, 1876-06-17

smith, and was intended also for a w0rkingman,
but not quite so laborious q trade. Perhaps
the boy was not strong enough for his fathers
work, so he was apprenticed to a bookbinder
in Blandford Street, Marylebone. He was q
diligent lad, fond of work in hours of business,
and fond of q book in hours of leisure. He
specially enjoyed books on scientific subjects.
He liked to read about the wonders of chemis-
try still more about eleatricitY-that wonder
full power that flashes out Of the thunder cloud,
that dwells unseen in the dew-drop, that at a
touch thrills through the startled nerves, and,
like an invisible but mighty spirit, pervades all
things, from the clouds of heaven to the clods
of earth. After he had found in the shop win
dow the electrical machine, he spent every
spare moment there, taking in the shape Of
every knob, and wire, and wheel, and plate,
with earnest eyes. Then he resolved to try
and make one for himself. So by the light Of
the early summer mornings he was up and
working away at his machine. In time he
completed it, and found it would act. He
touched the brass knob, and the shock that went
through him was as nothing compared to the
joy that throbbed in bis heart at seeing his
work complete. He showed it to his master,
who, being a kind and sensible man, was
pleased and surprised at the ingenuity of the
lad. The master was fond of showing the
electrical apparatus of his Industrious appren-
tice to every person likely to be interested
in a clever youth. Among them were some
Fellows of the Royal Society, who might, per-
hapS, have an admission ticket to give to leo
lures that would interest the lad.
Some few years after, the lad, now a young
man, was again gazing with wide-open eyes,
aud laying up all he saw in his mind. This
time it was not through a shop window that be
looked. 1t was from a seat in the Royal Socie.
tvs lecture rooms that he witnessed Sir Hum
phry Dayy making some beautiful chemical
experiments. The youth did not know which
most to admire-the beautiful apparatus,
the wonderful experiments, or the eloquent
lecture-all was 50 new to him, SO interesting !
But the lecturer himself was, above all the
rest, the object of his admiration our youth
having been a reader, knew that Sir Humphry
Dayy was not born Of rich parents, though
bis kindred and his breeding were %virtuOus and
respectable. In the remote town Of PenZance,
10 Cornwall, from the most western extremity
of England, the great man had come. He bad
taught himself nearly al he knew and now
the youth saw him standing before the mighty
and the noble of the land, the light of genius
in his flashing ayes, the words of wisdom on his
eloquent lips. ooh if | could but follow the
steps Of such a master ~ was the unspoken
wish Of the youthful nearer. This thought
produced action promptness was a leading
part of the young mans character so he resolv-
ed to write to the great chemist, and state that
he wished to follow some other trade than that
to which he had been apprentioed, that he
loved science, and would think himself happy
to be employed in any way in the laboratory
of go great a man. It was a bold step, but the
request, though urgent, was full of the noble
humility of real worth, His letter was not
neglected-inquiries were made; the good mas
ter had 20 wish to prevent the youth entering on
q career for which his talents and studious habits
fitted him. The electrical apparatus was
another aid to him, so the wish Of his heart was
granted he entered the laboratory of
the great man, and had ample opportunity
to study and to improve. There is no
need ts say be did not waste his time or
neglect his opportunities. Sir Humpbry
Davy died, leaving a name dear to the
philanthropist, as well as the man of science {;
but his place was not long vacant. Who filed
it? He whose youth we have sketched-hs
whose lectures at the Royal Institution were
listened to by royal and exalted auditors-the
celebrated and much beloved Professor Fara-
day.