16 A MISCHIEVOUS BOY. When I had reached my sixth year, an occurrence took place, which it was feared would terminate in the blindness of one of my eyes. Still weak, and always suffering from headache-although otherwise the symptoms of my affliction were gradually disappearing-I was quite unfit to take part in those boyish sports which promote strength and activity. I could only look on whilst others were actively engaged. On one occasion I was thus sitting alone, a silent witness of the sports of the neighbouring children, when a mischievous boy, notorious in the street for his wild conduct, threw a stone which hit me on the right eye, wounding it severely. I remember quite distinctly at this moment, that nothing could induce me to remove my hand from the wounded eye. For three months, day after day, I kept my hand upon it. The quantity of water which constantly trickled from the wound was surprising. I believe, however, that that occurrence was the means of removing the water from my head, and that the warmth of the hand tended to draw it out. To the wanton act of that boy I trace, under an overruling Providence, my deliverance from a disease which might have caused physical helplessness, or mental weakness for life. Previously, my parents had tried to teach me the alphabet, but they found it so difficult to give me an idea of the difference between one letter and another, that the sorrowful fear came upon them, that it would be impossible to give me education. This apprehension was the more distressing from the fact that they were educated persons themselves, and of course knew its value; besides, seeing my physical weakness, they were anxious that I should acquire knowledge, not for its own sake merely, but as a probable means of obtaining honest bread, should it please God to spare my life. Judge, therefore, of their surprise when, after the healing of the wounded eye, they found that my acquisition of the rudiments of educa very THE PROPHETIC WRITINGS. 17 tion was extremely rapid. It seemed as if some slumbering power had been suddenly awakened, some undiscovered faculty at once called into action. It is a fact, that in a few months from that time I could read a chapter in the New Testament, not only without difficulty, but correctly and even fluently. And in a short time I read with ease the whole of the Old Testament Scriptures. And not only so, but I remember distinctly that the books of the prophets, especially those of Isaiah and John, had a peculiar fascination for me. Chapter after chapter would I read unbidden. Indeed, Isaiah became my attraction, and neither for play nor food would I willingly leave that glorious composition. I used to read aloud; and old Jacob Brown, who lived next door, as he sat stitching and hammering at his trade of shoemaker, used to say in reference to my readings, "Ah, Tommy'll be a parson, Tommy'll be a parson! That's certain! Tommy's born for a parson!" I shall never forget, though it is impossible to describe, the emotions produced in my young heart, at the age of seven or eight, by the ninth, eleventh, and sixtieth chapters of the evangelical prophet. The sixth and seventh verses of the ninth chapter used to throw me into a kind of rapture which no language can indicate: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." The sixth and three following verses of the eleventh chapter especially afforded to me unmingled delight. I used to stand at a low table, with the family Bible open before me, and read them aloud; after which I C 18 THE PROPHETIC WRITINGS. would strut about the room, repeating them in tones of triumph, as if I perfectly comprehended their meaning, and could dispute every inch of ground with the metaphorical theologians, who teach that these sublime sentences are to be understood as figurative descriptions of what the gospel will effect in changing rude and wicked men to humble and loving saints. The passage to which I allude is "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." Of course I knew not then that the modern pulpit has abstracted the glory from those inimitable predictions by affirming their metaphorical character; but to my young heart, brimful of wonder and faith, there was no figure in them, but the grand utterances of literal realities about to take place at some future period of the world's history. Since then I have read Virgil, Pope, and Cowper on the same fine theme; but with all their poetical beauty they have failed to bring back the exulting feelings produced in those early days. "The lambs with wolves shall graze the verdant mead, The steer and lion at one crib shall meet, And harmless serpents lick the pilgrim's feet; REMARKABLE CIRCUMSTANCE. The smiling infant in his hand shall take Pleased the green lustre of the scales survey, And with their forky tongue shall innocently play."-Pope. "The lion, and the leopard, and the bear Graze with the fearless flocks: all bask at noon Of the same grove, and drink one common stream. Lurks in the serpent now; the mother sees, To stroke his azure neck, or to receive The lambent homage of his arrowy tongue."-Cowper. 19 But whatever may have been the Latin poet's idea of the golden age, a passage of Scripture which has the power to call forth in the mere imitation such lines as these from our English bards, must be wonderfully suggestive and sublime. Of the effect produced on my mind by the sixtieth chapter, I shall only say that it was one of unutterable admiration, and a strange longing to see and mingle with the magnificent scenes therein foreshadowed. The gorgeous scenery of the book of Revelation literally overwhelmed me. Often I sat down in my little chair in silent amazement, whilst tears ran from my eyes, and relieved my aching head. On one occasion—and I remember it more distinctly than what took place in my own family circle yesterday -my mother left the house for half an hour. I was very weak, scarcely able to stand upright. I managed, however, to rise and read at the table a few favourite verses. Overcome by the exertion, I sat down in a fainting state. I was then between seven and eight years of age. Whilst sitting in this state of utter helplessness, thinking that I should immediately die, I heard a voice—so, at least, I thought—saying in a soft but clear and distinct tone in my ear, "I shall not die but live, and declare the works of the Lord. The Lord hath chas 20 INTERESTING MEMORIES. tened me sore but he hath not given me over unto death." Instantly and involuntarily I lifted up my hands to heaven as if in prayer, and at that moment my mother entered the room. Seeing my strange excitement, she ran towards me, exclaiming, "My child! what's the matter?" "I thought I was going to die,” I replied, "but now I am much better. I'm so glad you've come." "I was detained longer than I expected," she said; "but what made you anxious?" "I feared you should find me dead." "Dead! my dear child. Have you been reading? she enquired, seeing the Bible lying open. "A little," I said. "Do you remember what it was?" "Yes; in the tenth of John, where Jesus says, 'My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.' And now, mother, don't be sad, for I know that I shall live." My mother turned about, and put up her hand as if wiping away a tear. These reminiscences are peculiarly interesting to me at this moment, as I look back through years never more to return. For, as Southey says, "Yet is remembrance sweet, though well I know My parents were in the habit of taking me with them to the place of worship which they attended. The minister, good man !— "An awful, reverend, and religious man, His eyes diffused a venerable grace, And charity itself was in his face" |