第12章

Ipausedaminuteortwo,andasnoonespokeout;IputaquestiontotheCounsellor。

Areyouquitesurethatyouwishtolivetobethreescoreandtwentyyearsold？

"MostcertainlyIdo。Don"ttheysaythatTheophrastuslivedtohishundredandseventhyear,anddidn"thecomplainoftheshortnessoflife？Ateightyamanhashadjustabouttimetogetwarmlysettledinhisnest。Doyousupposehedoesn"tenjoythequietofthatresting—place？Nomorehaggardresponsibilitytokeephimawakenights,——unlesshepreferstoretainhisholdonofficesanddutiesfromwhichhecanbeexcusedifbechooses。Nomoregoadingambitions,——heknowshehasdonehisbest。Nomorejealousies,ifhewereweakenoughtofeelsuchignoblestirringsinhismoreactiveseason。Anoctogenarianwithagoodrecord,andfreefromannoyingordistressinginfirmities,oughttobethehappiestofmen。

Everybodytreatshimwithdeference。Everybodywantstohelphim。

Heisthewardofthegenerationsthathavegrownupsincehewasinthevigorofmaturity。Yes,letmelivetobefourscoreyears,andthenIwilltellyouwhetherIshouldlikeafewmoreyearsornot。"

Youcarrythefeelingsofmiddleage,Isaid,inimagination,overintotheperiodofsenility,andthenreasonanddreamaboutitasifitswholemodeofbeingwerelikethatoftheearlierperiodoflife。

Buthowmanythingsthereareinoldagewhichyoumustliveintoifyouwouldexpecttohaveany"realizingsense"oftheirsignificance！

Inthefirstplace,youhavenocoevals,ornexttonone。Atfifty,yourvesselisstanch,andyouareondeckwiththerest,inallweathers。Atsixty,thevesselstillfloats,andyouareinthecabin。Atseventy,you,withafewfellow—passengers,areonaraft。

Ateighty,youareonasparstowhich,possibly,one,ortwo,orthreefriendsofaboutyourownagearestillclinging。Afterthat,youmustexpectsoontofindyourselfalone,ifyouarestillfloating,withonlyalife—preservertokeepyouroldwhite—beardedchinabovethewater。

Kindness？Yes,pityingkindness,whichisabittersweetinwhichtheamiableingredientcanhardlybesaidtopredominate。Howpleasantdoyouthinkitistohaveanarmofferedtoyouwhenyouarewalkingonalevelsurface,wherethereisnochancetotrip？

Howagreeabledoyousupposeitistohaveyourwell—meaningfriendsshoutandscreechatyou,asifyouweredeafasanadder,insteadofonlybeing,asyouinsist,somewhathardofhearing？IwasalittleovertwentyyearsoldwhenIwrotethelineswhichsomeofyoumayhavemetwith,fortheyhavebeenoftenreprinted:

ThemossymarblesrestOnthelipsthathehasprestIntheirbloom,AndthenameshelovedtohearHavebeencarvedformanyayearOnthetomb。

Theworldwasagardentomethen;itisachurchyardnow。

"Ithoughtyouwereoneofthosewholookeduponoldagecheerfully,andwelcomeditasaseasonofpeaceandcontentedenjoyment。"

Iamoneofthosewhosoregardit。Thosearenotbitterorscaldingtearsthatfallfrommyeyesupon"themossymarbles。"Theyoungwholeftmysideearlyinmylife"sjourneyarestillwithmeintheunchangedfreshnessandbeautyofyouth。Thosewhohavelongkeptcompanywithmeliveonaftertheirseemingdeparture,wereitonlybythemereforceofhabit;theirimagesareallaroundme,asifeverysurfacehadbeenasensitivefilmthatphotographedthem;theirvoicesechoaboutme,asiftheyhadbeenrecordedonthoseunforgettingcylinderswhichbringbacktousthetonesandaccentsthathaveimprintedthem,asthehardenedsandsshowusthetracksofextinctanimals。Themelancholyofoldagehasadivinetendernessinit,whichonlythesadexperiencesoflifecanlendahumansoul。

