Page:Robert Carter- his life and work. 1807-1889 (IA robertcarterhis00coch).pdf/128

112 years, she solved the mystery by concluding that the failure of some business friend might have caused him distress, As he owed no man anything, these periods of financial depression gave him little personal uneasiness. It was a great benefit to his children to have his well-stored mind and large experience placed so constantly at their disposal, and as they grew older and came to maturity he conversed with them on terms of equality, which were often surprising to themselves. He enjoyed the intercourse as much as they did.

The evening hours of the family were delightful. The parents gave themselves up to the children. The mother was very fond of “blind man’s holiday,” as she called the interval between daylight and dark; and as the twilight came on, books and work were laid aside, and by the light of the open fire she took part with her little ones in romping games, until the father came in to the cheerful evening meal. Then all joined in play together until the little ones were sent to bed, and then those who were in school went over with their father the lessons which had been already carefully prepared. They were not allowed to ask for help until they had done their very best by themselves, and even then the help given was only by suggesting, not by showing, the way out of the difficulty. It was a rare thing for any of his children to take to school or college a lesson in Latin or Greek which had not first been gone over with him, and this was kept up till his sons graduated from college.

A young man from Scotland came to New York with a letter of introduction to him. Before leaving his home his father said to him, “You must be careful how you behave when you visit Mr. Carter; he is an elder in the church, and will tolerate no frivolity.” When