieversperpetualcrusaderstheoneagainsttheother，andmissionariestheonetotheother.
PerhapsRobert’soriginallytenderheartwaswhatmadethedifference;or，perhaps，hissolitaryandpleasantlabouramongfruitsandflowershadtaughthimamoresunshinycreedthanthosewhoseworkisamongthetaresoffallenhumanity;andthesoftinfluencesofthegardenhadentereddeepintohisspirit，\"Annihilatingallthat’smadeToagreenthoughtinagreenshade.\"
ButIcouldgoonforeverchroniclinghisgoldensayingsortellingofhisinnocentandlivingpiety.Ihadmeanttotellofhiscottage，withtheGermanpipehungreverentlyabovethefire，andtheshellboxthathehadmadeforhisson，andofwhichhewouldsaypathetically：\"HEWASREALPLEASEDWI’ITATFIRST，BUT
ITHINKHE’SGOTAKINDO’TIREDO’ITNOW\"—thesonbeingthenamanofaboutforty.ButIwillletallthesepass.\"’Tismoresignificant：he’sdead.\"Theearth，thathehaddiggedsomuchinhislife，wasdugoutbyanotherforhimself;andtheflowersthathehadtendeddrewtheirlifestillfromhim，butinanewandnearerway.Abirdflewabouttheopengrave，asifittoowishedtohonourtheobsequiesofonewhohadsooftenquotedScriptureinfavourofitskind.\"Arenottwosparrowssoldforonefarthing，andyetnotoneofthemfallethtotheground.\"
Yes，heisdead.Butthekingsdidnotriseintheplaceofdeathtogreethim\"withtauntingproverbs\"astheyrosetogreetthehaughtyBabylonian;forinhislifehewaslowly，andapeacemakerandaservantofGod.
CHAPTERVI.PASTORAL
TOleavehomeinearlylifeistobestunnedandquickenedwithnovelties;butwhenyearshavecome，itonlycastsamoreendearinglightuponthepast.AsinthosecompositephotographsofMr.
Galton’s，theimageofeachnewsitterbringsoutbutthemoreclearlythecentralfeaturesoftherace;whenonceyouthhasflown，eachnewimpressiononlydeepensthesenseofnationalityandthedesireofnativeplaces.SomaysomecadetofRoyalEcossaisortheAlbanyRegiment，ashemountedguardaboutFrenchcitadels，somaysomeofficermarchinghiscompanyoftheScots—
Dutchamongthepolders，havefeltthesoftrainsoftheHebridesuponhisbrow，orstartedintheranksattherememberedaromaofpeat—smoke.Andtheriversofhomearedearinparticulartoallmen.ThisisasoldasNaaman，whowasjealousforAbanaandPharpar;itisconfinedtonoracenorcountry，forIknowoneofScottishbloodbutachildofSuffolk，whosefancystilllingersabouttheliliedlowlandwatersofthatshire.ButthestreamsofScotlandareincomparableinthemselves—orIamonlythemoreScottishtosupposeso—andtheirsoundandcolourdwellforeverinthememory.HowoftenandwillinglydoInotlookagaininfancyonTummel，orManor，orthetalkingAirdle，orDeeswirlinginitsLynn;onthebrightburnofKinnaird，orthegoldenburnthatpoursandsulksinthedenbehindKingussie！Ithinkshametoleaveoutoneoftheseenchantresses，butthelistwouldgrowtoolongifIrememberedall;onlyImaynotforgetAllanWater，norbirch—wettingRogie，noryetAlmond;nor，forallitspollutions，thatWaterofLeithofthemanyandwell—namedmills—Bell’sMills，andCanonMills，andSilverMills;norRedfordBurnofpleasantmemories;noryet，forallitssmallness，thatnamelesstricklethatspringsinthegreenbosomofAllermuir，andisfedfromHalkersidewithaperennialteacupful，andthreadsthemossundertheShearer’sKnowe，andmakesonepoolthere，overhungbyarock，whereIlovedtositandmakebadverses，andisthenkidnappedinitsinfancybysubterraneanpipesfortheserviceofthesea—beholdingcityintheplain.Frommanypointsinthemossyoumayseeatoneglanceitswholecourseandthatofallitstributaries;thegeographerofthisLilliputmayvisitallitscornerswithoutsittingdown，andnotyetbegintobebreathed;
Shearer’sKnoweandHalkersidearebutnamesofadjacentcantonsonasingleshoulderofahill，asnamesaresquandered（itwouldseemtothein—expert，insuperfluity）upontheseuplandsheepwalks;abucketwouldreceivethewholedischargeofthetoyriver;itwouldtakeitanappreciabletimetofillyourmorningbath;forthemostpart，besides，itsoaksunseenthroughthemoss;andyetforthesakeofauldlangsyne，andthefigureofacertainGENIUSLOCI，I
amcondemnedtolingerawhileinfancybyitsshores;andifthenymph（whocannotbeaboveaspaninstature）willbutinspiremypen，Iwouldgladlycarrythereaderalongwithme.