Butthereisalowerlevel,——thatoftranquilcontentmentandeasyacquiescenceintheconditionsinwhichwefindourselves;alowerlevel,inwhicholdagetrudgespatientlywhenitisnotusingitswings。Isayitswings,fornoperiodoflifeissoimaginativeasthatwhichlookstoyoungerpeoplethemostprosaic。Theatmosphereofmemoryisoneinwhichimaginationfliesmoreeasilyandfeelsitselfmoreathomethaninthethinneretherofyouthfulanticipation。Ihavetoldyousomeofthedrawbacksofage;Iwouldnothaveyouforgetitsprivileges。Whenitcomesdownfromitsaerialexcursions,ithasmuchlefttoenjoyonthehumbleplaneofbeing。Andsoyouthinkyouwouldliketobecomeanoctogenarian？

"Ishould,"saidtheCounsellor,nowamaninthehighnoonofbodilyandmentalvigor。"Fourmore——yes,fivemore——decadeswouldnotbetoomuch,Ithink。AndhowmuchIshouldlivetoseeinthattime！

Iamgladyouhavelaiddownsomerulesbywhichamanmayreasonablyexpecttoleaptheeightbarredgate。Iwon"tpromisetoobeythemall,though。"

Amongthequestionsaddressedtome,astoalargenumberofotherpersons,arethefollowing。Itakethemfrom"TheAmericanHebrew"

ofApril4,1890。Icannotpretendtoanswerthemall,butIcansaysomethingaboutoneortwoofthem。

"I。Canyou,ofyourownpersonalexperience,findanyjustificationwhateverfortheentertainmentofprejudicetowardsindividualssolelybecausetheyareJews？

"II。IsthisprejudicenotduelargelytothereligiousinstructionthatisgivenbythechurchacidSunday—school？Forinstance,theteachingsthattheJewscrucifiedJesus;thattheyrejectedhim,andcanonlysecuresalvationbybeliefinhim,andsimilarmattersthatarecalculatedtoexciteintheimpressionablemindofthechildanaversion,ifnotaloathing,formembersof"thedespisedrace。"

"III。HaveyouobservedinthesocialorbusinesslifeoftheJew,sofarasyourpersonalexperiencehasgone,anydifferentstandardofconductthanprevailsamongChristiansofthesamesocialstatus？

"IV。Canyousuggestwhatshouldbedonetodispeltheexistingprejudice？"

Astothefirstquestion,IhavehadveryslightacquaintancewiththechildrenofIsrael。Isharedmoreorlesstheprevailingprejudicesagainstthepersecutedrace。Iusedtoreadinmyhymn—

book,——IhopeIquotecorrectly,——

"SeewhatalivingstoneThebuildersdidrefuse！

YetGodhasbuilthischurchthereon,InspiteofenviousJews。"

Igrewupinheritingthetraditionalideathattheywerearacelyingunderacursefortheirobstinacyinrefusingthegospel。LikeotherchildrenofNewEnglandbirth,IwalkedinthenarrowpathofPuritanexclusiveness。ThegreathistoricalchurchofChristendomwaspresentedtomeasBunyandepictedit:oneofthetwogiantssittingatthedooroftheircaves,withthebones,ofpilgrimsscatteredaboutthem,andgrinningatthetravellerswhomtheycouldnolongerdevour。Inthenurseriesofold—fashionedOrthodoxytherewasonereligionintheworld,——onereligion,andamultitudeofdetestable,literallydamnableimpositions,believedinbyuncountedmillions,whoweredoomedtoperditionforsobelieving。TheJewswerethebelieversinoneofthesefalsereligions。Ithadbeentrueonce,butwasnowaperniciousandabominablelie。TheprincipaluseoftheJewsseemedtobetolendmoney,andtofulfilthepredictionsoftheoldprophetsoftheirrace。

