T8I7-3 2 - KINDLINESS OF NATURE. 7 



to play with him, thus hoping to dispel the painful impres- 

 sions made by the tyranny of the other boys. 



A striking feature of later life was manifested even in 

 those days, namely, the power he had of gaining friends 

 and acquiring information. A fellow traveller to Glasgow, 

 on one occasion, when he was about eleven years old, 

 gives the following account of him on the journey by 

 canal : " George placed himself side by side with the 

 greatest person on board (the captain) and plied him with 

 question after question till the moment he left the boat. 

 Before leaving, he very politely went up to the captain 

 and mate, and thanked them heartily for their attention 

 and information. They both said, they had never seen 

 such a boy. Besides the captain, he met on board a Miss 

 Peacock, a most intelligent lady who had been in Ireland, 

 England, &c. George did question her, and got quite in 

 love with her, saying, 'she could speak about everything, 

 just like his mother.' Before parting he gave her a cordial 

 kiss/' 



It may also be observed that very early many of the 

 sympathies by which George was afterwards distinguished 

 began to exhibit themselves. His love for books, and that 

 eager desire to know, which continued to increase throughout 

 life, were very marked. Great fondness was shown for all the 

 departments of natural history most calculated to interest 

 boys. In connexion with this, allusion may be made to his 

 first attempt at rhyme. A friend had taught him and his 

 brothers to impale live insects as specimens. This greatly 

 grieved their mother, and she spoke earnestly to them of the 

 sacredness of life, how easy it is to take it away, but how 

 far beyond the power of any created being to restore it. 

 George showed the fruit of this lesson, by coming joyously 

 one day to tell of a butterfly he had saved from drowning 



