Life of John Coleridge Patteson : Missionary Bishop of the Melanesian IslandsYonge, Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary)
Religion
Life of John Coleridge Patteson : Missionary Bishop of the Melanesian Islands
Yonge, Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary)
Missions -- Melanesia; Patteson, John Coleridge, 1827-1871
'Aunt has just called me down into the drawing-room and shown me my
character. I am stupefied at it; it is so shocking just when I most
wanted a good one on account of mamma's health. I am ashamed to say that
I can offer not the slightest excuse; my conduct on this occasion has
been very bad. I expect a severe reproof from you, and pray do not send
me any money, nor grant me the slightest [favour?]. Whilst .....,
who has very little ability (uncle says), is, by plodding on, getting
credit, I, who (my tutor says) have abilities, am wickedly neglecting
and offending both my heavenly and earthly Father by my bad use of them.
Aunt called me into the drawing-room, and very kindly showed me the
excessive foolishness of my conduct; but from this very moment I am
determined that I will not lose a moment, and we will see what the next
three weeks will produce.'
Poor little fellow! his language is so strong that it is almost a
surprise to find that he was reproaching himself for no more heinous
fault than not having worked up to the full extent of his powers! He
kept his promise of diligence, and never again incurred reproof, but was
sent up for good again in November. His career through the school was
above the average, though not attaining to what was expected from his
capabilities; but the development of his nature was slow, and therefore
perhaps ultimately the more complete, and as yet study for its own sake
did not interest him; indeed, his mind was singularly devoid of pleasure
in classical subjects, though so alert in other directions.
He was growing into the regular tastes of the refined, fastidious Eton
boy; wrote of the cut of his first tail-coat that 'this is really an
important thing;' and had grown choice in the adorning of his room and
the binding of his books, though he never let these tastes bring him
into debt or extravagance. His turn for art and music began to show
itself, and the anthems at St. George's Chapel on the Sunday afternoons
gave him great delight; and in Eton Chapel, a contemporary says, 'I well
remember how he used to sing the Psalms with the little turns at the end
of the verses, which I envied his being able to do.' Nor was this mere
love of music, but devotion. Coley had daily regular readings of the
Bible in his room with his brother, cousins, and a friend or two; but
the boys were so shy about it that they kept an open Shakespeare on the
table, with an open drawer below, in which the Bible was placed, and
which was shut at the sound of a hand on the door.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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