NodoubttheindividualsonsofAbrahamwhomwefoundinourill—

favoredandill—flavoredstreetswereapttobeunpleasingspecimensoftherace。Itwasagainstthemostadverseinfluencesoflegislation,ofreligiousfeeling,ofsocialrepugnance,thatthegreatnamesofJewishoriginmadethemselvesillustrious;thatthephilosophers,themusicians,thefinanciers,thestatesmen,ofthelastcenturiesforcedtheworldtorecognizeandacceptthem。

Benjamin,thesonofIsaac,asonofIsrael,ashisfamilynamemakesobvious,hasshownhowlargelyJewishbloodhasbeenrepresentedinthegreatmenandwomenofmoderndays。

TherearetwovirtueswhichChristianshavefounditveryhardtoexemplifyinpractice。Thesearemodestyandcivility。TheFounderoftheChristianreligionappearedamongapeopleaccustomedtolookforaMessiah,aspecialambassadorfromheaven,withanauthoritativemessage。Theywereintimatelyacquaintedwitheveryexpressionhavingreferencetothisdivinemessenger。Theyhadareligionoftheirown,aboutwhichChristianityagreeswithJudaisminassertingthatitwasofdivineorigin。Itisaseriousfact,towhichwedonotgivealltheattentionitdeserves,thatthisdivinelyinstructedpeoplewerenotsatisfiedwiththeevidencethattheyoungRabbiwhocametooverthrowtheirancientchurchandfoundanewonewasasupernaturalbeing。"WethinkhewasagreatDoctor,"saidaJewishcompanionwithwhomIwasconversing。HemeantagreatTeacher,Ipresume,thoughhealingthesickwasoneofhisspecialoffices。InsteadofrememberingthattheywereentitledtoformtheirownjudgmentofthenewTeacher,astheyhadjudgedofHillelandothergreatinstructors,Christians,astheycalledthemselves,haveinsulted,calumniated,oppressed,abased,outraged,"thechosenrace"duringthelongsuccessionofcenturiessincetheJewishcontemporariesoftheFounderofChristianitymadeuptheirmindsthathedidnotmeettheconditionsrequiredbythesubjectofthepredictionsoftheirScriptures。ThecourseoftheargumentagainstthemisverybrieflyandeffectivelystatedbyMr。Emerson:

"ThiswasJehovahcomedownoutofheaven。Iwillkillyouifyousayhewasaman。"

Itseemsasifthereshouldbecertainlawsofetiquetteregulatingtherelationofdifferentreligionstoeachother。ItisnotcivilforafollowerofMahomettocallhisneighborofanothercreeda"Christiandog。"Stillmore,thereshouldbesomethinglikepolitenessinthebearingofChristiansectstowardeachother,andofbelieversinthenewdispensationtowardthosewhostilladheretotheold。WeareinthehabitofallowingacertainarrogantassumptiontoourRomanCatholicbrethren。Wehavegotusedtotheirpretensions。Theymaycallus"heretics,"iftheylike。Theymayspeakofusas"infidels,"iftheychoose,especiallyiftheysayitinLatin。Solongasthereisnoinquisition,solongasthereisnoautodafe,wedonotmindthehardwordsmuch;andwehaveasgoodphrasestogivethemback:theManofSinandtheScarletWomanwillserveforexamples。Butitisbettertobeciviltoeachotherallround。IdoubtifaconverttothereligionofMahometwasevermadebycallingamanaChristiandog。IdoubtifaHebreweverbecameagoodChristianifthebaptismalritewasperformedbyspittingonhisJewishgabardine。IhaveoftenthoughtoftheadvanceincomityandtruecharityshowninthetitleofmylatehonoredfriendJamesFreemanClarke"sbook,"TheTenGreatReligions。"Ifthecreedsofmankindtrytounderstandeachotherbeforeattemptingmutualextermination,theywillbesuretofindameaninginbeliefswhicharedifferentfromtheirown。TheoldCalvinisticspiritwasalmostsavagelyexclusive。Whiletheauthorofthe"TenGreatReligions"

wasgrowingupinBostonunderthebenignant,large—mindedteachingsoftheRev。JamesFreeman,thefamousDr。JohnM。Mason,atNewYork,wasfiercelyattackingthenoblehumanityof"TheUniversalPrayer。""Inpreaching,"sayshisbiographer,"heoncequotedPope"slinesastoGod"sbeingadoredalike"bysaint,bysavage,andbysage,"andpronouncedit（inhisdeepestguttural）"themostdamnablelie。""

