Читать книгу William and His Uncle Ben. A Tale Designed for the Use of Young People - Барбара Хофланд - Страница 4

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William Denham was a child of not more than four or five years of age, when he first saw the only brother of his mamma, who was addressed by his sisters with the familiar appellation of "Uncle Ben," and had been generally recognised as their "sailor uncle."

When this gentleman, Lieutenant Gardiner, made his first appearance, he was wrapped in an immense rough coat, wore a fur cap on his head, and held in his hand a stick like a bludgeon; so that his appearance, together with a loud commanding tone of voice, and considerable peculiarity of language, rendered him altogether an object likely to inspire terror, rather than pleasure, in the mind of so young a child. William, however, soon saw enough in the manners of his sisters, Elizabeth and Selina, to inspire him with confidence, for they both began instantly to pull off his coat and his cap, to welcome him joyfully, and kiss him fondly; and he observed that his mother even welcomed him with tears of delight, as her only relative, and one whose profession forbade the pleasure of frequent meetings.

All that the young mind of William could retain of this visit from the sailor, impressed his mind with vivid recollection of joy. The whole house seemed inspired by new life, and even the lowest servants pressed forward, proud to wait on the brave man "who had been fighting the French and Spaniards, had received wounds in many battles, escaped death in various ways, had seen every quarter of the globe, and lived with all kinds of people." All the acquaintance of the family crowded around them, for every one loved "Uncle Ben;" but yet he never appeared so happy as when he was alone with the children: and the hours in which he played on the grass-plot, made little fleets to sail on the fish-pond, or sat gravely down between the girls, with William on his lap, to relate his adventures, were the sweetest that any in the party ever had enjoyed.

Although the Lieutenant was apt to mix sea phrases in his conversation, yet he carefully abstained from oaths; and having received an excellent education in early life, his language might be called rather technical than vulgar. To children the novelty was delightful, and William naturally inquired into the meaning of every new term, which the good-natured seaman was never weary of explaining; and he would frequently end by commending him for his acuteness, and exhorting him "to be diligent, and give his mind to learning foreign lingo."

"But what is lingo, Uncle Ben?"

"Why, you little jackanapes, it is language. You have a quick ear and a flexible tongue, and you can read English as if you were scudding under a fair wind; so I hope it won't be long before you begin to palaver French, and then German, Italian, Spanish, and all the rest of 'em."

"That won't do—I must learn Latin first."

"With all my heart, but let the rest follow, that's my fine fellow; get your mind well stored with luggage of that sort, and you may go into the world and face all weathers."

"But we have no land storms like your sea storms, uncle."

"Yes, faith, but you have, my boy; however, you are a great deal too young to know any thing about such matters, and it is to be hoped you will never want a biscuit to shiver; but never forget Uncle Ben's advice—learn languages diligently whilst you are young, and have nothing else to think about. There is never a north-wester can blow knowledge out of your head, roar as it may, my pretty fellow."

When Uncle Ben departed, it was to a service of great danger in the West Indies, and the blessings and tears of the family accompanied their adieus; and to these marks of affection were added their prayers also, for they were not only an amiable but a religious family. Alas! they were soon called from the tender sorrow of affection, to subjects more immediately pressing upon themselves. Mr. Denham, the father of our little hero, was a merchant in extensive business, and he had hitherto brought up his family in affluence; but the same circumstances which subjected dear Uncle Ben to the evils of war was injurious to his business, and eventually deprived him of all his property. He was obliged to part with his beautiful house in the country, his carriage and horses, to retire to a small house with one servant, and become himself an agent for another person.

Whilst these sad changes were taking place, William, as the youngest child, and likely to be the most trouble to his parents, was sent to the house of his father's eldest brother, who was a country gentleman, exceedingly fond of the sports of the field, and by no means partial to children. The poor little fellow was so dotingly fond of his parents, and had been nourished by them with so much tenderness, that it almost broke his heart to leave them, especially as he had the sense to see that something very bad was the matter, though he could not comprehend what it was, and of course they were extremely sorry to part with him; but as his uncle had invited him, they thought it was their duty to send him, not only for their own convenience, but for his benefit.

Squire Denham, as he was called, lived in a large old-fashioned Hall, in which William thought there were few comforts, although there was some grandeur. He was surprised to find there was no lady in the house, and that three or four greyhounds, and a little black terrier, appeared the most important persons in the establishment. It is true, there was an old housekeeper, who had a huge bunch of keys hanging at her apron-strings, which jingled whenever she moved, and seemed to give notice that somebody of consequence was coming; but still she was obliged to give way, on every occasion, to the superior claims of Vixen, Fury, Juno, and Blossom. Every one of these four-footed inhabitants seemed perfectly conscious of their own established rights, and the inferiority of their species who lived only in the kennel; and the opening faculties of the boy here took their first lesson in natural philosophy, though he had no person to give him aid in his observations.

