RECOLLECTIONS, 1831-37. 15- 



who was managing the financial affairs of my employer 

 (an old lady) who was a good Latinist. He was not, 

 but he put me in the way of doing something to en- 

 lighten me on the subject. So the first time he came 

 to the place I watched for him and introduced myself. 

 With a book in my hand I told him what I had heard 

 of his knowledge, etc., etc. He sharply looked at me 

 and said : " What do you want of me ?" I showed 

 him my adjectives in us, a, um, etc., and I told him I 

 thought they meant so and so. He looked at me be- 

 tween my two eyes and gravely told me : "If you 

 know that why do you ask me ?" I answered that I 

 thought I knew but was not certain, but what I know 

 not are those terminations, etc. tl Those terminations," 

 he said, " are masculine, feminine and neuter, and if 

 you know as much as you evidently seem to, get a 

 Latin grammar, and in a few days you will know as 

 much as I do." " To get a Latin grammar I shall 

 have to go twelve miles to get it" (we were in the 

 country). " I know it," he said, " but to-morrow I go 

 thither (to Rheims, the next city) and I shall bring you 

 one." I made the remark that a grammar would not 

 give me all the information I wanted. " I must have 

 a dictionary of French and Latin and Latin and 

 French." My employer who was present said : 

 " Bring him also those dictionaries," etc. He put his 

 hands on my shoulders and said : " Young man, if 



