Boys Who Became Famous Men

he city filled his ears, the boy clutched his uncle's arm with delight. Never before in all his ten years had he journeyed beyo

"Never mind," he said; "these crowded streets will soon b

e quarter of the city where his uncle resided, and his ears grew so accustome

times were hard, money was scarce at best, and when Uncle Bowdon proposed to undertake the care and education of Samuel his offer was thankfully accepted. It was planned that the boy should visit at his uncle's house for several weeks,

me, for his striking look of intelligence, his slight, straight figure and[Pg 135]

ts of London. These were indeed gala days for Samuel, and when the time came for him to go to school he could scarcely believe that ten weeks had flown since he had come up by the coach from his country home. It is doubtful whether Mr. Bowdon

the shaded central grass-plot marched a veritable army of boys, walking four abreast with military precision. Like the page at the gate, they wore long blue coats reaching nearly to the ankle and trimly girdled with red, bright yellow stockings, low buckled shoes and neckbands of snowy whitene

, until Samuel grew fairly dizzy with

n?" inquired Mr. Bow

l[Pg 137] to-day, sir, and the schola

conducted them through the twelve dormitories, where rows of narrow white beds stood side by side down either wall; to the dining-hall with its long tables, where all the

ery St. Mary, Devonshire, October, 1772. Regula

e, where he received his uncle's affectionate farewells, then peering wistfully through[Pg 138] the iron palings

gs in strange dismay. His attention was arrested by the doors of the lecture-hall being thrown open and the blue and yellow procession reappearing, headed by the lord mayor of London and a company of white-wigged, black-gowned masters and tutors. The gate swung bac

g

looking anxiously about, as he suddenly awakened to the fact that he was fearfully

of the brown-robed steward, who beckoned

reigned here, broken only by a subdued conversation at the masters' table, and the voice of a tutor w

was about to inquire modestly how he should[Pg 140] get a fresh supply, when his neighbor hastily pressed his finger to his lips, as a sign that speech was forbidden. Samuel was surprised at

riously upon him. He shrank from this open scrutiny, although the boys at his ta

soft hiss from a la

cautiously echoe

head and eyed in turn each lad at the table. There was something in his fearless glance that caused the hisses quickly to subside; and when the bell rang, and the students trooped out, no word of challenge was offered to him. Moreover, no other kind of words came either,

e of them he must make a bold move; so, marching up to one of the leap-frog companies, he ventured to enter the game. The effort w

you can't play with us ti

angers than to explore the premises, he came out upon a flat, leaded roof. Resting his folded arms upon the parapet, he stood gazing at the evening sky, solitary and sad. Up to him came the shouts of the students and the roar of the city's noises, and for the first time since he had come to London, his heart turned back with a mighty longing to the fields, the river, and the[Pg 143] simpl

pper was about to be supplemented by a tea or luncheon of some sort; but he was mistaken,

called the steward, a

ey going?" in

joined the o

Samuel; "why, it's

explained the other shortly, and Samuel gathered fro

ed sleepily. Across his bed was thrown a complete uniform such as the other boys wo

ccupied last night, and his right-hand neighb

ng the bread and beer had disappeared, and he was unconsciously glancing about in search of some one who would serve him with more, when he chanced to[Pg 145] notice that every plate and cup at the table was swept clean, and that the lads were shifting about in their chairs as

sed it through the fence. That the gift was in the nature of food of some sort, Samuel discovered from the alacrity with which the boy proceeded to devour it; and the lad from Devonshire stood watching the operation with the strangest of gnawing sensations inside

, and I'll give y

ranger had crowded into his hand a hot roll, and wa

Samuel, "but I don't want to ta

it comes, I'm so starved I eat it anyway. My sister brings a little breakfast over every day, for our house isn't ve

g

gladly, frankly confessing that he had

almly. "Wednesdays are the best, for then they give u

two younger than himself, slightly Jewish in appearance, and very handsome. He was frail-looking, with curling black hair, bright dark

younger lad, when Samuel had fi

r Coleridge.

g

and this is m

sket as she turned to go, called back, "You

and as the bell rang, summoning t

boys are t

hun

e, now I

in, linking his arm with that of t

warmly; and so began a friendship that

e he made friends at once, for his originality, both in work and play, won the [Pg 149]admiration of the lads. With the teachers, too, Samuel fared better than most, for while Jam

school-room with his smooth and carefully powdered wig replaced by an old, unkempt, and discolored one, and woe to the pupil who failed in his lessons or ot

the boys who studied earnestly were safe from the touch of his rod except on[Pg 150] the days when he wore the "

ng, long time. Each day was spent like every other day, and he soon found himself going throug

morning Ch

holiday, you know.

e has left town, and I don't know anybody else

an't d

y n

e-days. We are all turned out as soon as breakfast is over, t

g

send us out who have

end the day together somewhere. I'm not going hom

hose whose parents resided in town, this weekly holiday was always most welcome; but to the boys w

y to the bank of the New River. Here, to Samuel's delight, green fields stretched

"this is almost as goo

rious ways, until they grew tired. Ascending the bank, they dressed quickly and wandered farther up the stream. For a while they threw stones into the current, watching the eddies widen f

e it is," hinted t

el, glancing at the sun with the e

hole field-full of dinner spread before us," m

s every day!" exclaimed Samuel; then hastening to[Pg 153] tu

o you like bes

know very well. I like money, vegetab

's faces," returned Samuel promptly. "W

we must keep on walking

swimming a

later they descended into t

another aquatic tricks until they became quite breathless. Making for the shore, they cl

g

hile Samuel lay panting and composing verse

l in Newgate Street, sorry that their holiday was done, but thankful f

ally dutiful, but because he loved printed pages better than any other company. He was born with a thirst for books, which made him con his lessons eagerly in the abs

d read before coming to London. He soon became known among the students as a capital storyteller, and often he would be found seated tailor-fas

