EAELY EDUCATION 28 



And on December 21, 1824, she hopes that the grand- 

 father's note accompanying a present will have a stimu- 

 lating effect on the grandson who so little inherits his 

 disposition ; for : 



Willy is sadly negligent with regard to his lessons, 

 especially his Latin ones. If we could but inspire him with 

 a little emulation he would make great progress, for when 

 any sufficient inducement occurs, he learns remarkably 

 quickly and far outstrips his brother ; but generally he is 

 content to let Joseph get before him ; and though we caress 

 the latter and slight Willy [the modern mother, we hope, 

 does not adopt this method of arousing emulation], yet 

 William is not in the least jealous, but loves his brother 

 as dearly as if he were not his superior. 



Education, indeed, wore a stern face in those days. Poor 

 Willy ! 



I wish that I could tell you that your eldest grandson 

 had inherited from his grandsire a little taste for learning 

 languages. But ever since we returned from Yarmouth, 

 the lessons, especially those in Latin, have been a per- 

 petual source of sorrow both to the teacher and to the 

 teachee (I wish I could say to the learner). Writing and 

 arithmetic are the only departments of his education in 

 which Willy has made any progress. But during the last 

 ten days, a new light has seemed to dawn upon the child's 

 mind. [He has made many good resolutions, couched in 

 picturesque scriptural phrases.] We shall see how long 

 they will last, but you may be sure that we bestow all 

 manner of caresses and encouragement upon him. Indeed, 

 we are ourselves happy in an opportunity to show a little 

 kindness towards the poor child, who has lately received 

 from us nothing but reproof and punishment. 



Again, in 1828, Joseph being just eleven, his father writes : 



I wish you could bring the dear boy Gurney with you, 

 and let him go to Killin in June with me and see Launden 

 Cameron and climb the Breadalbane mountains. . . . Last 

 year I took Willy the same route, and this year I think 



