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calculated to afford either pleasure or edification； I had
increased rapidly in size and in strength： the growth of the mind；
however； had by no means corresponded with that of the body。 It is
true； I had acquired my letters； and was by this time able to read
imperfectly； but this was all： and even this poor triumph over
absolute ignorance would never have been effected but for the
unremitting attention of my parents； who； sometimes by threats；
sometimes by entreaties； endeavoured to rouse the dormant energies
of my nature； and to bend my wishes to the acquisition of the
rudiments of knowledge； but in influencing the wish lay the
difficulty。 Let but the will of a human being be turned to any
particular object； and it is ten to one that sooner or later he
achieves it。 At this time I may safely say that I harboured
neither wishes nor hopes； I had as yet seen no object calculated to
call them forth； and yet I took pleasure in many things which
perhaps unfortunately were all within my sphere of enjoyment。 I
loved to look upon the heavens； and to bask in the rays of the sun；
or to sit beneath hedgerows and listen to the chirping of the
birds； indulging the while in musing and meditation as far as my
very limited circle of ideas would permit； but； unlike my brother；
who was at this time at school； and whose rapid progress in every
branch of instruction astonished and delighted his preceptors； I
took no pleasure in books； whose use； indeed； I could scarcely
comprehend； and bade fair to be as arrant a dunce as ever brought
the blush of shame into the cheeks of anxious and affectionate
parents。
But the time was now at hand when the ice which had hitherto bound
the mind of the child with its benumbing power was to be thawed；
and a world of sensations and ideas awakened to which it had
hitherto been an entire stranger。 One day a young lady； an
intimate acquaintance of our family； and godmother to my brother；
drove up to the house in which we dwelt； she stayed some time
conversing with my mother； and on rising to depart； she put down on
the table a small packet； exclaiming； 'I have brought a little
present for each of the boys： the one is a History of England；
which I intend for my godson when he returns from school； the other
is 。 。 。' … and here she said something which escaped my ear； as I
sat at some distance； moping in a corner； … 'I intend it for the
youngster yonder；' pointing to myself； she then departed； and； my
mother going out shortly after； I was left alone。
I remember for some time sitting motionless in my corner； with my
eyes bent upon the ground； at last I lifted my head and looked upon
the packet as it lay on the table。 All at once a strange sensation
came over me； such as I had never experienced before … a singular
blending of curiosity； awe； and pleasure； the remembrance of which；
even at this distance of time； produces a remarkable effect upon my
nervous system。 What strange things are the nerves … I mean those
more secret and mysterious ones in which I have some notion that
the mind or soul； call it which you will； has its habitation； how
they occasionally tingle and vibrate before any coming event
closely connected with the future weal or woe of the human being。
Such a feeling was now within me； certainly independent of what the
eye had seen or the ear had heard。 A book of some description had
been brought for me； a present by no means calculated to interest
me； what cared I for books？ I had already many into which I never
looked but from compulsion； friends； moreover； had presented me
with similar things before； which I had entirely disregarded； and
what was there in this particular book； whose very title I did not
know； calculated to attract me more than the rest？ yet something
within told me that my fate was connected with the book which had
been last brought； so； after looking on the packet from my corner
for a considerable time； I got up and went to the table。
The packet was lying where it had been left … I took it up； had the
envelope； which consisted of whitish brown paper； been secured by a
string or a seal； I should not have opened it； as I should have
considered such an act almost in the light of a crime； the books；
however； had been merely folded up； and I therefore considered that
there could be no possible harm in inspecting them； more especially
as I had received no injunction to the contrary。 Perhaps there was
something unsound in this reasoning； something sophistical； but a
child is sometimes as ready as a grown…up person in finding excuses
for doing that which he is inclined to。 But whether the action was
right or wrong； and I am afraid it was not altogether right； I
undid the packet： it contained three books； two from their
similarity seemed to be separate parts of one and the same work；
they were handsomely bound； and to them I first turned my
attention。 I opened them successively； and endeavoured to make out
their meaning； their contents； however； as far as I was able to
understand them； were by no means interesting： whoever pleases may
read these books for me； and keep them； too； into the bargain； said
I to myself。
I now took up the third book： it did not resemble the others；
being longer and considerably thicker； the binding was of dingy
calf…skin。 I opened it； and as I did so another strange thrill of
pleasure shot through my frame。 The first object on which my eyes
rested was a picture； it was exceedingly well executed； at least
the scene which it represented made a vivid impression upon me；
which would hardly have been the case had the artist not been
faithful to nature。 A wild scene it was … a heavy sea and rocky
shore； with mountains in the background； above which the moon was
peering。 Not far from the shore； upon the water； was a boat with
two figures in it； one of which stood at the bow； pointing with
what I knew to be a gun at a dreadful shape in the water； fire was
flashing from the muzzle of the gun； and the monster appeared to be
transfixed。 I almost thought I heard its cry。 I remained
motionless； gazing upon the picture； scarcely daring to draw my
breath； lest the new and wondrous world should vanish of which I
had now obtained a glimpse。 'Who are those people； and what could
have brought them into that strange situation？' I asked of myself；
and now the seed of curiosity； which had so long lain dormant；
began to expand； and I vowed to myself to become speedily
acquainted with the whole history of the people in the boat。 After
looking on the picture till every mark and line in it were familiar
to me； I turned over various leaves till I came to another
engraving； a new source of wonder … a low sandy beach on which the
furious sea was breaking in mountain…like billows； cloud and rack
deformed the firmament； which wore a dull and leaden…like hue；
gulls and other aquatic fowls were toppling upon the blast； or
skimming over the tops of the maddening waves … 'Mercy upon him！ he
must be drowned！' I exclaimed； as my eyes fell upon a poor wretch
who appeared to be striving to reach the shore； he was upon his
legs； but was evidently half smothered with the brine； high above
his head curled a horrible billow； as if to engulf him for ever。
'He must be drowned！ he must be drowned！' I almost shrieked； and
dropped the book。 I soon snatched it up again； and now my eye
lighted on a third picture： again a shore； but what a sweet and
lovely one； and how I wished to be treading it； there were
beautiful shells lying on the smooth white sand； some were empty
like those I had occasionally seen on marble mantelpieces； but out
of others peered the heads and bodies of wondrous crayfish； a wood
of thick green trees skirted the beach and partly shaded it from
the rays of the sun； which shone hot above； while blue waves
slightly crested with foam were gently curling against it； there
was a human figure upon the beach； wild and uncouth； clad in the
skins of animals； with a huge cap on his head； a hatchet at his
girdle； and in his hand a gun； his feet and legs were bare； he
stood in an attitude of horror and surprise； his body was bent far
back； and his eyes； which seemed starting out of his head； were
fixed upon a mark on the sand … a large distinct mark … a human
footprint。 。 。 。
Reader； is it necessary to name the book which now stood open in my
hand； and whose very prints； feeble expounders of its wondrous
lines； had produced within me emotions strange and novel？ Scarcely
… for it was a book which has exerted over the minds of Englishmen
an influence certainly greater than any other of modern times …
which has been in most people's hands； and with the contents of
which even those who cannot read are to a certain extent acquainted
… a boo