Page:Devonshire Characters and Strange Events.djvu/699

Rh Rev. Jno. Dennis, A.B., and Elizabeth his wife. Supposed to be the first instance of trine immersion since its suppression by the Presbyterian Directory of the Long Parliament."

Fontelautus means, of course, "washed in the (sacred) fount." What could a wretched infant do with such a name? Could it possibly live?

"Peaceful was his countenance, engaging was his manner, penetrating his looks. In family worship his attention and serious aspect was striking to the spectators."

But, alas! there was something of the hereditary taint in Fontelautus—the love of admiration. "Every little cunning trick was resorted to for its gratification. Every description of expedient was equally adopted by him as by a vain adult. Approaching home in his attendant's arms, on her return from executing any commission, he studiously assumed appearance of having been bearer of the purchased article by grasping it in his extended fingers, merely to excite admiration. Rather than not excite attention, he courted notice by laying his head on the floor in preference to other support."

Here follows an exquisite specimen of the style of the Rev. Jonas: "The few moments spent in his father's arms were marked by ecstacy; and the privilege of attendance on tonsorial operations"—he means watching the barber cut his father's hair and shave him—"was highly estimated by the animated boy. But the son of a scholar commands an inferior portion of paternal time and caresses, than he ensures in maternal embraces or sartorial attention! His mother, of course, was the paramount object of regard. He could not obliterate the associated delight of a suckling."

Fontelautus seemed to be progressing lustily with