The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-12-13
ANECDOTES OF MACAULAY.

Thomas Macaulay was born in the year
1900. His boyhood was spent in the city Of
London. He early showed great love for
books. From the time he was three years
old be read necessarily, for the most part
lying on the rug before the fire, with his
book on the ground, and piece of bread and
butter in his hand. A very clever woman,
who then lived in the house ss psror' maid,
told how he used to sit in bis nankeen frock,
perched on the table by her as she was clean
log the silver, and expouudiOg to her ont OF
volume as big as himself. He did not care
for toys, but was very fond of taking walk,
when he would hold forth to his companion,
whether nurse or mother, telling intermina-
bic stories out of his own head, or repeating
what he had been reading in language far
above bis years. His memory retained toe
phrsseolcgy of the book be had last read, and
he talked. as the maid said, "quite printed
words" About this time little Tom Macau-
lay, being eight years old, his father took
him to see Lady WaldegraVe, who lived at
Strawberry Hill. Tom was dressed in a
gseen coat, With red collar and cuffs, friil
at the throat, and white trousers. His father
felt proud to show to the company his fair,
bright boy. While on this visit Tom made
quaint reply. By some accident, servant
who was waiting on the company spilled some
hot coffee over his legs. The hostess was all
kindness and compassion, and when after q
while she asked him how he was feeling, the
little fellow looked up into her face and an
swered, "Thank you, madam, the agony is
absting." This funny speech did not arise
from conceit, for he was an unaffected, merry
child; but he had read so many books that
his mind was filed with their phrases. He
played great deal on the common, near bis
fathers house. To every inequality o.
the ground in this park he gave some name.
A slight ridge, crossed by two bitches, ne
called the Alps; an elevated mound was dig,
niGed by the name of Sinai.
Tom had little plot of ground at the
back of the house, marked out as his own by
row of oyster shells, which maid one day
threw away as rubbish. He went straight to
the parlor, where his mother was entertain
ing some visitors, walked into the circle, and
said, very sOlemnly, "Cursed be Sally; for
it is written, Cursed is he that remOVeth his
ueighbor's landmark.
Tom Macsulay was very like other boys in
one respect-he hated school. Every day,
at dinner, he would beg piteously to be al
lowed to remain at home the rest of the af
ternoon. But Mrs. Macaulay always re.
piled, tom, if it rains cats and dogs, you
must 60.
Miss Hannah More, a dear old lady, who
both wrote books and helped her sisters with
a school they kept, took great interest in lit
tie Tom. When eight years old he was sent
to this school, st Barley Wood, and Miss
Hannah superintendent his studies, his pleas
ures, and his health. She would listen With
patience to him while he read page after
page of prose, or detained poetry by the
hour. When he needed rest she ooaxed hin
into the garden, or taught him to play al
cooking in the kitchen. Of course, the pre-
cious little boy became very fond of this kind
friend A great many letters which Mics
Hannah wrote to Tom have been preserved
Ia one of these she says:
"Though you are little boy now, you
will one day, if it please God, be a man; but
long before you are a man hope you vii
be scholar. l therefore wish you to pur
chase some books that will be useful and
agreeable to you then, and that you employ
this very small sum 10 laying little tiny
cornerstone for your future library"
Another time she commends him for his
letter. " so free from blots, and tells him to
buy with the money she enclOaes little good
prose. or a neat edition of Cowper's Poems,
or a Paradise Lost
Tom showed bis love 10 Miss Hannah by
dedicatiug to her one Of the long rhymes
which he delighted to compose. Taeso
rhymes were vgitten on all the scrsp8 Of ps-
per he could beg from his father and mother;
and bis little sisters thought them very fine.