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。