WhatcouldtheHebrewexpectwhenaChristianpreachercouldusesuchlanguageaboutapetitionbreathingtheverysoulofhumanity？

Happily,thetruehumanspiritisencroachingonthatarrogantandnarrow—mindedformofselfishnesswhichcalleditselfChristianity。

Thegoldenruleshouldgovernusindealingwiththosewhomwecallunbelievers,withheathen,andwithallwhodonotacceptourreligiousviews。TheJewsarewithusasaperpetuallessontoteachusmodestyandcivility。Thereligionweprofessisnotself—

evident。Itdidnotconvincethepeopletowhomitwassent。Wehavenoclaimtotakeitforgrantedthatweareallright,andtheyareallwrong。And,therefore,inthemidstofallthetriumphsofChristianity,itiswellthatthestatelysynagogueshouldliftitswallsbythesideoftheaspiringcathedral,aperpetualreminderthattherearemanymansionsintheFather"searthlyhouseaswellasintheheavenlyone;thatcivilizedhumanity,longerintimeandbroaderinspacethananyhistoricalformofbelief,ismightierthananyoneinstitutionororganizationitincludes。

ManyyearsagoIarguedwithmyselfthepropositionwhichmyHebrewcorrespondenthassuggested。RecognizingthefactthatIwasborntoabirthrightofnationalandsocialprejudicesagainst"thechosenpeople,"——chosenastheobjectofcontumelyandabusebytherestoftheworld,——Ipicturedmyowninheritedfeelingsofaversioninalltheirintensity,andthestrainofthoughtundertheinfluenceofwhichthoseprejudicesgavewaytoamorehuman,amoretrulyChristianfeelingofbrotherhood。ImustaskyourindulgencewhileI

quoteafewversesfromapoemofmyown,printedlongagounderthetitle"AtthePantomime。"

IwascrowdedbetweentwochildrenofIsrael,andgavefreeinwardexpressiontomyfeelings。AllatonceIhappenedtolookmorecloselyatoneofmyneighbors,andsawthattheyouthwastheveryidealoftheSonofMary。

AfreshyoungcheekwhoseolivehueThemantlingbloodshowsfaintlythrough;

Locksdarkasmidnight,thatdivideAndshadetheneckoneitherside;

Soft,gentle,lovingeyesthatgleamClearasastarlitmountainstream;

SolookedthatotherchildofShem,TheMaiden"sBoyofBethlehem！

——AndthoucouldstscornthepeerlessbloodThatflowsunmingledfromtheFlood,ThyscutcheonspottedwiththestainsOfNormanthievesandpirateDanes！

TheNewWorld"sfoundling,inthyprideScowlontheHebrewatthyside,Andlo！theverysemblancethereTheLordofGlorydeignedtowear！

Iseethatradiantimagerise,Theflowinghair,thepityingeyes,ThefaintlycrimsonedcheekthatshowsTheblushofSharon"sopeningrose,ThyhandswouldclasphishallowedfeetWhosebrethrensoilthyChristianseat,Thylipswouldpresshisgarment"shemThatcurlinwrathfulscornforthem！

Asuddenmist,awateryscreen,Droppedlikeaveilbeforethescene;

Theshadowfloatedfrommysoul,Andtomylipsawhisperstole:——

ThyprophetscaughttheSpirit"sflame,FromtheetheSonofMarycame,WiththeetheFatherdeignedtodwell,Peacebeuponthee,Israel！"