JohnTodd，whenIknewhim，wasalready\"theoldestherdonthePentlands，\"andhadbeenallhisdaysfaithfultothatcurlew—
scattering，sheep—collectinglife.Herememberedthedrovingdays，whenthedroveroads，thatnowliegreenandsolitarythroughtheheather，werethrongedthoroughfares.HehadhimselfoftenmarchedflocksintoEngland，sleepingonthehillsideswithhiscaravan;
andbyhisaccountitwasaroughbusinessnotwithoutdanger.Thedroveroadslayapartfromhabitation;thedroversmetinthewilderness，asto—daythedeep—seafishersmeetoffthebanksinthesolitudeoftheAtlantic;andintheoneasintheothercaseroughhabitsandfist—lawweretherule.Crimeswerecommitted，sheepfilched，anddroversrobbedandbeaten;mostofwhichoffenceshadamoorlandburialandwereneverheardofinthecourtsofjustice.John，inthosedays，wasatleastonceattacked，—bytwomenafterhiswatch，—andatleastonce，betrayedbyhishabitualanger，fellunderthedangerofthelawandwasclappedintosomerusticprison—house，thedoorsofwhichheburstinthenightandwasnomoreheardofinthatquarter.
WhenIknewhim，hislifehadfalleninquieterplaces，andhehadnocaresbeyondthedulnessofhisdogsandtheinroadsofpedestriansfromtown.Butforamanofhispropensitytowraththesewereenough;heknewneitherrestnorpeace，exceptbysnatches;inthegrayofthesummermorning，andalreadyfromfarupthehill，hewouldwakethe\"toun\"withthesoundofhisshoutings;andinthelambingtime，hiscrieswerenotyetsilencedlateatnight.ThiswrathfulvoiceofamanunseenmightbesaidtohauntthatquarterofthePentlands，anaudiblebogie;andnodoubtitaddedtothefearinwhichmenstoodofJohnatouchofsomethinglegendary.Formyownpart，hewasatfirstmyenemy，andI，inmycharacterofaramblingboy，hisnaturalabhorrence.
ItwaslongbeforeIsawhimnearathand，knowinghimonlybysomesuddenblastofbellowingfromfarabove，biddingme\"c’wayootamangthesheep.\"Thequietestrecessesofthehillharbouredthisogre;IskulkedinmyfavouritewildernesslikeaCameronianoftheKillingTime，andJohnToddwasmyClaverhouse，andhisdogsmyquestingdragoons.Littlebylittlewedroppedintocivilities;
hishailatsightofmebegantohavelessoftheringofawar—
slogan;soon，wenevermetbutheproducedhissnuff—box，whichwaswithhim，likethecalumetwiththeRedIndian，apartoftheheraldryofpeace;andatlength，intheripenessoftime，wegrewtobeapairoffriends，andwhenIlivedaloneinthesepartsinthewinter，itwasasettledthingforJohnto\"givemeacry\"overthegardenwallashesetforthuponhiseveninground，andformetoovertakeandbearhimcompany.
