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sons； anxiously watching； anxiously guiding these； and plunging
with his whole fund of youthfulness into their sports and
interests。 And all the while he was himself maturing … not in
character or body； for these remained young … but in the stocked
mind； in the tolerant knowledge of life and man； in pious
acceptance of the universe。 Here is a farrago for a chapter： here
is a world of interests and activities； human； artistic； social；
scientific； at each of which he sprang with impetuous pleasure； on
each of which he squandered energy； the arrow drawn to the head；
the whole intensity of his spirit bent； for the moment； on the
momentary purpose。 It was this that lent such unusual interest to
his society； so that no friend of his can forget that figure of
Fleeming coming charged with some new discovery： it is this that
makes his character so difficult to represent。 Our fathers； upon
some difficult theme； would invoke the Muse； I can but appeal to
the imagination of the reader。 When I dwell upon some one thing；
he must bear in mind it was only one of a score； that the
unweariable brain was teeming at the very time with other thoughts；
that the good heart had left no kind duty forgotten。
I。
In Edinburgh； for a considerable time； Fleeming's family； to three
generations； was united： Mr。 and Mrs。 Austin at Hailes； Captain
and Mrs。 Jenkin in the suburb of Merchiston； Fleeming himself in
the city。 It is not every family that could risk with safety such
close interdomestic dealings； but in this also Fleeming was
particularly favoured。 Even the two extremes； Mr。 Austin and the
Captain； drew together。 It is pleasant to find that each of the
old gentlemen set a high value on the good looks of the other；
doubtless also on his own； and a fine picture they made as they
walked the green terrace at Hailes； conversing by the hour。 What
they talked of is still a mystery to those who knew them； but Mr。
Austin always declared that on these occasions he learned much。 To
both of these families of elders； due service was paid of
attention； to both； Fleeming's easy circumstances had brought joy；
and the eyes of all were on the grandchildren。 In Fleeming's
scheme of duties； those of the family stood first； a man was first
of all a child； nor did he cease to be so； but only took on added
obligations； when he became in turn a father。 The care of his
parents was always a first thought with him； and their
gratification his delight。 And the care of his sons； as it was
always a grave subject of study with him； and an affair never
neglected； so it brought him a thousand satisfactions。 'Hard work
they are；' as he once wrote； 'but what fit work！' And again： 'O；
it's a cold house where a dog is the only representative of a
child！' Not that dogs were despised； we shall drop across the name
of Jack； the harum…scarum Irish terrier ere we have done； his own
dog Plato went up with him daily to his lectures； and still （like
other friends） feels the loss and looks visibly for the
reappearance of his master； and Martin； the cat； Fleeming has
himself immortalised； to the delight of Mr。 Swinburne； in the
columns of the SPECTATOR。 Indeed there was nothing in which men
take interest； in which he took not some； and yet always most in
the strong human bonds； ancient as the race and woven of delights
and duties。
He was even an anxious father； perhaps that is the part where
optimism is hardest tested。 He was eager for his sons； eager for
their health； whether of mind or body； eager for their education；
in that； I should have thought； too eager。 But he kept a pleasant
face upon all things； believed in play； loved it himself； shared
boyishly in theirs； and knew how to put a face of entertainment
upon business and a spirit of education into entertainment。 If he
was to test the progress of the three boys； this advertisement
would appear in their little manuscript paper：… 'Notice： The
Professor of Engineering in the University of Edinburgh intends at
the close of the scholastic year to hold examinations in the
following subjects： （1） For boys in the fourth class of the
Academy … Geometry and Algebra； （2） For boys at Mr。 Henderson's
school … Dictation and Recitation； （3） For boys taught exclusively
by their mothers … Arithmetic and Reading。' Prizes were given； but
what prize would be so conciliatory as this boyish little joke？ It
may read thin here； it would smack racily in the playroom。
Whenever his sons 'started a new fad' （as one of them writes to me）
they 'had only to tell him about it； and he was at once interested
and keen to help。' 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。 But
at no other time did this busy man suffer his work to interfere
with that first duty to his children； and there is a pleasant tale
of the inventive Master Frewen； engaged at the time upon a toy
crane； bringing to the study where his father sat at work a half…
wound reel that formed some part of his design； and observing；
'Papa； you might finiss windin' this for me； I am so very busy to…
day。'
I put together here a few brief extracts from Fleeming's letters；
none very important in itself； but all together building up a
pleasant picture of the father with his sons。
'JAN。 15TH； 1875。 … Frewen contemplates suspending soap bubbles by
silk threads for experimental purposes。 I don't think he will
manage that。 Bernard' ＇the youngest＇ 'volunteered to blow the
bubbles with enthusiasm。'
'JAN。 17TH。 … I am learning a great deal of electrostatics in
consequence of the perpetual cross…examination to which I am
subjected。 I long for you on many grounds； but one is that I may
not be obliged to deliver a running lecture on abstract points of
science； su