Indeed it was evident that Squire Denham considered a child as a very inferior animal, although that child was his brother's son, and was at present his presumptive heir. He was a man extremely anxious to employ only the best horse-breaker and the best dog-trainer, to be found in the country, let the expense be what it might; but if any person suggested the propriety of sending his nephew to a school, or of procuring him a tutor at home, he generally negatived the proposition thus:—"Why, Sir, I do not see the use of learning for him at all beyond what he's got. I find he can read, so Dixon the housekeeper hears him a chapter or two every day—(Fury, Fury, is that your manners, Miss? leave the hearth this moment)—and then as to writing, they say he has a good notion, which is natural, seeing my brother was a merchant—(Vixen, you slut, hold your tongue—I can't hear myself speak for your confounded noise)—so as to the child—but, in fact, I have so much trouble with these creatures, to say nothing of my anxiety about the brown mare, and the carriage-horses, it can not be expected I should see after him at all."

The poor busy gentleman proved the truth of his own words; he forgot alike the wants of a brother, to whom a little of his superfluous wealth would have been a great blessing, and of his nephew, to whom the cultivation of the mind at this season was not less necessary. The child was welcome, to be fed by his servants; and if he had been seen in rags, it is probable he would have scolded them for letting him disgrace the house; but as to inquiring after the poor boy's comforts, any more than providing for his acquirements, never entered the mind, or touched the feelings of this gentleman.

William recollected that Uncle Ben was very much in the habit of talking of his ship as if it were an object of affection, and his saying, "she did so and so"—"she bore us safely"—"she wore well"—"she weathered the gale," &c. seemed to give a perception of interest that he could not forbear to partake, though conscious that it was inconsistent as applied to an inanimate and unconscious thing. He was aware that his Uncle Denham's partiality for those animals, which could return his love, and possessed a degree of intelligence apparently little inferior to his own, was the more rational; but yet he found he could not love one uncle so well as he had loved the other, nor feel for him the same respect. He knew that "dear Uncle Ben" loved him and all his family—that if he were able, he would bestow every blessing upon each of them—and he did not feel sure that his Uncle Denham loved any thing beside his dogs and his horses.

Happily for William, the rector of his uncle's parish was a very amiable man; he had a large family of children, and in order to give his boys a better education than he could otherwise have afforded, he took six young gentlemen as boarders, to educate with them. William always watched these little boys as they came from church with such pensive but affectionate looks, that they soon made an acquaintance with the little lonely boy, and invited him to the playground. As Mr. Summerton soon found that the child was ignorant, yet ingenuous and well disposed, by degrees he brought him into the school-room, and gave him lessons with the youngest children, until he was advanced to the second class. From this time he was completely altered and wonderfully improved; for as he was fully occupied either with learning or play, with preparing tasks, or contriving how to meet his companions, he had no time for useless regrets; and though he loved every branch of his family as well as ever, he did not injure himself by pining after them.

"If I can learn a little Latin, how my mother will be delighted!"—"when my father knows I am in fractions, how pleased he will be!"—thought the boy; and then he redoubled his exertions; and whenever he thought of Uncle Ben, which he often did, he never failed to be rendered doubly solicitous to ensure some portion of the knowledge he had so earnestly recommended.

Thus passed about three years of his life, when the anxieties of maternal affection could no longer be repressed, and his parents, with many thanks to his uncle, entreated that he might be sent to his present home, which was done accordingly. William wept when he bade adieu to Mr. Summerton and his young friends, and observed too truly to his reverend instructor—"That he should never get so good a master again;" but he kissed his uncle, and thanked him, without emotion.

William found his parents now residing in a very small house in the heart of the city, with only the occasional use of a servant, and surrounded by circumstances which bespoke their situation entirely different to what it had been when he was a little boy, and as unlike to the old Hall he had left as possible. For a short time the poor boy found himself exceedingly annoyed by the change, and not only grieved but angry, that his father, the brother of that gentleman whom he considered so important a person, should be subjected to such narrow doings, for he did not understand the nature of that change to which his father had been subjected. In a very little time this wore off, for there was so much tenderness and love in the family, so much heartfelt affection in the parents, and such ready obedience in the children, that past sorrow only appeared to have increased present happiness. To this it may be added, that William, in the caresses he received, felt himself a person of more importance than he had ever experienced before; there was a small room and a little table—no plate, no servants, no wine; but then, there were no dogs to be helped, while he was waiting in quiet hunger, as one of inferior import.

Then he could also hear and talk of Uncle Ben, with those whose feelings resembled his own; and although he learnt that he had not visited England during his own absence, yet that he remembered him with the utmost affection, and had assisted his family to the utmost of his power.

At this period Mr. Denham was struggling to educate and support his family from a very slender income, for as he had paid his creditors every farthing he had in the world, and his brother had declined to advance him any money, all he now did in his business was on a very contracted scale. It was the particular object of Mrs. Denham to give her children the education of gentlewomen, in order that they might be governesses in the families of noblemen, if they should be obliged to maintain themselves, or if portioned by their uncle, they might fill a genteel station in life with propriety.

In order therefore that a little money might go far, Elizabeth, the eldest sister, took lessons in music, which she afterwards taught, as well as she could, to Selina, who was indulged with a language-master on the same principle. To this sister William looked as the instructor who could most benefit him; for the advice of Uncle Ben rose more strongly than ever to his mind, when he witnessed Selina's attainments; and he determined to turn all that he had gained from Mr. Summerton to the best account, as forming the ground-work of that superstructure he desired to raise.