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uneasy about the lad。'
'You make me uneasy too；' said my mother； 'but I really think you
are too hard upon the child； he is not a bad child； after all；
though not； perhaps； all you could wish him； he is always ready to
read the Bible。 Let us go in； he is in the room above us； at least
he was two hours ago； I left him there bending over his books； I
wonder what he has been doing all this time； it is now getting
late； let us go in； and he shall read to us。'
'I am getting old；' said my father； 'and I love to hear the Bible
read to me； for my own sight is something dim； yet I do not wish
the child to read to me this night； I cannot so soon forget what I
have heard； but I hear my eldest son's voice； he is now entering
the gate； he shall read the Bible to us this night。 What say you？'
CHAPTER XXI
The eldest son … Saying of wild Finland … The critical time …
Vaunting polls … One thing wanted … A father's blessing … Miracle
of art … The Pope's house … Young enthusiast … Pictures of England
… Persist and wrestle … The little dark man。
THE eldest son！ The regard and affection which my father
entertained for his first…born were natural enough； and appeared to
none more so than myself； who cherished the same feelings towards
him。 What he was as a boy the reader already knows； for the reader
has seen him as a boy； fain would I describe him at the time of
which I am now speaking； when he had attained the verge of manhood；
but the pen fails me； and I attempt not the task； and yet it ought
to be an easy one； for how frequently does his form visit my mind's
eye in slumber and in wakefulness； in the light of day and in the
night watches； but last night I saw him in his beauty and his
strength； he was about to speak； and my ear was on the stretch；
when at once I awoke； and there was I alone； and the night storm
was howling amidst the branches of the pines which surround my
lonely dwelling： 'Listen to the moaning of the pine； at whose root
thy hut is fastened；' … a saying that； of wild Finland； in which
there is wisdom； I listened and thought of life and death。 。 。 。 Of
all human beings that I have ever known； that elder brother was the
most frank and generous； ay； and the quickest and readiest； and the
best adapted to do a great thing needful at the critical time； when
the delay of a moment would be fatal。 I have known him dash from a
steep bank into a stream in his full dress； and pull out a man who
was drowning； yet there were twenty others bathing in the water；
who might have saved him by putting out a hand； without
inconvenience to themselves； which； however； they did not do； but
stared with stupid surprise at the drowning one's struggles。 Yes；
whilst some shouted from the bank to those in the water to save the
drowning one； and those in the water did nothing； my brother
neither shouted nor stood still； but dashed from the bank and did
the one thing needful； which； under such circumstances； not one man
in a million would have done。 Now； who can wonder that a brave old
man should love a son like this； and prefer him to any other？
'My boy； my own boy； you are the very image of myself； the day I
took off my coat in the park to fight Big Ben；' said my father； on
meeting his son wet and dripping； immediately after his bold feat。
And who cannot excuse the honest pride of the old man … the stout
old man？
Ay； old man； that son was worthy of thee； and thou wast worthy of
such a son； a noble specimen wast thou of those strong single…
minded Englishmen； who； without making a parade either of religion
or loyalty； feared God and honoured their king； and were not
particularly friendly to the French； whose vaunting polls they
occasionally broke； as at Minden and at Malplaquet； to the
confusion vast of the eternal foes of the English land。 I； who was
so little like thee that thou understoodst me not； and in whom with
justice thou didst feel so little pride； had yet perception enough
to see all thy worth； and to feel it an honour to be able to call
myself thy son； and if at some no distant time； when the foreign
enemy ventures to insult our shore； I be permitted to break some
vaunting poll； it will be a triumph to me to think that； if thou
hadst lived； thou wouldst have hailed the deed； and mightest yet
discover some distant resemblance to thyself； the day when thou
didst all but vanquish the mighty Brain。
I have already spoken of my brother's taste for painting； and the
progress he had made in that beautiful art。 It is probable that；
if circumstances had not eventually diverted his mind from the
pursuit； he would have attained excellence； and left behind him
some enduring monument of his powers； for he had an imagination to
conceive； and that yet rarer endowment； a hand capable of giving
life； body； and reality to the conceptions of his mind； perhaps he
wanted one thing； the want of which is but too often fatal to the
sons of genius； and without which genius is little more than a
splendid toy in the hands of the possessor … perseverance； dogged
perseverance； in his proper calling； otherwise； though the grave
had closed over him； he might still be living in the admiration of
his fellow…creatures。 O ye gifted ones； follow your calling； for；
however various your talents may be； ye can have but one calling
capable of leading ye to eminence and renown； follow resolutely the
one straight path before you； it is that of your good angel； let
neither obstacles nor temptations induce ye to leave it； bound
along if you can； if not； on hands and knees follow it； perish in
it； if needful； but ye need not fear that； no one ever yet died in
the true path of his calling before he had attained the pinnacle。
Turn into other paths； and for a momentary advantage or
gratification ye have sold your inheritance； your immortality。 Ye
will never be heard of after death。
'My father has given me a hundred and fifty pounds；' said my
brother to me one morning； 'and something which is better … his
blessing。 I am going to leave you。'
'And where are you going？'
'Where？ to the great city； to London； to be sure。'
'I should like to go with you。'
'Pooh；' said my brother； 'what should you do there？ But don't be
discouraged； I daresay a time will come when you too will go to
London。'
And； sure enough； so it did； and all but too soon。
'And what do you purpose doing there？' I demanded。
'Oh； I go to improve myself in art； to place myself under some
master of high name； at least I hope to do so eventually。 I have；
however； a plan in my head； which I should wish first to execute；
indeed； I do not think I can rest till I have done so； every one
talks so much about Italy； and the wondrous artists which it has
produced； and the wondrous pictures which are to be found there；
now I wish to see Ita