196 Josiah Wedgwood CHAP. 



an interest in the invalid boy. One of the most 

 benevolent was the Eev. Mr. Matthew, a man of fine 

 taste, who took an interest in art and artists. " I went," 

 said Mr. Matthew, " to the shop of old Flaxman to have 

 a figure repaired, and whilst I was standing, I heard a 

 child cough behind the counter. I looked over, and 

 there I saw a little boy seated on a small chair, with a 

 larger chair before him, on which lay a book he was 

 reading. His pure eyes and beautiful forehead interested 

 me, and I said, ' What book is that ? ' He raised him- 

 self on his crutches, bowed, and said, ' Sir, it is a Latin 

 book, and I am trying to read it.' ' Ay, indeed ? ' I 

 answered ; ' you are a fine boy ; but this is not the 

 proper book, I will bring you a right one to-morrow.' I 

 did as I promised, and the acquaintance thus casually 

 begun ripened into one of the best friendships of my 

 life." 



The book the boy had before him was a Cornelius 

 Nepos, which his father had picked up for a few pence 

 at a bookstall. Next day Mr. Matthew called with 

 translations of Homer and Don Quixote, which the 

 boy proceeded to read with avidity. He even went 

 about Hyde Park, with the help of his crutches, trying 

 to find some distressed damsel whom he might proceed 

 to deliver from bondage, by the help of his little French 

 sword, which he had girded about him; but in vain. 

 There was no Dulcinea del Toboso, or forlorn damsel, to 

 be found even in Hyde Park or Kensington Gardens. 



He was more fortunate with Homer. His mind 



