28 CLEPSYDRA. AL MAMOUN. 



and sheds a ray of lustre over the dark ages in which he 

 lived;* but we must leave off talking, for the morning is 

 nearly gone, and we have not begun our studies. 



HENRIETTA. 



Oh, aunt, I am so sorry! for I had a great many questions 

 to ask you. I wished you to tell me what made parchment 

 so scarce as to induce the monks to use the old manuscript. 



MRS. F. 



It had never been plentiful; for the elaborate preparation it 

 required had always made it a costly article, and it was only 

 manufactured at one place. 



HENRIETTA. 



But did they not make paper of papyrus'? 



MRS. F. 



Yes, papyrus paper was known, but it had become scarce 

 since the conquest of Egypt by the Saracens; but I shall be 

 happy to continue the subject another day; and now we must 

 leave off, for we have done nothing this morning. 



HENRIETTA. 



Do you call this nothing, aunt? I am sure that I have 

 learned more than in a week's common reading. 



MRS. F. 



More general information, no doubt, if you read in the 

 superficial manner which you describe ; but, improving as 

 these conversations may be, they can never stand in the 

 place of regular study. Reading and conversation should be 

 combined. " Read and Learn," said his mother to Sir Wil- 

 liam Jones; and though I am far from giving you that answer 

 to your inquiries after information, yet, believe me, that all 

 the desultory conversations we may hold, can never compen- 

 sate for that regular, systematic course of study, which alone 



* Sismondi, Litterature du Midi de PEurope, t. i. p. 45. 



