CHAP, i.] CHILDHOOD 3 



it was no bad application of the schoolroom lessons, for 

 thus, quite at my own free will, I was practising the spelling 

 of easy words, and their combination into little sentences, 

 and also how to bring pen, ink, and paper into connection 

 without necessitating an inky deluge. In those days 

 children were not " amused " as is the fashion now. We 

 neither went to parties, nor were there children's parties at 

 home, but I fancy we were just as happy. As soon as 

 possible a certain amount of lessons, given by my mother, 

 formed the backbone of the day's employment. In the 

 higher branches requisite for preparation for Public School 

 work, my mother was so successful as to have the pleasure 

 of receiving a special message of appreciation of her work 

 sent to my father by Dr. Arnold, Head-master of Rugby. 

 All my brothers were educated under Dr. Arnold, two as his 

 private pupils, and the five younger as Rugby schoolboys, 

 and he spoke with great appreciation of the sound founda- 

 tion which had been laid by my mother for the school 

 work, especially as regarded religious instruction. From 

 the fact of my brothers being so much older than I, 

 the latter point is the only one which remains in my 

 memory ; but I have a clear recollection of my mother's 

 mustering her family class on Sunday afternoons, i.e., all 

 whose age afforded her any excuse to lay hands on 

 them. Whether in the earlier foundation or more advanced 

 \vork, my mother's own great store of solid information, 

 and her gift for imparting it, enabled her to keep us 

 steadily progressing. Everything was thoroughly learned, 

 and once learned never permitted to be forgotten. Nothing 

 was attempted that could not be well understood, 

 and this was expected to be mastered. In playtime we 

 were allowed great liberty to follow our own pursuits, 

 in which the elders of the family generally participated, and 

 as we grew older we made collections (in which my sister 

 Georgiana's love of shells laid the foundation of what was 

 afterwards a collection of 3,000 species), and carried on " ex- 

 periments," everlasting re-arrangement of our small libraries, 

 and amateur book-binding. All imaginable ways of using 

 our hands kept us very happily employed indoors. Out of 

 doors there was great enjoyment in the pursuits which 

 a country property gives room for, and I think I was a very 

 happy child, although I fancy what is called a " very old- 

 fashioned" one, from not having companions of my own 

 age. 



On looking back over the years of my early childhood, 



