84 THE APPRENTICE. 



upon his chest, and there were symptoms of pectoral 

 blood-spitting. He lost his spirits and thought he was 

 going to die. 



Of his state of mind at this time we have two 

 illustrations, the one given in the Schools and School- 

 masters, the other in the letter to Baird. ' Superstition/ 

 we quote from the published volume, ' takes a strong 

 hold of the mind in circumstances such as those in which 

 I was at this time placed. One day when on the top of 

 a tall building, part of which we were throwing clown to 

 supply us with materials for our work, I raised up a 

 broad slab of red micaceous sandstone, thin as a roofing 

 slate, and exceedingly fragile, and, holding it out at arm's 

 length, dropped it over the wall. I had been worse than 

 usual all that morning, and much depressed ; and, ere 

 the slab parted from my hand, I said looking forward 

 to but a few months of life I shall break up like that 

 sandstone slab, and perish as little known. But the 

 sandstone slab did not break up : a sudden breeze blew 

 it aslant as it fell ; it cleared the rough heap of stones 

 below, where I had anticipated it would have been 

 shivered to fragments ; and lighting on its edge, stuck 

 upright like a miniature obelisk, in the soft green sward 

 beyond. None of the philosophies or the logics would 

 have sanctioned the inference which I immediately drew ; 

 but that curious chapter in the history of human belief 

 which treats of signs and omens abounds in such pos- 

 tulates and such conclusions. I at once inferred that 

 recovery awaited me : I was " to live and not die ;" and 

 felt lighter, during the few weeks I afterwards toiled at 

 this place, under the cheering influence of the con- 

 viction/ 



In the letter to Baird there is no mention of this 

 waking experiment, but he records the following dream : 