ItisnottobeexpectedthatintimaterelationswillbeestablishedbetweenJewishandChristiancommunitiesuntilbothbecomesofarrationalizedandhumanizedthattheirdifferencesarecomparativelyunimportant。ButalreadythereisanevidentapproximationintheextremeleftofwhatiscalledliberalChristianityandtherepresentativesofmodernJudaism。ThelifeofamanlikethelateSirMosesMontefiorereadsalessonfromtheOldTestamentwhichmightwellhavebeeninspiredbythenoblestteachingsoftheChristianGospels。

Delilah,andhowshegothername。

Est—ellebiengentille,cettepetite？IsaidonedaytoNumberFive,asourprettyDelilahputherarmbetweenuswithabunchofthosetenderearlyradishesthatsorecalltherosy—fingeredmorningofHomer。ThelittlehandwhichheldtheradisheswouldnothaveshamedAurora。Thathandhasneverknowndrudgery,Ifeelsure。

WhenIspokethoseFrenchwordsourlittleDelilahgaveaslight,seeminglyinvoluntarystart,andhercheeksgrewofasbrightaredasherradishes。Ah,saidItomyself;doesthatyounggirlunderstandFrench？Itmaybeworthwhiletobecarefulwhatonesaysbeforeher。

Thereisamysteryaboutthisgirl。Sheseemstoknowherplaceperfectly,——except,perhaps,whensheburstoutcrying,theotherday,whichwasagainstalltherulesoftable—maiden"setiquette,——

andyetshelooksasifshehadbeenborntobewaitedon,andnottoperformthathumbleserviceforothers。Weknowthatonceinawhilegirlswitheducationandwellconnectedtakeitintotheirheadstogointoserviceforafewweeksormonths。Sometimesitisfromeconomicmotives,——toprocuremeansfortheireducation,ortohelpmembersoftheirfamilieswhoneedassistance。Atanyrate,theyundertakethelightermenialdutiesofsomehouseholdwheretheyarenotknown,and,havingstooped——ifstoopingitistobeconsidered——

tolowlyoffices,nobornandbredservantsaremorefaithfultoalltheirobligations。YoumustnotsupposeshewaschristenedDelilah。

AnyofourministerswouldhesitatetogivesuchaheathennametoaChristianchild。

Thewayshecametogetitwasthis:TheProfessorwasgoingtogivealecturebeforeanoccasionalaudience,oneevening。WhenhetookhisseatwiththeotherTeacups,theAmericanAnnexwhisperedtotheotherAnnex,"Hishairwantscutting,——itlookslikefury。""Quiteso,"saidtheEnglishAnnex。"Iwishyouwouldtellhimso,——Ido,awfully。""I"llfixit,"saidtheAmericangirl。So,aftertheteacupswereemptiedandthecompanyhadleftthetable,shewentuptotheProfessor。"Youreadthislecture,don"tyou,Professor？"shesaid。"Ido,"heanswered。"Ishouldthinkthatlockofhairwhichfallsdownoveryourforeheadwouldtroubleyou,"shesaid。"Itdoessometimes,"repliedtheProfessor。"Letourlittlemaidtrimitforyou。You"reequaltothat,aren"tyou？"turningtothehandmaiden。

"Ialwaysusedtocutmyfather"shair,"sheanswered。Shebroughtapairofglitteringshears,andbeforeshewouldlettheProfessorgoshehadtrimmedhishairandbeardastheyhadnotbeendealtwithformanyaday。EverybodysaidtheProfessorlookedtenyearsyounger。AfterthatourlittlehandmaidenwasalwayscalledDelilah,amongthetalkingTeacups。

TheMistresskeepsawatchfuleyeonthisyounggirl。Ishouldnotbesurprisedtofindthatshewascarryingoutsomeideal,somefancyorwhim,——possiblynothingmore,butspringingfromsomegenerous,youthfulimpulse。PerhapssheisworkingforthatlittlesisterattheBlindAsylum。WheredidshelearnFrench？Shedidcertainlyblush,andbetrayedeverysignofunderstandingthewordsspokenaboutherinthatlanguage。Sometimesshesingswhileatherwork,andwehaveallbeenstruckwiththepure,musicalcharacterofhervoice。Itisjustsuchavoiceasoughttocomefromthatroundwhitethroat。Wemadeadiscoveryaboutittheotherevening。

