CHAPTER II. FIRST LESSONS IN THE ART OF INSTRUCTION

owItreatthem,andheneverblamesmeforit:hesaysitisjustwhatheusedtodowhenhewasaboy.Lastsummer,hegavemeanestfullofyoungsparrows,andhesawmepullingofftheirlegsandwings,andheads,andneversaidanythingexceptthattheywerenastythings,andImustnotletthemsoilmytrousers:andUncleRobsonwastheretoo,andhelaughed,andsaidIwasafineboy.” “Butwhatwouldyourmammasay?” “Oh,shedoesn’tcare!shesaysit’sapitytokilltheprettysingingbirds,butthenaughtysparrows,andmice,andrats,ImaydowhatIlikewith.Sonow,MissGrey,youseeitisnotwicked.” “Istillthinkitis,Tomandperhapsyourpapaandmammawouldthinksotoo,iftheythoughtmuchaboutit.However,”Iinternallyadded,“theymaysaywhattheyplease,butIamdeterminedyoushalldonothingofthekind,aslongasIhavepowertopreventit.” Henexttookmeacrossthelawntoseehismole-traps,andthenintothestack-yardtoseehisweasel-traps:oneofwhich,tohisgreatjoy,containedadeadweaselandthenintothestabletosee,notthefinecarriage-horses,butalittleroughcolt,whichheinformedmehadbeenbredonpurposeforhim,andhewastorideitassoonasitwasproperlytrained.Itriedtoamusethelittlefellow,andlistenedtoallhischatterascomplacentlyasIcouldforIthoughtifhehadanyaffectionsatall,Iwouldendeavourtowinthemandthen,intime,Imightbeabletoshowhimtheerrorofhisways:butIlookedinvainforthatgenerous,noblespirithismothertalkedofthoughIcouldseehewasnotwithoutacertaindegreeofquicknessandpenetration,whenhechosetoexertit. Whenwere-enteredthehouseitwasnearlytea-time.MasterTomtoldmethat,aspapawasfromhome,heandIandMaryAnnweretohaveteawithmamma,foratreatfor,onsuchoccasions,shealwaysdinedatluncheon-timewiththem,insteadofatsixo’clock.Soonaftertea,MaryAnnwenttobed,butTomfavoureduswithhiscompanyandconversationtilleight.Afterhewasgone,Mrs.Bloomfieldfurtherenlightenedmeonthesubjectofherchildren’sdispositionsandacquirements,andonwhattheyweretolearn,andhowtheyweretobemanaged,andcautionedmetomentiontheirdefectstonoonebutherself.Mymotherhadwarnedmebeforetomentionthemaslittleaspossibletoher,forpeopledidnotliketobetoldoftheirchildren’sfaults,andsoIconcludedIwastokeepsilenceonthemaltogether.Abouthalf-pastnine,Mrs.Bloomfieldinvitedmetopartakeofafrugalsupperofcoldmeatandbread.Iwasgladwhenthatwasover,andshetookherbedroomcandlestickandretiredtorestforthoughIwishedtobepleasedwithher,hercompanywasextremelyirksometomeandIcouldnothelpfeelingthatshewascold,grave,andforbidding—theveryoppositeofthekind,warm-heartedmatronmyhopeshaddepictedhertobe.