Thatdreadvoiceofhisthatshookthehillswhenhewasangry，fellinordinarytalkverypleasantlyupontheear，withakindofhonied，friendlywhine，notfaroffsinging，thatwaseminentlyScottish.Helaughednotveryoften，andwhenhedid，withasudden，loudhaw—haw，heartybutsomehowjoyless，likeanechofromarock.Hisfacewaspermanentlysetandcoloured;ruddyandstiffwithweathering;morelikeapicturethanaface;yetwithacertainstrainandathreatoflatentangerintheexpression，likethatofamantrainedtoofineandharassedwithperpetualvigilance.HespokeintherichestdialectofScotchIeverheard;
thewordsinthemselveswereapleasureandoftenasurprisetome，sothatIoftencamebackfromoneofourpatrolswithnewacquisitions;andthisvocabularyhewouldhandlelikeamaster，stalkingalittlebeforeme，\"beardonshoulder，\"theplaidhanginglooselyabouthim，theyellowstaffclappedunderhisarm，andguidingmeuphillbythatdevious，tacticalascentwhichseemspeculiartomenofhistrade.Imightcounthimwiththebesttalkers;onlythattalkingScotchandtalkingEnglishseemincomparableacts.Hetouchedonnothingatleast，butheadornedit;whenhenarrated，thescenewasbeforeyou;whenhespoke（ashedidmostly）ofhisownantiquebusiness，thethingtookonacolourofromanceandcuriositythatwassurprising.Theclansofsheepwiththeirparticularterritoriesonthehill，andhow，intheyearlykillingsandpurchases，eachmustbeproportionallythinnedandstrengthened;themidnightbusynessofanimals，thesignsoftheweather，thecaresofthesnowyseason，theexquisitestupidityofsheep，theexquisitecunningofdogs：allthesehecouldpresentsohumanly，andwithsomucholdexperienceandlivinggusto，thatwearinesswasexcluded.Andinthemidsthewouldsuddenlystraightenhisbowedback，thestickwouldflyabroadindemonstration，andthesharpthunderofhisvoicerolloutalongitineraryforthedogs，sothatyousawatlasttheuseofthatgreatwealthofnamesforeveryknoweandhoweuponthehillside;andthedogs，havinghearkenedwithloweredtailsandraisedfaces，wouldrunuptheirflagsagaintothemastheadandspreadthemselvesupontheindicatedcircuit.Itusedtofillmewithwonderhowtheycouldfollowandretainsolongastory.ButJohndeniedthesecreaturesallintelligence;theyweretheconstantbuttofhispassionandcontempt;itwasjustpossibletoworkwiththelikeofthem，hesaid，—notmorethanpossible.Andthenhewouldexpanduponthesubjectofthereallygooddogsthathehadknown，andtheonereallygooddogthathehadhimselfpossessed.Hehadbeenofferedfortypoundsforit;butagoodcolliewasworthmorethanthat，morethananything，toa\"herd;\"
hedidtheherd’sworkforhim.\"Asforthelikeofthem！\"hewouldcry，andscornfullyindicatethescouringtailsofhisassistants.
Once—ItranslateJohn’sLallan，forIcannotdoitjustice，beingbornBRITANNISINMONTIBUS，indeed，butalas！INERUDITOSAECULO—
once，inthedaysofhisgooddog，hehadboughtsomesheepinEdinburgh，andonthewayout，theroadbeingcrowded，twowerelost.ThiswasareproachtoJohn，andasluruponthedog;andbothwerealivetotheirmisfortune.Wordcame，aftersomedays，thatafarmeraboutBraidhadfoundapairofsheep;andthitherwentJohnandthedogtoaskforrestitution.Butthefarmerwasahardmanandstooduponhisrights.\"Howweretheymarked？\"heasked;andsinceJohnhadboughtrightandleftfrommanysellersandhadnonotionofthemarks—\"Verywell，\"saidthefarmer，\"thenit’sonlyrightthatIshouldkeepthem.\"—\"Well，\"saidJohn，\"it’safactthatIcannaetellthesheep;butifmydogcan，willyeletmehavethem？\"Thefarmerwashonestaswellashard，andbesidesIdaresayhehadlittlefearoftheordeal;sohehadallthesheepuponhisfarmintoonelargepark，andturnedJohn’sdogintotheirmidst.Thathairymanofbusinessknewhiserrandwell;heknewthatJohnandhehadboughttwosheepand（totheirshame）lostthemaboutBoroughmuirhead;heknewbesides（thelordknowshow，unlessbylistening）thattheywerecometoBraidfortheirrecovery;andwithoutpauseorblundersingledout，firstoneandthenanother，thetwowaifs.Itwasthatafternoonthefortypoundswereofferedandrefused.Andtheshepherdandhisdog—
