Page:Through a Glass Lightly (1897, Greg).djvu/140

 fingers strange globosities, like the seeds which we were wont once to consider peculiar to the white currant, and if in our first flush of ignorance Ave would make question of our elders and wise-sayers as to what such things may be, get for an answer a contemptuous snort and ejaculatory monosyllables, “Pooh! Chalkstones! Gout! Port! Too much Port!” So, like Adam and Eve when they walked no longer in the beautiful nakedness of nescience, but bedecked themselves in the pants and continuations of acquired knowledge, we became ourselves one of the elders and wise-sayers, and gave up happiness with the acquisition of wisdom. Neither does this dread enemy of ours confine himself to joints and knuckles. His old name of Podagra is all too limited for the