1817 32 SYMPATHY WITH SCHOOLMATE. 9 



Their ages varied from four to twelve. Duff could not be re- 

 conciled to these strangers, and considered his responsibilities 

 largely increased. When a game at tig or blindman's buff was 

 in prospect, the first step necessary was to turn Duff out of the 

 room, so strongly did he resent any of the cousins touching his 

 children. 



Before leaving those early days, an instance of George's good 

 feeling may be alluded to, in which is seen the germ of the 

 unselfish consideration for others, so manifest throughout his 

 life. While at Mr. Knight's he was enjoined to return home 

 immediately after school hours. As this injunction was un- 

 heeded day after day, an explanation of his conduct was at last 

 insisted on. With great reluctance he told that a little boy, 

 blind of one eye, was much persecuted by his school-fellows on 

 account of his infirmity, and not permitted to join in any of 

 their games. Sympathy with him overmastered the fear of 

 parental displeasure, and George had remained each day to play 

 with him, thus hoping to dispel the painful impressions made 

 by the tyranny of the other boys. 



Memoranda by his brother Daniel help to complete the picture 

 of the juvenile life, which left its strong impress on later years. 

 He says, " George was my junior by fully two years, an in- 

 terval sufficient to constitute an important difference in boy- 

 hood, though it becomes insignificant enough in later life. 

 Nevertheless, he and I were, from my earliest recollections, 

 conjoined alike in our sports and boyish studies, notwithstand- 

 ing that his twin-brother John survived till his eighteenth year. 

 In truth, no two brothers were perhaps ever less alike than 

 these twins. Those who only knew George in later life, when 

 disease, sore suffering, and the mutilation of surgeons, had 

 done their work on his wasted frame, could little conceive of 

 the joyous, healthful, and vigorous boy. Throughout his whole 

 boyhood and youth he enjoyed uninterrupted health, while 

 John early betrayed symptoms of physical weakness, and a 

 tendency to the pulmonary disease, which at length terminated 

 his life. My recollections, wandering back into old boyish 

 memories, call up dim visions of little sisters and brothers, whose 

 cradles I rocked, and by whose sick beds I watched, as they 



