Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

HIS FIRST SCHOOL.

11

grown to be dissatisfied with the grammar-school, and took some trouble to establish an academy, at which the mind might be cultivated and the manners not neglected. Mr Blackie was one of the gentlemen interested. They rented a hall in the Netherkirkgate, and fitted it up with all school requirements. An excellent master was secured in Mr Peter Merson, a classical student then mounting the slow rungs of Church preferment, and a Mr Bransby was engaged as usher.

John was sent to this school, and came first under Mr Bransby's care. The discovery that

his schoolmates could read and write was sufficient shock, and he was soon diligent enough. Mr Bransby died a few months later, and John was transferred to Mr Merson's class. Here he was expected to begin Latin, and refused to do SO. Mr Merson understood the boy, and left him to take to it spontaneously, from which point he made rapid progress in his school-work. Some twelve or fourteen boys were in his class, and in the riva voce examinations with which the master began each morning's work, young Blackie soon distinguished himself. His memory was strong from the beginning, and he gained smartness by doing his lessons aloud, in his own. fashion, learning Latin by the ear as well as by the mind. "Merson's scholars" were a trial to the

neighbourhood, as the Academy had no playground; but although John could run and shout with the best of them, he seems to have avoided all rougher pranks. Once he was challenged to fight by Alick Dunbar, but he declined on the ground that human beings were not intended to collar each other like dogs, adding, "Although I won't fight with you, I'll knock you down," and this he did to the admiration of his schoolfellows, who counted his courage duly proven. A first acquaintance with the heroes of tradition and of history impressed him greatly. At nine years of age he accepted the postulate of the future apostle of strength, and went about the house shouting, "Father, for the nine hundred and ninety-ninth time, I tell you there is nothing like uncommon strength."

Mr Blackie, elated by his rapid progress, wished him to learn music and dancing about the time that Latin had lost its terrors. A teacher of music was instructed to give John lessons in the violin, but the little scholar's arms and hands were not adaptable, and he protested so vigorously against his lessons that they came to an untimely end. Nor did dancing suit the free play of his feet and legs, and when the weekly lesson was due, John was wont to hide himself and so escape its tortures. On one occasion Mr

[blocks in formation]

Blackie dragged him out of a cupboard, and marched him off to the dancing-school, holding a cane in reserve for the first sign of mutiny; but this took time and trouble, and the father had to give in, and to content himself with the fact that John was generally dux at the Academy. Mr Blackie was particular about dress, and John was not. A smart suit of silver-grey cloth with rows of shining buttons was chosen for him, but caused a tempest of despair in the boy, who refused to brave the jeers of his class in such unacademical splendour, and the fine clothes had to be kept for James. So he grew as much as possible in the free exercise of his own will; and in spite of his repugnance to his father's dilettante tastes, his truthfulness, kindliness, industry, and sunny humour made him the favourite at home.

He was no reader at this time. He learned his lessons thoroughly, singing them through the house, and already marching up and down with that coincidence of mental and bodily activity which never left him; but when he knew them, the hours to spare were filled with original sports. The attic, where he and the little ones were at liberty, was decorated with play-bills,—his fancy elaborated their suggestions, and he wove in what scraps of Shakespeare and psalmody he knew, de

vising strange plays, which he and his sister performed to an audience of nurses and children. Christina was John's most capable playmate. Opposite the house stood a theatre, and every evening these two watched the people going in, with wistful eyes, wondering if it would ever occur to their father to take them to the play, but not venturing to expose their longing to his banter. He never did take them, but sent them to the circus sometimes, and the feats of riders and clowns led to hazardous imitations at home.

Mrs Blackie's cousin had married Mr James Wyld, afterwards of Gilston, and then residing at Bonnington Bank, near Edinburgh. In 1819, John, just ten years old, was invited to spend the August holidays with his cousin Robert Wyld, a year older than himself. Robert was in low spirits at the prospect of going to the High School after the holidays. He hated Latin, and, alas! Latin and Greek, with a little arithmetic and small doses of the weights and measures, made up the too solid educational diet of that famous place. Mr Wyld tried to rouse his boy's emulation by praising John Blackie's ardour for Latin, but Robert refused to believe in it, till one day, hearing strange sounds which came through the open library window into the garden, he peered in to find his cousin, a thin little lad

HIS MOTHER'S DEATH.

15

with sharp features, shouting out at the top of his voice, with the broad sonorous vowel-sounds taught in Scotland, the rules of syntax from the Latin columns in Ruddiman's Rudiments.' To be so employed on a holiday visit argued a power of principle which impressed the dejected Robert for his good.

This year, 1819, ended in sorrow for the home in Aberdeen. The gentle mother died, and a shadow fell on the house, which it took years

to remove.

« AnteriorContinuar »