whatdoIsay？thetrueshepherdandhisman—setofftogetherbyFairmileheadinjocundhumour，and\"smiledtoither\"allthewayhome，withthetworecoveredonesbeforethem.Sofar，sogood;
butintelligencemaybeabused.Thedog，asheisbylittleman’sinferiorinmind，isonlybylittlehissuperiorinvirtue;andJohnhadanothercollietaleofquiteadifferentcomplexion.AtthefootofthemossbehindKirkYetton（CaerKetton，wisemensay）
thereisascrogoflowwoodandapoolwithadamforwashingsheep.Johnwasonedaylyingunderabushinthescrog，whenhewasawareofacollieonthefarhillsideskulkingdownthroughthedeepestoftheheatherwithobtrusivestealth.Heknewthedog;
knewhimforaclever，risingpractitionerfromquiteadistantfarm;onewhomperhapshehadcovetedashesawhimmasterfullysteeringflockstomarket.Butwhatdidthepractitionersofarfromhome？andwhythisguiltyandsecretmanoeuvringtowardsthepool？—foritwastowardsthepoolthathewasheading.Johnlaythecloserunderhisbush，andpresentlysawthedogcomeforthuponthemargin，lookallabouthimtoseeifhewereanywhereobserved，plungeinandrepeatedlywashhimselfoverheadandears，andthen（butnowopenlyandwithtailinair）strikehomewardoverthehills.Thatsamenightwordwassenthismaster，andtherisingpractitioner，shakenupfromwherehelay，allinnocence，beforethefire，washadouttoadykesideandpromptlyshot;foralas！hewasthatfoulestofcriminalsundertrust，asheep—eater;
anditwasfromthemaculationofsheep’sbloodthathehadcomesofartocleansehimselfinthepoolbehindKirkYetton.
Atradethattouchesnature，onethatliesatthefoundationsoflife，inwhichwehaveallhadancestorsemployed，sothatonahintofitancestralmemoriesrevive，lendsitselftoliteraryuse，vocalorwritten.Thefortuneofataleliesnotaloneintheskillofhimthatwrites，butasmuch，perhaps，intheinheritedexperienceofhimwhoreads;andwhenIhearwithaparticularthrillofthingsthatIhaveneverdoneorseen，itisoneofthatinnumerablearmyofmyancestorsrejoicinginpastdeeds.ThusnovelsbegintotouchnotthefineDILETTANTIbutthegrossmassofmankind，whentheyleaveofftospeakofparloursandshadesofmannerandstill—bornnicetiesofmotive，andbegintodealwithfighting，sailoring，adventure，deathorchildbirth;andthusancientoutdoorcraftsandoccupations，whetherMr.Hardywieldstheshepherd’scrookorCountTolstoiswingsthescythe，liftromanceintoanearneighbourhoodwithepic.Theseagedthingshaveonthemthedewofman’smorning;theylienear，notsomuchtous，thesemi—artificialflowerets，astothetrunkandaboriginaltaprootoftherace.Athousandinterestsspringupintheprocessoftheages，andathousandperish;thatisnowaneccentricityoralostartwhichwasoncethefashionofanempire;
andthoseonlyareperennialmattersthatrouseusto—day，andthatrousedmeninallepochsofthepast.Thereisacertaincritic，notindeedofexecutionbutofmatter，whomIdarebeknowntosetbeforethebest：acertainlow—browed，hairygentleman，atfirstapercherintheforkoftrees，next（astheyrelate）adwellerincaves，andwhomIthinkIseesquattingincave—mouths，ofapleasantafternoon，tomunchhisberries—hiswife，thataccomplishedlady，squattingbyhisside：hisnameIneverheard，butheisoftendescribedasProbablyArboreal，whichmayserveforrecognition.Eachhashisowntreeofancestors，butatthetopofallsitsProbablyArboreal;inallourveinsthererunsomeminimsofhisold，wild，tree—topblood;ourcivilisednervesstilltinglewithhisrudeterrorsandpleasures;andtothatwhichwouldhavemovedourcommonancestor，allmustobedientlythrill.