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shade of some tall poplars。
Yes； there sat my father in the garden chair which leaned against
the wall of his quiet home； the haven in which he had sought rest；
and； praise be to God； found it； after many a year of poorly…
requited toil； there he sat； with locks of silver gray which set
off so nobly his fine bold but benevolent face； his faithful
consort at his side； and his trusty dog at his feet … an eccentric
animal of the genuine regimental breed； who； born amongst red
coats； had not yet become reconciled to those of any other hue；
barking and tearing at them when they drew near the door； but
testifying his fond reminiscence of the former by hospitable
waggings of the tail whenever a uniform made its appearance … at
present a very unfrequent occurrence。
'I am afraid I have not done right in putting him to the law；' said
my father； resting his chin upon his gold…headed bamboo cane。
'Why； what makes you think so？' said my mother。
'I have been taking my usual evening walk up the road； with the
animal here；' said my father； 'and； as I walked along； I overtook
the boy's master； Mr。 S…。 We shook hands； and； after walking a
little way farther； we turned back together； talking about this and
that； the state of the country； the weather； and the dog； which he
greatly admired； for he is a good…natured man； and has a good word
for everybody； though the dog all but bit him when he attempted to
coax his head； after the dog； we began talking about the boy； it
was myself who introduced that subject： I thought it was a good
opportunity to learn how he was getting on； so I asked what he
thought of my son； he hesitated at first； seeming scarcely to know
what to say； at length he came out with 〃Oh； a very extraordinary
youth； a most remarkable youth indeed； captain！〃 〃Indeed；〃 said I；
〃I am glad to hear it； but I hope you find him steady？〃 〃Steady；
steady；〃 said he； 〃why； yes； he's steady； I cannot say that he is
not steady。〃 〃Come； come；〃 said I； beginning to be rather uneasy；
〃I see plainly that you are not altogether satisfied with him； I
was afraid you would not be； for； though he is my own son； I am
anything but blind to his imperfections； but do tell me what
particular fault you have to find with him； and I will do my best
to make him alter his conduct。〃 〃No fault to find with him；
captain； I assure you； no fault whatever； the youth is a remarkable
youth； an extraordinary youth； only … 〃 As I told you before； Mr。
S… is the best…natured man in the world； and it was only with the
greatest difficulty that I could get him to say a single word to
the disadvantage of the boy； for whom he seems to entertain a very
great regard。 At last I forced the truth from him； and grieved I
was to hear it； though I must confess that I was somewhat prepared
for it。 It appears that the lad has a total want of
discrimination。'
'I don't understand you；' said my mother。
'You can understand nothing that would seem for a moment to impugn
the conduct of that child。 I am not； however； so blind； want of
discrimination was the word； and it both sounds well； and is
expressive。 It appears that； since he has been placed where is； he
has been guilty of the grossest blunders； only the other day； Mr。
S… told me； as he was engaged in close conversation with one of his
principal clients； the boy came to tell him that a person wanted
particularly to speak with him； and； on going out； he found a
lamentable figure with one eye； who came to ask for charity； whom；
nevertheless； the lad had ushered into a private room； and
installed in an arm…chair； like a justice of the peace； instead of
telling him to go about his business … now what did that show； but
a total want of discrimination？'
'I wish we may never have anything worse to reproach him with；'
said my mother。
'I don't know what worse we could reproach him with；' said my
father； 'I mean of course as far as his profession is concerned；
discrimination is the very keystone； if he treated all people
alike； he would soon become a beggar himself； there are grades in
society as well as in the army； and according to those grades we
should fashion our behaviour； else there would instantly be an end
of all order and discipline。 I am afraid that the child is too
condescending to his inferiors； whilst to his superiors he is apt
to be unbending enough； I don't believe that would do in the world；
I am sure it would not in the army。 He told me another anecdote
with respect to his behaviour； which shocked me more than the other
had done。 It appears that his wife； who by the bye； is a very fine
woman； and highly fashionable； gave him permission to ask the boy
to tea one evening； for she is herself rather partial to the lad；
there had been a great dinner party there that day； and there were
a great many fashionable people； so the boy went and behaved very
well and modestly for some time； and was rather noticed； till；
unluckily； a very great gentleman； an archdeacon I think； put some
questions to him； and； finding that he understood the languages；
began talking to him about the classics。 What do you think？ the
boy had the impertinence to say that the classics were much
overvalued； and amongst other things that some horrid fellow or
other； some Welshman I think （thank God it was not an Irishman）；
was a better poet than Ovid； the company were of course horrified；
the archdeacon； who is seventy years of age； and has seven thousand
a year； took snuff and turned away。 Mrs。 S… turned up her eyes；
Mr。 S…； however； told me with his usual good…nature （I suppose to
spare my feelings） that he rather enjoyed the thing； and thought it
a capital joke。'
'I think so too；' said my mother。
'I do not；' said my father； 'that a boy of his years should
entertain an opinion of his own … I mean one which militates
against all established authority … is astounding； as well might a
raw recruit pretend to offer an unfavourable opinion on the manual
and platoon exercise； the idea is preposterous； the lad is too
independent by half。 I never yet knew one of an independent spirit
get on in the army； the secret of success in the army is the spirit
of subordination。'
'Which is a poor spirit after all；' said my mother； 'but the child
is not in the army。'
'And it is well for him that he is not；' said my father； 'but you
do not talk wisely； the world is a field of battle； and he who
leaves the ranks； what can he expect but to be cut down？ I call
his present behaviour leaving the ranks； and going vapouring about
without orders； his only chance lies in falling in again as quick
as possible； does he think he can carry the day by himself？ an
opinion of his own at these years … I confess I am exceedingly
uneasy about the lad。'
'You make me uneasy too；' said my mother； 'but I really think you
are