OF OLIVEB GOLDSMITH. 



29 



fretfulness apt to exclaim against the acerbity of the teacher, 

 the quiet patience which the great body of those engaged in 

 tuition generally possess, cannot fail to be appreciated by 

 those who reflect upon the difficulties of their position, in a 

 little world where the evil passions are striving for dominion, 

 and which it is their constant endeavour to curb and repress. 

 There must be many an anxious thought when admonitions 

 are disregarded, and instruction neglected ; but on the other 

 hand, assiduity is rewarded by perceiving those who have 

 been well trained adorning their station in society, whatever 

 that may be, by fulfilling their duty in a manner creditable 

 to them and to their instructors. 



The village master is said by the poet to be "skilled to 

 rule," "severe," and "stern to view;" and justly so under 

 the circumstances, "for every truant knew" his severity was 

 against those who neglected their duty, and avoided his 

 instructions, for he afterwards is desl^ibed as being kind, 

 his love to learning being the apology for his exercising 

 discipline upon offenders. The inhabitants treated him with 

 due respect, and their astonishment appears naturally and 

 accurately expressed, when, not being able to understand his 

 words of learned length, they yielded to him such homage as 

 was due, and wondered 



" That one small head could carry all he knew ! " 



The parting scene, where the inhabitants are supposed to 

 be about to leave their native place for the Western World, 

 deserves particular attention. The poet has here, in accord- 

 ance with the tone which runs through the poem, painted the 

 grief which was experienced on leaving a place which they 

 all loved, while the uncertainty of their future fate heightens 

 the mournful scene. There is here no eifort to create 

 effect : the language is plain, and the beauty of the descrip- 

 tion is its complete fidelity to nature. It may naturally 

 be supposed that whatever motives might lead to the deter- 