, Leander, and so absorbed did he become in the story that he entirely forgot the presence of the crowds in the busy thoroughfare. Reviewing the stirring scene when Leander swims the Hellespont to visit the pri

to London pavements, and offered a stammering apology; but the citizen wheeled abr

ieve that a stripling like you would attempt

; "I was thinking about Leander crossing the Hellespont, and I must

ng gentleman, what do

ad all the mythical tales of Greece, and th

g

r's express

ond of boo

e 'em,

read eve

for we have no books except

ike to read if you h

rst out Samuel,

n Strand, causing people to take him for a sneak thief, ought surely to have

de. By showing this to the librarian you can draw as

ns of gratitude, the stranger[Pg 158] was o

punishments were daily forgotten in the adventures of knights of old. Samuel took all risks in slipping out to get the books, b

any of the great schools of England, Germany, and France, whose walls could be entered only by the payment of extravagant fees, were similarly conducted. Instructors had not yet learned that young bodies should be cared for as zealously as young brai

images of his mother and his big brother Luke that even his dreams enfolded them, and often he awoke weeping in the night. He could not inform the loved ones of his dreary con

ny were the daring pranks they played on their mates and upon each other. The leave-days were almost the hardest of the week for Samuel, as Charles usually went home, and he was left to walk the streets alone

he drew his blue coat more closely about him. Everyone but himself seemed in a hurry to get to places of shelter, and occasionally persons would pause to stare curiously at the lad who stood motionless in the downpour, gazing listlessly into

went, purposeless and oppressed. He was usually able to gather odd bits of pleasure and information from these weekly excursions, but to-day the city seemed like a dull and winding lane, where one had no choice but to walk and walk un

balls, dolls, and fishing-rods, when a delicious odor of cooked food greeted him from behind. Samuel faced about so sharp

ed, for with the whiff of meaty fragrance his stomach gave a furious lurch, and his head seemed about to swim off his shoulders. He swayed u

e Co

as dizzily conscious of being collared from beh

g

tone and iron hand. Twisting his head about, he got a glimpse o

o hard at my baker's

o-

ou glared after h

hungry,—and—when I smelled the bread a

l gave voice to his privations, and, unmanned by sheer want and exhaustion

tion came like the re

nod in speechless,

g

or, enforcing his order with a

as likely to follow. He longed vaguely to run, but weakness held him chained, and he felt him

at he nearly devoured our dinner throug

om the farther corner of the parlor a little wom

er to the school?" she asked in a mother

ey give us a little supper[Pg 165] when we go

did you have

bread and a

e table as quick as you can. 'Tain't a fancy meal, but it's good en

able, where several steaming dishes awaited the pleasure of the party. Host and hostes

oman pleasantly; "and after that, you'll find

eciation. His plate was like the widow's cruse of oil, which was promptly refilled as soon as emptied

ho each other is. My husband over there is Mr. Crispin, and I'm Mrs. Crispin. He has the toy-shop that you came through, and he is a shoemaker, bes

the big man, a tremendous blush

scary, but he couldn't say 'no' to a kitten.

g

them of the home and loved ones he had left behind in Devonshire. Pleased to see the Crispins interested,

shoemaking den. Mrs. Crispin with much pride exhibited four canaries, a yellow patchwork

eaving, Samuel held Mrs. Crispin's hand tightly in both

; you are to come here every Saturday. If we shouldn't be to home, you'll find the key under the rubber door-mat, an' you can come right in an' help yourself in the pantry. 'T ain't just that we feel sorry

-day in their modest parlor, but the whole-souled friendliness of their innocent welcome cheered him through all the following days. The Cri

ing trade under Mr. Crispin's direction. It was arranged that the shoemaker, instead of Samuel, should approach Mr. Bowyer with the request, it being thought that his age and size wo

mean?" and pushing the astounde

nt his friend had received, that he was rushing past Mr. Bowyer with the intention of apologizing

see you in my lower of

g

ee me

ver before had any one paid hi

er. Surely Mrs. Crispi

e office, he descried a stal

sides, and he seemed unable to advance or retreat. It only needed a slight movement on the visitor's part to

y brother, my

w. I wanted to surprise

and leave me here, will you? Plea

g

h me, and I have already arranged with the master to make you comfortable here at school. Bless you, little fellow, you mustn't quite suffocate me with your hugging, for I want to live and take good car

you to th

ispins, and go for a ride on

Luke, do you care if I ask

when we are going to do ju

g

the Crispins, and Charles 'll like you—and—

were chatting together. The sounds of wind and rain upon the casement o

e guests, a man whom the others called "Southey," turned gayly

orth and I have journeyed all the way from Keswick solely for the delight

rrily, but shook her

st of honor has not yet arrived, and when he comes, you will all agree, I am sure, that i

reupon they began to ply Miss Mary's brother with q

t vague replies, exchanging with his sister

on the stair, and Charles Lamb thre

lessed old friend! Wel

rang up with a single impul

erid

y from the two who stood [Pg 174]clasping one

-comer was quickly surrounded, and the room ra

mmoned the party to the table, temptingly laid, and the guests sat down

the accounts he gave of his adventures abroad, captivated the company. Every word that fell from his lips was rec

ispered Southey to the lady next him, "but in m

g

his expressive e

wer lies in his magnetic voice, the voice

itors sat under the spell of Samuel's presence, and morning was stealing a

o descend the stair, he again clasped the hand

he passage below; "I am fond of them all: Southey, Wordsworth, Lovell, and the rest; but you