Page:Autobiography of Rear Admiral Charles Wilkes.djvu/40

14 well back in the Stove & green wood in front. On one occasion he called for his son Eben, who was a boy of 16, and his not coming to the call he flew and siezed the banisters of the stairs and wrenched them off from top to bottom. Everyone rushed out from all sides and there the Dr stood like a Hercules with a post in his grasp. It was impossible for us to refrain from laughing which seemed at once to restore his equilibrium. The voice of Mrs Banks was heard and the Dr exclaimed, "what a fool." He was retired into his senses. When he appeared at the meal time he was as composed as if nothing had taken place. It would naturally be presumed that his pupils would have been under great intimidation at his untoward violence but such was not the fact—we had learned to avoid his outburst of temper and overlook them. In the recitations of our lessons he was usually very kind and considerate to most of us except James, who early left his study withal fear and trepidation as a book generally followed his egress. He seemed to be unacceptible to the Dr. He was an extremely ugly boy, though quick in parts. He had a large head and very carroty hair and a freckled face with a very uncouth look and, withal, quizzical. It made a good deal of impression on us as the one who followed James in the recitation was always in some trepidation of the reception he might receive but invariably he was found restored to good humour and exceedingly kind.

There were many little circumstances that occurred which gave us all the greatest fun, to the greatest distress of the Dr. I recollect once when the Dr had engaged me to assist him in getting a back log for the kitchen and which we were rolling together when the Dr.'s foot unfortunately slipped on the ice. He fell over the log, lost his hat and wig, and was at once plunged into a most untoward rage. It was too ridiculous for me and I burst out in a most uncontrollable fit of laughter. Mrs Banks, who was in the doorway, joined me, & the effect upon the Doctor in quieting him, picking up his wig and hat, he passed off into the house most quietly and tempered down—the effect of Mrs Banks' cheerful and honest laugh with all due respect for her husband. I shall ever have it impressed on my recollection the charm of good nature and kindness she always exhibited on such occasions.

"Old Dick," the Dr's Black horse, was a great source of amusement to us and an irritation of course to the Dr. Dick would have his own way pretty much, particularly when the students, as the Dr always pleased to designate us boys, had been riding him to what was called the Shed, some 7 miles distant, during the preceedingpreceding [sic] Night and the Old fellow would not permit the Dr to mount him from the block, which was his usual habit, but would not stand until the Dr could put his leg over him but shy round his hinder parts again and again. This he could bear for a while but his irritation gradually overcame him and resulted in Dick's receiving some awful kicks and being led back to the stable and off the Dr would trudge on foot. Dick was too tired to bear the heavy load of his master after one of his midnight trips. Mrs Banks would often join in the fun.

The country around Florida is a beautiful rolling country about three