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Page 76
"My dear child, thou hast done wonders!" cried his mother.
The good lady was in an ecstasy of delight. And well might she be proud
of her boy; for there were touches in this picture, which old artists,
who had spent a lifetime in the business, need not have been ashamed of.
Many a year afterwards, this wonderful production was exhibited at the
Royal Academy in London.
When Benjamin was quite a large lad, he was sent to school at
Philadelphia. Not long after his arrival, he had a slight attack of
fever, which confined him to his bed. The light, which would otherwise
have disturbed him, was excluded from his chamber by means of closed
wooden shutters. At first, it appeared so totally dark, that Ben could
not distinguish any object in the room. By degrees, however, his eyes
became accustomed to the scanty light.
He was lying on his back, looking up towards the ceiling, when suddenly
he beheld the dim apparition of a white cow, moving slowly over his
head! Ben started, and rubbed his eyes, in the greatest amazement.
"What can this mean?" thought he.
The white cow disappeared; and next came several pigs, who trotted along
the ceiling, and vanished into the darkness of the chamber. So lifelike
did these grunters look, that Ben almost seemed to hear them squeak.
"Well, this is very strange!" said Ben to himself.
When the people of the house came to see him, Benjamin told them of the
marvellous circumstance which had occurred. But they would not believe
him.
"Benjamin, thou art surely out of thy senses!" cried they. "How is it
possible that a white cow and a litter of pigs should be visible on the
ceiling of a dark chamber?"
Ben, however, had great confidence in his own eyesight, and was
determined to search the mystery to the bottom. For this purpose, when
he was again left alone, he got out of bed, and examined the
window-shutters. He soon perceived a small chink in one of them, through
which a ray of light found its passage, and rested upon the ceiling. Now
the science of optics will inform us, that the pictures of the white cow
and the pigs, and of other objects out of doors, came into the dark
chamber, through this narrow chink, and were painted over Benjamin's
head. It is greatly to his credit, that he discovered the scientific
principle of this phenomenon, and, by means of it, constructed a Camera
Obscura, or Magic Lantern, out of a hollow box. This was of great
advantage to him in drawing landscapes.
Well; time went on, and Benjamin continued to draw and paint pictures,
until he had now reached the age when it was proper that he should
choose a business for life. His father and mother were in considerable
perplexity about him. According to the ideas of the Quakers it is not
right for people to spend their lives in occupations that are of no real
and sensible advantage to the world. Now, what advantage could the world
expect from Benjamin's pictures? This was a difficult question; and, in
order to set their minds at rest, his parents determined to consult the
preachers and wise men of their society. Accordingly, they all assembled
in the meeting-house, and discussed the matter from beginning to end.
Finally, they came to a very wise decision. It seemed so evident that
Providence had created Benjamin to be a painter, and had given him
abilities which would be thrown away in any other business, that the
Quakers resolved not to oppose his inclination. They even acknowledged
that the sight of a beautiful picture might convey instruction to the
mind, and might benefit the heart, as much as a good book or a wise
discourse. They therefore committed the youth to the direction of God,
being well assured that he best knew what was his proper sphere of
usefulness. The old men laid their hands upon Benjamin's head, and gave
him their blessing, and the women kissed him affectionately. All
consented that he should go forth into the world, and learn to be a
painter, by studying the best pictures of ancient and modern times.
So our friend Benjamin left the dwelling of his parents, and his native
woods and streams, and the good Quakers of Springfield, and the Indians
who had given him his first colors,--he left all the places and persons
whom he had hitherto known,--and returned to them no more. He went first
to Philadelphia, and afterwards to Europe. Here he was noticed by many
great people, but retained all the sobriety and simplicity which he had
learned among the Quakers. It is related of him, that, when he was
presented at the court of the Prince of Parma, he kept his hat upon his
head, even while kissing the Prince's hand.
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