TheMistresskeepsapianoinherroom,andwehavesometimeshadmusicintheevening。OneofTheTeacups,towhomIhaveslightlyreferred,isanaccomplishedpianist,andthetwoAnnexessingverysweetlytogether,——theAmericangirlhavingaclearsopranovoice,theEnglishgirlamellowcontralto。Theyhadsungseveraltunes,whentheMistressrangforAvis,——forthatisourDelilah"srealname。Shewhisperedtotheyounggirl,whoblushedandtrembled。

"Don"tbefrightened,"saidtheMistressencouragingly。"Ihaveheardyousinging"TooYoungforLove,"andIwillgetourpianisttoplayit。Theyoungladiesbothknowit,andyoumustjoinin。"

Thetwovoices,withtheaccompaniment,hadhardlyfinishedthefirstlinewhenapure,ringing,almostchildlikevoicejoinedthevocalduet。Thesoundofherownvoiceseemedtomakeherforgetherfears,andshewarbledasnaturallyandfreelyasanyyoungbirdofaMaymorning。NumberFivecameinwhileshewassinging,andwhenshegotthroughcaughtherinherarmsandkissedher,asifshewerehersister,andnotDelilah,ourtable—maid。NumberFiveisapttoforgetherselfandthosesocialdifferencestowhichsomeofusattachsomuchimportance。Thisisthesonginwhichthelittlemaidtookpart:

TOOYOUNGFORLOVE。

Tooyoungforlove？

Ah,saynotso！

Tellreddeningrose—budsnottoblow！

Waitnotforspringtopassaway,——

Love"ssummermonthsbeginwithMay！

Tooyoungforlove？

Ah,saynotso！

Tooyoung？Tooyoung？

Ah,no！no！no！

Tooyoungforlove？

Ah,saynotso,Whiledaisiesbloomandtulipsglow！

JunesoonwillcomewithlengtheneddayTopractisealllovelearnedinMay。

Tooyoungforlove？

Ah,saynotso！

Tooyoung？Tooyoung？

Ah,no！no！no！

IX

IoftenwishthatourNumberSevencouldhaveknownandcorrespondedwiththeauthorof"TheBudgetofParadoxes。"IthinkMr。DeMorganwouldhavefoundsomeofhisvagariesandfanciesnotundeservingofaplaceinhiswonderfulcollectionofeccentricities,absurdities,ingenuities,——mentalfreaksofallsorts。ButIthinkhewouldhavenowandthenrecognizedasoundidea,ajustcomparison,asuggestivehint,apracticalnotion,whichredeemedapageofextravagancesandcrotchetywhims。IconfessthatIamoftenpleasedwithfanciesofhis,andshouldbewillingtoadoptthemasmyown。Ithinkhehas,inthemidstofhiserraticandtangledconceptions,someperfectlyclearandconsistenttrainsofthought。

SowhenNumberSevenspokeofsendingusapaper,Iwelcomedthesuggestion。Iaskedhimwhetherhehadanyobjectiontomylookingitoverbeforehereadit。Myproposalratherpleasedhim,I

thought,for,aswasobservedonaformeroccasion,hehasinconnectionwithabeliefinhimselfanotherside,——acuriousself—

distrust。Ihavenoquestionthathehasanobscuresenseofsomementaldeficiency。Thusyoumayexpectfromhimfirstadogma,andpresentlyadoubt。Ifyoufighthisdogma,hewilldobattleforitstoutly;ifyoulethimalone,hewillveryprobablyexplainitsextravagances,ifithasany,andtameitintoreasonablelimits。

Sometimesheisinonemood,sometimesinanother。

Thefirstportionofwhatwelistenedtoshowshimathisbest;inthelatterpartIamafraidyouwillthinkhegetsalittlewild。

