334 Mrs. and Mr. Jackson. [June, 



not very white, and Sunday clothes were worn only on Sunday 

 for the present. 



This hopeful son Mrs, Jackson determined to bring up to col- 

 lege. This resolution was formed without cousulting with Mr. 

 Jackson or dame Nature. The former was of no consequence, 

 the latter is not accustomed to be slighted with impunity. Mrs. 

 J. was aware that her son was not remarkably bright, but then 

 she had understood that genteel young men in college were not 

 remarkable for scholarship, and gentility was the sole object 

 sought. He was placed in a neighboring select school which was 

 taught by a Quaker. There the chief mental characteristic dis- 

 played by him, was a disposition to carve his desk. After vain 

 attempts to correct the habit, the master concluded he had a gift 

 for whittling, and furnished him with a quantity of soft pine each 

 day. Frederic remained at school long after the milestones of 

 his boyhood had been passed, and when Mrs. Jackson perempto- 

 rily inquired if he was not fit for college, the teacher warily an- 

 swered, •' he is ready to go to college." Accordingly homespun 

 pants were cast off forever, and "boughten" ones procured. The 

 farm was mortgaged, money raised, and Frederic Fitzjaraes was 

 sent to a college in a city, that there might be a combination of 

 influences to make him genteel. He was admitted without hesi- 

 tation, the funds of the college superceding the necessity of a strict 

 examination. He soon found companions who could teach him to 

 spend money genteelly: this he was charged by his mother to do, 

 with tears in her eyes.. The city tailors soon brought his form 

 into a near approximation to the human shape, as those will 

 readily believe who have witnessed the success of those artists, 

 when they had very unpromising materials. 



On his return home in vacation, his mother was delighted with 

 his improvement, though h survey of his bills shot many a pang 

 through her heart. Frederic Fitzjames had embraced a new ele- 

 ment in his idea of a gentleman, viz.: ignorance in regard to all 

 common, and especially agricultural matters. Accordingly he 

 admitted this to his practice. Lisping was also added to his ac- 

 complishments. This genteel ignorance was manifested by a 

 constant succession of annoying interrogatories. "Vhat's that?" 

 " Vhat you call this?" was asked with reference to the most com- 

 mon implements of husbandry. 



_ This troublesome habit was brought to an end by the father of 

 his father's flock. One day Frederic walked with his gloves and 

 cane to the Held where his father and his hired men were at work. 

 He began his interrogatories, when the pater avium, whose horns 

 were beautifully spiral, and who had known him from his boy- 

 hood, came up slyly in the rear, as if to listen. Apparently he 

 was not well satisfied with what he heard, for his countenance 



