ieve that the
royal touch was a specific for this malady. In his third year he was
taken up to London, inspected by the court surgeon, prayed over by the
court chaplains, and stroked and presented with a piece of gold by
Queen Anne. One of his earliest recollections was that of a stately
lady in a diamond stomacher and a long black hood. Her hand was
applied in vain. The boy's features, which were originally noble and
not irregular, were distorted by his malady. His cheeks were deeply
scarred. He lost for a time the sight of one eye, and he saw but very
imperfectly with the other. But the force of his mind overcame every
impediment. Indolent as he was, he acquired knowledge with such ease
and rapidity, that at every school to which he was sent he was soon
the best scholar. From sixteen to eighteen he resided at home, and was
left to his own devices. He learned much at this time, though his
studies were without guidance and without plan. He ransacked his
father's shelves, dipped into a multitude of books, read what was
interesting, and passed over what was dull. An ordinary lad would have
acquired little or no useful knowledge in such a way; but much that
was dull to ordinary lads was interesting to Samuel.

[Footnote 6: Johnson himself tells a story strongly
illustrative of the character both of the man and boy. He
says, "Once, indeed, I was disobedient; I refused to attend
my father to Uttoxeter-market. Pride was the source of that
refusal, and the remembrance of it was painful. A few years
ago, I desired to atone for this fault; I went to Uttoxeter
in very bad weather, and stood for a considerable time
bareheaded in the rain, on the spot where my father's stall
used to stand. In contrition I stood, and I hope the penance
was expiatory."--Boswell's "Life of Johnson."]

[Illustration: Dr. Johnson's Penance.]

While he was thus irregularly educating himself, his family was
sinking into hopeless poverty. Old Michael Johnson was much better
qualified to pore upon books, and to talk about them, than to trade in
them. His business declined; his debts increased; it was with
difficulty that the daily expenses of his household were defrayed, it
was out of his power to support his son at either university; but a
wealthy neighbor offered assistance; and, in reliance on promises
which proved to be of very little value, Samuel was entered a