For Joshua had settled upon the road which was to lead him to fame and
fortune. By the time that he had made up his mind what was to be his
future walk in life, most other lads in the parish of Stepney of the
same age and condition as himself were already at work at different
businesses, and had already commenced mounting that ladder which led
almost always to an average of something less than thirty-two
shillings a week for the natural term of their lives. Although, up to
this period of his life, Joshua's career had been a profitless one, as
far as earning money was concerned, his time had not been thrown away.
The tastes he had acquired were innocent and good, and were destined
to bear good fruit in the future. The boyish friendship he had formed
was of incalculable value to him; for it was undoubtedly due, in a
great measure, to that association that Joshua was kept from contact
with bad companions. He had not yet given evidence of the possession
of decided character, except what might be gathered from a certain
quiet determination of will inherited from his mother, but stronger in
him than in her because of his sex, and from a certain unswerving
affection for any thing he loved. A phrenologist, examining his head,
would probably have found that the organs of firmness and adhesiveness
predominated over all his other faculties; and for the rest, something
very much as follows. (Let it be understood that no attempt is here
being made to give a perfect analysis of Joshua's faculties, but that
mention is only being made of those organs which may help to explain,
if they be remembered by the reader, and if there be any truth in
phrenology, certain circumstances connected with Joshua's career, the
consequences of which may have been varied in another man.) Well,
then, adhesiveness and firmness very large; the first of which will
account for his strong attachment for Dan, and the second for his
determination, notwithstanding his mother's efforts, not to
take to wood-turning nor any other trade, but to start in
life for himself: Inhabitiveness very small; and as inhabitiveness
means a tendency to dwell in one place, the want of that faculty
will account for his desire to roam. All his moral and religious
faculties--such as benevolence, wonder, veneration, and
conscientiousness--were large; what are understood as the
semi-intellectual sentiments--constructiveness, imitation and
mirthfulness--he possessed only in a moderate degree; but one,
ideality, was largely developed. Four of his intellectual
faculties--individuality, language, eventuality, and time--call for
especial notice: they were all very small, the smallest of them being
eventuality, the especial function of which is a memory of events.
Mention being made that his organs of color and tune were large, this
brief analysis of Joshua's phrenological development is completed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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