6 INTRODUCTORY NARRATIVE. [Lesson I. 



school to assist his father in his employment of stuff-weaving. The love of 

 knowledge the ardent desire of becoming a scholar had taken possession of the youth, 

 who devoted all his leisure moments, and even a portion of the time which his father 

 required of him, to reading and writing. The father, instead of encouraging his son's 

 fondness for study, forbade him to open a book, behaved with great harshness, and at 

 length drove him from the house, telling him to go and seek his fortune where and how 

 he chose. "NVeary, and uncertain where to go, he threw himself upon the heath to 

 reflect upon the course he must take; and, having refreshed himself at an adjoining 

 brook, walked to the neighbouring village, and took up his abode in the house of a 

 tailor's widow, with whose son he had been previously acquainted. He contrived to 

 support himself by industry and frugality, and to add to his stock of knowledge by care- 

 ful observation and reading. Soon after his arrival, a pedlar, who combined fortune- 

 teller and astrologer with his own trade, came to lodge in the same house ; and becoming 

 intimate with Hallam for such was the boy's name instructed him in the various branches 

 of knowledge that he was acquainted with, while pursuing his own trade of pedlar and 

 itinerant merchant From the astrologer-pedlar he obtained the knowledge of the first 

 principles of Natural Philosophy ; and his naturally active and intelligent mind, improved 

 by reading, extracted new and important facts from the incidents of every-day life with 

 which he was surrounded. 



The time for the departure of the pedlar arrived, and previous to setting off on his 

 journey, he lent Hallam Cocker's Arithmetic, which had bound up with it a treatise on 

 Algebra, and a work upon Physics and Somatolosy. These he studied so thoroughly 

 that when the pedlar returned he was astonished to find his quondam pupil had almost 

 eclipsed his tutor, and forthwith proceeded to draw his horoscope, as he termed it, in 

 order to discover the probable career of this wonderful lad. 



Having concluded his observations, the pedlar predicted that in two years Hallam 

 would surpass his tutor, and ultimately rise to bo a great man ; and the youth promised 

 that if such came to pass, he would not forget in his prosperity the instruction of the 

 pedlar, and his kindness towards him. 







Eighteen years have elapsed, and the prediction has been fulfilled : the lad abandoned 

 his trade of weaver, turned schoolmaster, and married his landlady the tailor's widow. 

 He has passed through many phases in his journey through life, and, notwithstanding 

 the privations and hardships he encountered, has risen to considerable eminence as a 

 scholar, has been appointed Professor of Mathematics, and elected a Fellow of the Royal 

 Society. 



The few houses that were scattered upon the borders of the wild and desolate district 

 where Hallam's father formerly lived, have increased in number and size ; the marshes 

 have been drained, the land tilled, the mountains quarried, and the whole aspect changed 

 from desolation to the busy hum of commercial activity. Jacqunrd-looms have been 

 erected, mills and factories built, and long lines of streets; BO that from being a village 

 at first, it has grown into a city. He seeks out the aged pedlar, who still instructs the 

 young and labours for his bread; the old man has almost forgotten his pupil, but tears 

 of joy suffuse his eyes, as the remembrance of other days is recalled. At eve, the two 

 stroll towards the brow of the hill, Hallam supporting his aged tutor, and as they 

 approach a mill on the road-side, they halt, for the pedlar is wearied and wishes to rest 

 himself. 



