16 EAELY YEARS. 



dog a water-engine is an ungenerous piece of ordnance, 

 owing to the greater sensitiveness of the feline constitu- 

 tion ; and many a lion-heart around the Grampians which 

 stands fire very well cannot stand fun. This dread of 

 ridicule has many advantages. It snubs a good deal of 

 pedantry, and it keeps back a large amount of maudlin 

 sentiment ; but it is to be feared that it also damps a 

 good deal of generous aspiration, and occasionally drives 

 genius in upon itself. Nor was the hero of our tale en- 

 tirely superior to the national infirmity. All the rather 

 because he was so exquisitely endowed with the sense of 

 the ridiculous, did he deprecate supplying personal illus- 

 trations ; and, through fear of the banter they might 

 excite, he kept to himself many of the noblest and finest 

 things in his nature. Lest he might be laughed at as 

 another Icarus, although he had very good wings of his 

 own, he forbore to fly; and, in dread of that imperfect 

 sympathy which soon degenerates into perfect derision, he 

 arrested the pathetic or eloquent utterance when already 

 struggling to his lips, and was content to dwell in silence. 

 Or if such utterance did escape, he covered his retreat by 

 quizzing himself. When a boy, a playmate remembers 

 that in a moment of good-nature or vanity, he one evening 

 shewed his companions the press which contained his 

 cherished collections. Of course, they greatly admired 

 the museum ; but before there was time for any one to 



