THE

BOY'S BOOK..

KNOWLEDGE.

THERE has never been a period, in the history of the world, when knowledge was so highly prized, as in the present age. Neither has there ever been a country, where it was so universally diffused, as in our own. Some degree of it, is surely within the reach of every person.

Have you ever thought much of the evils of ignorance? Have you observed how narrow and prejudiced the uneducated mind becomes?-how credulous and superstitious?-how prone to mistakes, with regard to the nature of duty, and the nature of happiness?

The poor Burman's highest idea of happiness, is to be turned into a buffalo, and lie down in a field of high grass, where there are no musquetoes to annoy. "We want nothing but healthy bodies, and plenty of seals to eat," said the Greenlanders to the first missionaries who sought them out. Ignorance

augments the value of the things of sense, and substitutes low appetites for the pleasures of intellect.

A right education is not merely the reading of many books, but the ability of making knowledge useful to ourselves, and others. It is not simply to acquire influence over our fellow-creatures, but to make that influence subservient to moral excellence and piety.

To have a knowledge of our duties to mankind, and not perform them, is injustice; to endeavour to discharge them to mankind, and not to God, is impiety. So that a good education, comprises right motives, as well as good conduct.

Some minds have found such delight in knowledge that they have conquered many obstacles, and endured great hardships, to obtain it. They have never felt that they paid more than it was worth. Let us select a few such instances; for a philosopher has truly said, that we "yield to facts, when we resist speculation."

Professor Heyne, a German, was so fond of classical studies, that he pursued them for more than thirty years, while struggling with the deepest poverty. His father was a weaver, with a large family, and so poor as often to be in want of comfortable food.

Heyne made great exertions to support himself at the University, which he entered with only a few shillings in his pocket, and so anxious was he not to waste his time, that he seldom allowed himself to sleep more than two whole nights in the week.

His love of learning sustained him in cheerfulness, amid the most painful exertions. When his merit

became known, he was rewarded by being made Professor of Eloquence in the university of Gottingen. This honour he retained for many years, and was distinguished both by his lectures and publications.

Castalio, who translated the Bible into Latin, was the son of poor peasants, and reared by them, in the midst of privations, among the mountains of Dauphiny. Avaigo, an Italian poet, of the sixteenth century, though working with his father, at the trade of a blacksmith, till he was eighteen years old, found means to cultivate his genius, and to obtain learning.

The celebrated Ben. Jonson, was a brick-layer and mason. While he worked with his trowel, he carried a book in his pocket, and the labour of his hands did not hinder the improvement of his mind. "Let not those blush, said the historian Fuller, who have, but those who have not a lawful calling, by which to earn their bread."

Thomas Simpson, an able English scholar, Professor of Mathematics and Fellow of the Royal Society, was the son of a weaver. His father, who took him into his shop, when a boy, and tried to repress his fondness for reading, at length forbade him even to open a book, and insisted upon his confining himself the whole day to the loom.

But Thomas Simpson could not give up his love of knowledge. So his father accused him of obstinacy, and turned him out of his house. He maintained himself for a while, in a neighbouring town, by working at his trade, and thought himself very hap

py, to be able to devote a few spare moments to a book whenever he could borrow one.

He was young when he went to London, and entered that great city, an entire stranger and without a single letter of recommendation. Neither had he any thing of value, about his person, but a manuscript of his own, on Fluxions. This was pronounced superior to any other treatise on that subject in the English language, and his proficiency in science, gained him high reputation and respect.

William Hutton, was the son of a wool-comber, in Derby, England. "More than once, he says, my poor mother, with an infant on her knee, and others hanging about her, has fasted a whole day, and when food, at last came, divided her share among them."

From his seventh, to his fourteenth year, he worked diligently in a silk-mill, and was then bound apprentice to a stocking-weaver. Under all these discouragements, he cherished the love and pursuit of knowledge. He became at length, a respected member of the Antiquarian Society, and author of the History of Birmingham, and other publications.

Edmund Stone, was born in Scotland, more than a hundred years since. His father was gardener, to the duke of Argyle. One day, this nobleman found on the grass, a volume of "Newton's Principia,” in Latin, and was much astonished to find that any of his labourers could read it.

Being told that it belonged to his gardener's son, a youth of eighteen, he said, "how came you to a knowledge of these things?" Edmund replied, "a servant taught me to read, ten years ago. Does one

need any thing more, than the twenty-six letters, in order to learn every thing else that he wishes?"

Then the Duke, still more surprised, sat down on a bank, and received from young Edmund the following account. "When the masons were at work upon your house, I first learned to read. I observed that the architect used a rule, and compasses, and made calculations.

"I inquired what was the meaning and use of such things, and was informed that there was a science called arithmetic. I learned it. Then, I was told there was another science, called Geometry. I procured the necessary books, and learned Geometry.

"By reading, I found there were good books, on both these sciences, in Latin. I bought a dictionary and learned Latin. Then I understood, that there were good books of the same kind, in French. I bought a dictionary, and learned French.

"It seems to me, that when we know the twentysix letters of the alphabet, we may learn what we please." Edmund Stone, was afterwards well known as an author, and published a number of mathematical works.

In our own country, are many instances of those who have resolutely sought knowledge, amid difficulties and obstacles, and while earning a support, by the labour of their hands. Governor Everett, in an eloquent speech on the subject of education, communicated a remarkable letter from Mr. Elihu, Burritt, a blacksmith, of which the following is an

extract.

"I was the youngest of many brethren, and my