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recovery。 His sufferings were great； yet he invariably bore them
with unshaken fortitude。 There was one thing remarkable connected
with his illness； notwithstanding its severity； it never confined
him to his bed。 He was wont to sit in his little parlour； in his
easy…chair； dressed in a faded regimental coat； his dog at his
feet； who would occasionally lift his head from the hearth…rug on
which he lay； and look his master wistfully in the face。 And thus
my father spent the greater part of his time； sometimes in prayer；
sometimes in meditation； and sometimes in reading the Scriptures。
I frequently sat with him； though； as I entertained a great awe for
my father； I used to feel rather ill at ease； when； as sometimes
happened； I found myself alone with him。
'I wish to ask you a few questions；' said he to me one day； after
my mother had left the room。
'I will answer anything you may please to ask me； my dear father。'
'What have you been about lately？'
'I have been occupied as usual； attending at the office at the
appointed hours。'
'And what do you there？'
'Whatever I am ordered。'
'And nothing else？'
'Oh yes！ sometimes I read a book。'
'Connected with your profession？'
'Not always； I have been lately reading Armenian … '
'What's that？'
'The language of a people whose country is a region on the other
side of Asia Minor。'
'Well！'
'A region abounding with mountains。'
'Well！'
'Amongst which is Mount Ararat。'
'Well！'
'Upon which； as the Bible informs us； the ark rested。'
'Well！'
'It is the language of the people of those regions … '
'So you told me。'
'And I have been reading the Bible in their language。'
'Well！'
'Or rather； I should say； in the ancient language of these people；
from which I am told the modem Armenian differs considerably。'
'Well！'
'As much as the Italian from the Latin。'
'Well！'
'So I have been reading the Bible in ancient Armenian。'
'You told me so before。'
'I found it a highly difficult language。'
'Yes。'
'Differing widely from the languages in general with which I am
acquainted。'
'Yes。'
'Exhibiting； however； some features in common with them。'
'Yes。'
'And sometimes agreeing remarkably in words with a certain strange
wild speech with which I became acquainted … '
'Irish？'
'No； father； not Irish … with which I became acquainted by the
greatest chance in the world。'
'Yes。'
'But of which I need say nothing farther at present； and which I
should not have mentioned but for that fact。'
'Well！'
'Which I consider remarkable。'
'Yes。'
'The Armenian is copious。'
'Is it？'
'With an alphabet of thirty…nine letters； but it is harsh and
guttural。'
'Yes。'
'Like the language of most mountainous people … the Armenians call
it Haik。'
'Do they？'
'And themselves； Haik； also； they are a remarkable people； and；
though their original habitation is the Mountain of Ararat； they
are to be found； like the Jews； all over the world。'
'Well！'
'Well； father； that's all I can tell you about the Haiks； or
Armenians。'
'And what does it all amount to？'
'Very little； father； indeed； there is very little known about the
Armenians； their early history； in particular； is involved in
considerable mystery。'
'And； if you knew all that it was possible to know about them； to
what would it amount？ to what earthly purpose could you turn it？
have you acquired any knowledge of your profession？'
'Very little； father。'
'Very little！ Have you acquired all in your power？'
'I can't say that I have； father。'
'And yet it was your duty to have done so。 But I see how it is；
you have shamefully misused your opportunities； you are like one
who； sent into the field to labour； passes his time in flinging
stones at the birds of heaven。'
'I would scorn to fling a stone at a bird； father。'
'You know what I mean； and all too well； and this attempt to evade
deserved reproof by feigned simplicity is quite in character with
your general behaviour。 I have ever observed about you a want of
frankness； which has distressed me； you never speak of what you are
about； your hopes； or your projects； but cover yourself with
mystery。 I never knew till the present moment that you were
acquainted with Armenian。'
'Because you never asked me； father； there's nothing to conceal in
the matter … I will tell you in a moment how I came to learn
Armenian。 A lady whom I met at one of Mrs。 …'s parties took a
fancy to me； and has done me the honour to allow me to go and see
her sometimes。 She is the widow of a rich clergyman； and on her
husband's death came to this place to live； bringing her husband's
library with her： I soon found my way to it； and examined every
book。 Her husband must have been a learned man； for amongst much
Greek and Hebrew I found several volumes in Armenian； or relating
to the language。'
'And why did you not tell me of this before？'
'Because you never questioned me； but； I repeat； there is nothing
to conceal in the matter。 The lady took a fancy to me； and； being
fond of the arts； drew my portrait； she said the expression of my
countenance put her in mind of Alfieri's Saul。'
'And do you still visit her？'
'No； she soon grew tired of me； and told people that she found me
very stupid； she gave me the Armenian books； however。'
'Saul；' said my father； musingly； 'Saul。 I am afraid she was only
too right there； he disobeyed the commands of his master； and
brought down on his head the vengeance of Heaven … he became a
maniac； prophesied； and flung weapons about him。'
'He was； indeed； an awful character … I hope I shan't turn out like
him。'
'God forbid！' said my father； solemnly； 'but in many respects you
are headstrong and disobedient like him。 I placed you in a
profession； and besought you to make yourself master of it by
giving it your undivided attention。 This； however； you did not do；
you know nothing of it； but tell me that you are acquainted with
Armenian； but what I dislike most is your want of candour … you are
my son； but I know little of your real history； you may know fifty
things for what I am aware： you may know how to shoe a horse for
what I am aware。'
'Not only to shoe a horse； father； but to make horse…shoes。'
'Perhaps so；' said my father； 'and it only serves to prove what I
was just saying； that I know little about you。'
'But you easily may； my dear father； I will tell you anything that
you may wish to know … shall I inform you how I learnt to make
horse…shoes？'
'No；' said my father； 'as you kept it a secret so long； it may as
well continue so still。 Had you been a frank； open…hearted boy；
like one I could name； you would have told me all about it of your
own accord。 But I now wish to ask you a serious question … what do
you propose to do？'
'To do； father？'
'Yes！ the time for which you were articled to your profession will
soon be expired； and I shall be no more。'
'Do not talk so； my dear father； I have no doubt that you will soon
be better。'
'Do not flatter yourself； I feel that my days are numbered； I am
soon going to my rest； and I have need of rest； for I am weary。
There； there； don't weep！ Tears will help me as little as they
will you； you have not yet answered my question。 Tell me what you
intend to do？'
'I really do not know what I shall do。'
'The military pension which I enjoy will cease with my life。 The
property which I shall leave behind me will be barely sufficient
for the maintenance of your mother respectably。 I again ask you
what you intend to do。 Do you think you can support yourself by
your Armenian or your other acquirements？'
'Alas！ I think little at all about it； but I suppose I must push
into the world； and make a good fight； as becomes the son of him
who fought Big Ben； if I can't succeed； and am driven to the worst；
it is but dying … '
'What do you mean by dying？'
'Leaving the world； my loss would scarcely be felt。 I have never
held life in much value； and every one has a right to dispose as he
thinks best of that which is his own。'
'Ah！ now I understand you； and well I know how and where you
imbibed that horrible doctrine； and many similar ones which I have
heard from your mouth； but I wish not to reproach you … I view in
your conduct a punishment for my own sins； and I bow to the will of
God。 Few and evil have been my days upon the earth； little have I
done to which I can look back with satisfaction。 It is true I have
served my king fifty years； and I have fought with … Heaven forgive
me； what was I about to sa