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THOMAS BEWICK. 



Quadrupeds." His death must have been unexpected at the end, for his son 

 was at work as usual, and the shock was therefore proportionately great. 

 The family burying-place at Ovingham was opened for the third time that 

 year, and Bewick's father was laid beside his wife and eldest daughter. 



Bewick ever had a profound respect for his father. He knew how 

 sincerely he had been encouraged and how frequently assisted by him in 

 his youth ; and when he had arrived at manhood he was ever ready to repay, 

 by attention and respect, what he had so fully received. Neither of Bewick's 

 parents lived to see their son arrive at the height of his prosperity and dignity, 

 and he was yet some distance from full popular acknowledgment of his 

 genius ; yet they left him in a fair position in life, with good prospect of 

 further success, and their last words could contain nothing but blessings for 

 their eldest son. Happy indeed must the parents be who have as little 

 anxiety for their children as Bewick's had for him : for John their thoughts 

 could not have been so calm, but they knew they left in Thomas one who 

 would take a parent's part with him if ever it became necessary. 



Bewick's father has already been described, but it will not be amiss to 

 recall that he was a man of happy and humorous temperament at home, a 

 stern hater and denouncer of hypocrisy abroad ; not afraid to take law into 

 his own hand at times when he thought he could right what seemed wrong ; 

 a man of strong character, having something of the Puritan without extreme 

 severity ; a man to be loved by his friends, of whom he had many, and feared 

 by his foes, of whom, like most of his character, he had not a few. 



The deaths in the family put an end to the frequent visits to Cherry- 

 burn, and Bewick turned his thoughts towards the foundation of a family 

 circle of his own; sisters and brothers he had, but they were separated, 

 and his father's house had lost its charm, so that he naturally and wisely 

 turned his mind towards matrimony. He had never at any time been 

 notedly fond of ladies' company. He could enjoy the refinements of 

 their society, while he regarded them with too much respect to trifle with 



