Christian fiction; Wingfold, Thomas (Fictitious character) -- Fiction
“King's college, London, I mean,” said Richard. “They have evening
classes there, to which a man can go after his day's work. My father
always took care I should have time for anything I wanted to do. I go
still when I am at home--not always, but when the lecturer takes up any
special subject I want to know more about.”
“You'll be an author yourself some day, I suppose!”
“There's little hope or fear of that, sir! But I can't bear not to know
what's in my very hands. I can't be content with the outsides of the
books I bind. It seems a shame to come so near light and never see it
shine. If I were a tailor, I should learn anatomy. I know one tailor
who is as familiar with the human form as any sculptor in London--more,
perhaps!”
Lestrange began to feel uncomfortable. If he let this prodigy go on
talking and asking questions, he would find out how little he knew about
anything! But Richard was no prodigy. He was only a youth capable of
interest in everything, with the stimulus of not finding the fountains
of knowledge at his very door, and the aid of having to work all day at
some pleasant task, nearly associated with higher things that he loved
better. He did know a good deal for his age, but not so very much for
his opportunity, his advantages being great. Most men who learn would
learn more, I suspect, if they had work to do, and difficulty in the
way of learning. Those counted high among Richard's advantages. He
was, besides, considerably attracted by the mechanics of literature--a
department little cultivated by those who have most need of what grows
in it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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