IproceedtolaybeforeyouthepaperwhichNumberSevenreadtoTheTeacups。Therewassomethingverypleasinginthedeferencewhichwasshownhim。Weallfeelthatthereisacrackintheteacup,andaredisposedtohandleitcarefully。Ihaveleftoutafewthingswhichhesaid,feelingthattheymightgiveoffencetosomeofthecompany。ThereweresentencessoinvolvedandobscurethatIwassuretheywouldnotbeunderstood,ifindeedheunderstoodthemhimself。Butthereareotherpassagessoentirelysane,andasitseemstomesojust,thatifanyreaderattributesthemtomeIshallnotthinkmyselfwrongedbythesupposition。YoumustrememberthatNumberSevenhashadafaireducation,thathehasbeenawidereaderinmanydirections,andthathebelongstoafamilyofremarkableintellectualgifts。Soitwasnotsurprisingthathesaidsomethingswhichpleasedthecompany,asinfacttheydid。Thereaderwillnotbestartledtoseeacertainabruptnessinthetransitionfromonesubjecttoanother,——itisacharacteristicofthesquintingbrainwhereveryoufindit。Anothercuriousmarkrarelywantinginthesubjectsofmentalstrabismusisanirregularandoftensprawlinganddeformedhandwriting。ManyandmanyatimeIhavesaid,afterglancingatthebackofaletter,"Thiscomesfromaninsaneasylum,orfromaneccentricwhomightwellbeacandidateforsuchaninstitution。"NumberSeven"smanuscript,whichshowedmarksofmycorrectionshereandthere,furnishedgoodexamplesofthechirographyofpersonswithill—matedcerebralhemispheres。Buttheearlierportionsofthemanuscriptareofperfectlynormalappearance。

Conticuereomnes,asVirgilsays。WewereallsilentasNumberSevenbeganthereadingofhispaper。

NumberSevenreads。

Iamtheseventhsonofaseventhson,asIsupposeyouallknow。Itiscommonlybelievedthatsomeextraordinarygiftsbelongtothefortunateindividualsbornundertheseexceptionalconditions。

Howeverthismaybe,apeculiarvirtuewassupposedtodwellinmefrommyearliestyears。MytouchwasbelievedtohavetheinfluenceformerlyattributedtothatofthekingsandqueensofEngland。YoumayrememberthatthegreatDr。SamuelJohnson,whenachild,wascarriedtobetouchedbyherMajestyQueenAnneforthe"king"sevil,"asscrofulausedtobecalled。OurhonoredfriendTheDictatorwilltellyouthatthebrotherofoneofhisAndoverschoolmateswastakentooneofthesegiftedpersons,whotouchedhim,andhungasmallbrightsilvercoin,eithera"fourpenceha"penny"ora"ninepence,"abouthisneck,which,strangetosay,afterbeingwornacertaintime,becametarnished,andfinallyblack,——aproofofthepoisonousmatterswhichhadbecomeeliminatedfromthesystemandgathereduponthecoin。IrememberthatatonetimeIusedtocarryfourpenceha"pennieswithholesboredthroughthem,whichIfurnishedtochildrenortotheirmothers,underpledgesofsecrecy,——receivingapieceofsilveroflargerdimensionsinexchange。Ineverfeltquitesureaboutanyextraordinaryendowmentbeingapartofmyinheritanceinvirtueofmyspecialconditionsofbirth。Aphrenologist,whoexaminedmyheadwhenIwasaboy,saidthetwosideswereunlike。Myhatter"smeasurementtoldmethesamething;butinlookingovermorethanabushelofthesmallcardboardhat—patternswhichgivetheexactshapeofthehead,Ihavefoundthisisnotuncommon。ThephrenologistmadeallsortsofpredictionsofwhatIshouldbeanddo,whichprovedaboutasnearthetruthasthoserecordedinMissEdithThomas"scharminglittlepoem,"Augury,"whichsomeofuswerereadingtheotherday。