FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   254   255   256   257   258   259   260   261   262   263   264   265   266   267   268   269   270   271   272   273   274   275   276   277   278  
279   280   281   282   283   284   285   286   287   288   289   290   291   292   293   294   295   296   297   298   299   300   301   302   303   >>   >|  
iderable, and I think a beneficial effect upon Leonard Fairfield--an effect which may perhaps create less surprise, when the reader remembers that Leonard was unaccustomed to argument, and still retained many of the prejudices natural to his rustic breeding. Nay, he actually thought it possible that, as both Riccabocca and Mr. Dale were more than double his age, and had had opportunities not only of reading twice as many books, but of contracting experience in wider ranges of life--he actually, I say, thought it possible that they might be better acquainted with the properties and distinctions of knowledge than himself. At all events, the Parson's words were so far well-timed, that they produced in Leonard very much of that state of mind which Mr. Dale desired to effect, before communicating to him the startling intelligence that he was to visit relations whom he had never seen, of whom he had heard but little, and that it was at least possible that the result of that visit might be to open to him greater facilities for instruction, and a higher degree in life. Without some such preparation, I fear that Leonard would have gone forth into the world with an exaggerated notion of his own acquirements, and with a notion yet more exaggerated as to the kind of power that such knowledge as he possessed would obtain for itself. As it was, when Mr. Dale broke to him the news of the experimental journey before him, cautioning him against being over-sanguine, Leonard received the intelligence with a serious meekness, and thoughts that were nobly solemn. When the door closed on his visitors, he remained for some moments motionless, and in deep meditation: then he unclosed the door, and stole forth. The night was already far advanced, the heavens were luminous with all the host of stars. "I think," said the student, referring, in later life, to that crisis in his destiny--"I think it was then, when I stood alone, yet surrounded by worlds so numberless, that I first felt the distinction between _mind_ and _soul_." "Tell me," said Riccabocca, as he parted company with Mr. Dale, "whether you think we should have given to Frank Hazeldean, on entering life, the same lecture on the limits and ends of knowledge which we have bestowed on Leonard Fairfield." "My friend," quoth the Parson, with a touch of human conceit; "I have ridden on horseback, and I know that some horses should be guided by the bridle, and some should be urged by
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   254   255   256   257   258   259   260   261   262   263   264   265   266   267   268   269   270   271   272   273   274   275   276   277   278  
279   280   281   282   283   284   285   286   287   288   289   290   291   292   293   294   295   296   297   298   299   300   301   302   303   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Leonard

 

knowledge

 

effect

 
exaggerated
 

notion

 

intelligence

 

Parson

 

Riccabocca

 

Fairfield

 

thought


moments
 

remained

 

visitors

 
ridden
 

closed

 

conceit

 

motionless

 

unclosed

 

meditation

 

journey


horseback
 

bridle

 

guided

 

sanguine

 

meekness

 
thoughts
 
cautioning
 

horses

 

solemn

 

received


heavens
 

experimental

 

distinction

 

numberless

 

surrounded

 

Hazeldean

 
worlds
 

parted

 

company

 
entering

luminous

 
bestowed
 

friend

 
limits
 

student

 

destiny

 

lecture

 

crisis

 

referring

 

advanced