The Poor Scholar: Traits And Stories Of The Irish Peasantry, The Works of; William Carleton, Volume ThreeCarleton, William
General
The Poor Scholar: Traits And Stories Of The Irish Peasantry, The Works of; William Carleton, Volume Three
Carleton, William
Ireland -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
“Now, James, I'll tell you what you'll do, when you reach the larned
south. Plant yourself on the highest hill in the neighborhood wherein
the academician with whom you intend to stop, lives. Let the hour of
reconnoitring be that in which dinner is preparing. When seated there,
James, take a survey of the smoke that ascends from the chimneys of the
farmer's houses, and be sure to direct your steps to that from which
the highest and merriest column issues. This is the old plan and it is
a sure one. The highest smoke rises from the largest fire, the largest
fire boils the biggest pot, the biggest pot generally holds the fattest
bacon, and the fattest bacon is kept by the richest farmer. It's a
wholesome and comfortable climax, my boy, and one by which I myself was
enabled to keep a dacent portion of educated flesh between the master's
birch and my ribs. The science itself is called Gastric Geography, and
is peculiar only to itinerant young gintlemen who seek for knowledge in
the classical province of Munster.
“Here's a book that thravelled along wid myself through all my
peregrinations--Creech's Translation of Horace. Keep it for my sake;
and when you accomplish your education, if you return home this way, I'd
thank you to give me a call. Farewell! God bless you and prosper you as
I wish, and as I am sure you desarve.”
He shook the lad by the hand; and as it was probable that his own former
struggles with poverty, when in the pursuit of education, came with all
the power of awakened recollection to his mind, he hastily drew his hand
across his eyes, and returned to resume the brief but harmless authority
of the ferula.
After arriving at the next town, Jemmy found himself once more
prosecuting his journey alone. In proportion as he advanced into a
strange land, his spirits became depressed, and his heart cleaved more
and more to those whom he had left behind him. There is, however, an
enthusiasm in the visions of youth, in the speculations of a young
heart, which frequently overcomes difficulties that a mind taught by
the experience of life would often shrink from encountering. We may all
remember the utter recklessness of danger, with which, in our
youthful days, we crossed floods, or stood upon the brow of yawning
precipices--feats which, in after years, the wealth of kingdoms could
not induce us to perform. Experience, as well as conscience, makes
cowards of us all.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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