EAELY EDUCATION 23 



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 httle inherits his 

 disposition ; for : 



Willy is sadly neghgent with regard to his lessons, 

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

 a httle 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 

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

 he latter and shght Willy [the modern mother, we hope, 

 oes not adopt this method of arousing emulation], yet 

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

 as dearly as if he were not his superior. 



a: 



i 



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 Httle taste for learning 

 ^languages. But ever since we returned from Yarmouth, 

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

 )etual source of sorrow both to the teacher and to the 

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

 rithmetic are the only departments of his education in 

 rhich Willy has made any progress. But during the last 

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

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

 )icturesque scriptural phrases.] We shall see how long 

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

 jmaimer of caresses and encouragement upon him. Indeed, 

 we are ourselves happy in an opportunity to show a httle 

 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 KiUin in June with me and see Launden 

 Cameron and chmb the Breadalbane mountains. . . . Last 

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



