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Page 85
But all his fame could not extinguish the bitter remembrance, which had
tormented him through life. Never, never, had he forgotten his father's
sorrowful and upbraiding look. Never--though the old man's troubles had
been over so many years--had he forgiven himself for inflicting such a
pang upon his heart. And now, in his old age, he had come hither to do
penance, by standing at noon-day in the market-place of Uttoxeter, on
the very spot where Michael Johnson had once kept his bookstall. The
aged and illustrious man had done what the poor boy refused to do. By
thus expressing his deep repentance and humiliation of heart, he hoped
to gain peace of conscience, and the forgiveness of God.
My dear children, if you have grieved--I will not say, your
parents--but, if you have grieved the heart of any human being, who has
a claim upon your love, then think of Samuel Johnson's penance! Will it
not be better to redeem the error now, than to endure the agony of
remorse for fifty years? Would you not rather say to a brother--"I have
erred! Forgive me!"--than perhaps to go hereafter, and shed bitter tears
upon his grave?
* * * * *
Hardly was the story concluded, when George hastily arose, and Edward
likewise, stretching forth his hands into the darkness that surrounded
him, to find his brother. Both accused themselves of unkindness; each
besought the other's forgiveness; and having, done so, the trouble of
their hearts vanished away like a dream.
"I am glad! I am so glad!" said Emily, in a low, earnest voice. "Now I
shall sleep quietly to-night."
"My sweet child," thought Mrs. Temple, as she kissed her, "mayest thou
never know how much strife there is on earth! It would cost thee many a
night's rest."
CHAPTER VI.
About this period, Mr. Temple found it necessary to take a journey,
which interrupted the series of Biographical Stories for several
evenings. In the interval, Edward practised various methods of employing
and amusing his mind.
Sometimes he meditated upon beautiful objects which he had formerly
seen, until the intensity of his recollection seemed to restore him the
gift of sight, and place every thing anew before his eyes. Sometimes he
repeated verses of poetry, which he did not know to be in his memory,
until he found them there, just at the time of need. Sometimes he
attempted to solve arithmetical questions, which had perplexed him while
at school.
Then, with his mother's assistance, he learned the letters of the
string-alphabet, which is used in some of the Institutions for the
Blind, in Europe. When one of his friends gave him a leaf of Saint
Mark's Gospel, printed in embossed characters, he endeavored to read it
by passing his fingers over the letters, as blind children do.
His brother George was now very kind, and spent so much time in the
darkened chamber, that Edward often insisted upon his going out to play.
George told him all about the affairs at school, and related many
amusing incidents that happened among his comrades, and informed him
what sports were now in fashion, and whose kite soared the highest, and
whose little ship sailed fleetest on the Frog Pond. As for Emily, she
repeated stories which she had learned from a new book, called THE
FLOWER PEOPLE, in which the snow-drops, the violets, the columbines, the
roses, and all that lovely tribe, are represented as telling their
secrets to a little girl. The flowers talked sweetly, as flowers should;
and Edward almost fancied that he could behold their bloom and smell
their fragrant breath.
Thus, in one way or another, the dark days of Edward's confinement
passed not unhappily. In due time, his father returned; and the next
evening, when the family were assembled, he began a story.
"I must first observe, children," said he, "that some writers deny the
truth of the incident which I am about to relate to you. There certainly
is but little evidence in favor of it. Other respectable writers,
however, tell it for a fact; and, at all events, it is an interesting
story, and has an excellent moral."
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