CHAPTER VI. TAKING COLD THE ONLY WAY TO STUDY DR. GORDON began to feel dissatisfied that his children were losing so much valuable time. from study; for the house was yet loaded with baggage which could be put no where else, and their time was broken up by unavoidable interruptions. Until a more favorable opportunity, therefore, he required only that they should devote one hour every day to faithful study, and that they should spend the rest of their time as usefully as possible. His theory of education embraced two very simple, but very efficacious principles. First, to excite in his children the desire of acquiring knowledge; and, secondly, to train them to give their undivided attention to the subject in hand. This last, he said, was the only way to study; 56 and he told them, in illustration, the story of Sir Isaac Newton, who, on being asked by a friend, in view of his prodigious achievements, what was the difference, so far as he was conscious, between his mind and those of ordinary people, answered simply in the power of concentration." Harold had been greatly discouraged at finding himself so far behind his cousins in the art of study, but by following the advice of his uncle, he soon experienced a great and an encouraging change. At first, it is true, he could scarcely give his whole mind to any study more than five minutes at a time, without a sense of weariness; but he persevered, and day by day his powers increased so manifestly that he used frequently to say to himself, "concentration is every thing-every thing in study.” But Dr. Gordon's instructions were by no means confined to books and the school-room; he used every favorable opportunity to give information on points that promised to be useful. 66 Mary," said he one day, to his daughter, who was sitting absorbed in study, beside a window through which the sea breeze was pouring freshly upon her head and shoulders, and who had, in consequence, began to exhibit symptoms of a cold, "Mary, my daughter, remove your seat. Do you not know that to allow a current of air like that to blow upon a part of your person, is almost sure to produce sickness?" "I know it, father," she replied, "and I intended some time since to change my seat, but the sum is so hard that I forgot all about the wind." "I am glad to see you capable of such fixedness of mind," said he, "but I will take this opportunity to say to you, and to the rest, that there are two seasons, especially, when you should be on your guard against these dangerous currents of air,-one is when you are asleep, and the other is when your mind is absorbed in thought. At these times the pores of the skin are more than usually open, as may be seen by the flow of perspiration; and a current of cool air, at such a time, especially if partial, is almost certain to give cold." "But how can we be on our guard, father," asked Mary with a smile, "when we are too far gone in sleep or in thought, to know what we are about?" "We must take the precaution beforehand," he replied. "Make it a rule never to sleep nor to study in a partial current of air; and also remember that the first moment you per ceive the tingling sensation of an incipient cold, you must obey the warning which kind nature gives you or else must bear the consequences." Mary's cold was pretty severe. For days she suffered from cough and pain. But that day's lecture on currents of air, followed by so impressive an illustration, was probably more useful than her lesson in arithmetic; certainly it was longer remembered and more frequently acted upon. True to his promise, Riley appeared at the appointed time with his supply of game. He said, however, that he could remain only a few days, because he had left his young wife sick. It interested Mary not a little to perceive that a savage could feel and act so much like a civilized being; and she was trying to think of something complimentary to say upon this occasion, when he threw her all aback, by adding, that this was his youngest and favorite wife. "What! have you two wives?" she exclaimed in horror. "Yes, only two, now; one dead." Her mind was sadly changed at this evidence. of heathenism; but ere the day was over she received a still more impressive proof. Dr. Gordon perceiving that he looked sad whenever an allusion was made to his home, he asked him if his wife was seriously sick, to which he answered, No. "When I go home, last week," said he, "my squaw had a fine boy, big and fat. My heart glad. But I look and see a big hole in his mouth, from here to here," pointing from the lip to the nose. "That is what we call a hare lip," said Dr. Gordon, "it is not uncommon." "I sorry very much," continued Riley. "Child too ugly." "But it can be easily cured," observed Dr. Gordon. Riley looked at him inquiringly, and Dr. Gordon added, "O, yes, it can be easily cured. If you will bring your child here, any time, I will stop that hole in half an hour; and there will be no sign of it left, except a little scar, like a cut." The Indian shook his head mournfully, "Can't bring him. Too late now." "O, the child is dead?" inquired the Doctor, "I am sorry." "Dead now," replied Riley, "I look at him one day, two day, tree day. Child too ugly. I trow him in the water." |