CLOSING YEARS. 437 



He was in his latter years passionately fond of children : his grand- 

 children were his playmates. A favorite pastime with them was 

 fishing in imaginary rivers and lochs, in boats and out of them ; the 

 scenery rising around the anglers with magical rapidity, for one 

 glorious reality was there to create the whole, fishing-rods, reels 

 and basket, line and flies — the entire gear. What shouts and 

 screams of delight as " the fim grew fast and furious," and fish 

 were caught by dozens, Goliah getting his phantom trout unhooked 

 by his grandfather, who would caution him not to let his line be 

 entangled in the trees ; and so they would go on. The confidence 

 which children place in their elders is one of the most convincing 

 proofs of the love bestowed on them. At that period of life no 

 idea of age crosses the mind. The child of six imagines himself 

 surrounded by companions of his own age in all he sees. The 

 grandfather is an abstract of love, good humor, and kindness ; his 

 venerable aspect and dignified bearing are lost sight of in the over- 

 flowing benevolence of his heart. Noah's ark, trumpets, drums, 

 pencils, puzzles, dolls, and all the delightful games of infant life are 

 supposed to possess equal interest in his eyes. I have often seen 

 this unwearied playmate sitting in the very heart of all these para- 

 phernalia, taking his part according to orders given, and actually 

 going at the request of some of these urchins up-stairs to the nur- 

 sery to fetch down a forgotten toy, or on all-fours on the ground 

 helping them to look for some lost fragment. "With all this fami- 

 liarity there was a certain feeling of awe, and care was taken not 

 to offend. Sometimes the little group, becoming too noisy, would 

 be suddenly dispersed : Christopher, being in no humor to don his 

 " sporting-jacket," closed for a brief season the study-door, intimat- 

 ing that serious work had begun. 



A nervous or fidgety mother would have been somewhat startled 

 at his mode of treating babies ; but I was so accustomed to all his 

 doings that I never for a moment interfered with them. His grand- 

 daughter went through many perils. He had great pleasure in 

 amusino: himself with her Ions before she could either walk or 

 speak. One day I met him coming down-stairs with what appeared 

 to be a bundle in his hands, but it was my baby which he clutched 

 by the back of the clothes, her feet kicking through her long robe, 

 and her little arms striking about evidently in enjoyment of the 

 reckless position in which she was held. He said this w T ay of car- 



