Page:The education of the farmer.djvu/36

 general descriptions of my own what literature, rightly used in teaching, may do to nourish vitality of mind and strong common sense in the boys they have to prepare for a life of business.

Nor will it be out of place to refer here to an anecdote of the eminent man who presided over Christchurch at the commencement of this century, Dr. Cyril Jackson, one of the most remarkable men of his day; especially remarkable for the influence which he acquired and retained over those once under his authority.

The Dean said to one of his gentlemen commoners, who came to take leave of him, after passing a creditable examination (before the days of classes)—"So you have been thanked for your examination, and you probably think your education is completed; but you will find that the most important part for the business of life is yet to come. I have made you learn Greek, because I knew it would be good for you: and now I do not care how soon you forget it; I have taught you how to learn—now, go and learn what you will." The saying is the more impressed on my own mind, because I recall with pleasure the kindness with which the good old man, whom I was taken with my parents to visit in his retirement at Felpham, encouraged some piece of childish curiosity as one step towards a habit of accurate observation.

And now a word as to what good literature may do to awaken a genial kindly interest in things and persons out of self, and above and beyond the narrow range of business. 1 cannot do better than refer my readers to a charming work by the late Professor Reed of Pennsylvania, whose premature death in the 'Arctic' steamer was a loss to the Anglo-Saxon family, for he was one of the types and bonds of our brotherhood:—