Page:Memoirs of a Huguenot Family.djvu/48

42 but one difficulty in my system, and that was, how it was possible for the heavens to turn round, without shaking the foundations or pillars, upon which David had said that the earth rested. But, if my reason proved unequal to the solution, my faith made up all deficiencies; for I was confident that every thing was easy to Him, who had made all things out of nothing. I spent many solitary hours ruminating upon these subjects, and when I was satisfied with the plan in my own mind, I propounded it to my sisters and the servants, and as they saw no difficulty, I was emboldened to submit my astronomical system to my father for his opinion. He saw that I had taken the Scriptures for my foundation, and as I was too young to understand the true philosophy of the heavenly bodies, he thought it best not to undeceive me.

When I was six years old, my father took me to Rochelle, and placed me under the care of Mr. John Arnauld, who kept a school there. He was married to a daughter of my father's sister, my aunt Bouquet, and he lived under her roof. I learned to read, write, and cipher during two years that I was his pupil.

Perhaps, as the traits of boyhood prefigure the future character of the man, it may not be amiss to relate two anecdotes of these early school-days, which indicated resolution. Mr. Arnauld followed literally the precept of Solomon, not spoiling his pupils by sparing the rod. He always administered the chastisement in private, from motives of delicacy, because he had girls as well as boys in the school. We boys were talking together one day of the severity of our master, and speculating upon the number of stripes he gave at each whipping, and wishing that some one would count them. No one else offering to do it, I volunteered to make the attempt on