on one subject； or act only in one department； is seldom wanted； and perhaps never wished for； while the man of general knowledge can often benefit； and always please。〃 He used to relate； however； another story less to the credit of his cousin's penetration； how Ford on some occasion said to him； 〃You will make your way the more easily in the world； I see； as you are contented to dispute no man's claim to conversation excellence； they will； therefore； more willingly allow your pretensions as a writer。〃 Can one； on such an occasion； forbear recollecting the predictions of Boileau's father； when stroking the head of the young satirist？〃Ce petit bon homme；〃 says he； 〃n'a point trop d'esprit； MAIS IL ne dira jamais mal de personne。〃 Such are the prognostics formed by men of wit and sense； as these two certainly were； concerning the future character and conduct of those for whose welfare they were honestly and deeply concerned； and so late do those features of peculiarity come to their growth； which mark a character to all succeeding generations。
Dr。 Johnson first learned to read of his mother and her old maid Catharine； in whose lap he well remembered sitting while she explained to him the story of St。 George and the Dragon。 I know not whether this is the proper place to add that such was his tenderness； and such his gratitude； that he took a journey to Lichfield fifty…seven years afterwards to support and comfort her in her last illness； he had inquired for his nurse； and she was dead。 The recollection of such reading as had delighted him in his infancy made him always persist in fancying that it was the only reading which could please an infant； and he used to condemn me for putting Newbery's books into their hands as too trifling to engage their attention。 〃Babies do not want；〃 said he； 〃to hear about babies； they like to be told of giants and castles； and of somewhat which can stretch and stimulate their little minds。〃 When in answer I would urge the numerous editions and quick sale of 〃Tommy Prudent〃 or 〃Goody Two…Shoes。〃 〃Remember always；〃 said he； 〃that the parents BUY the books； and that the children never read them。〃 Mrs。 Barbauld； however； had his best praise； and deserved it； no man was more struck than Mr。 Johnson with voluntary descent from possible splendour to painful duty。
At eight years old he went to school； for his health would not permit him to be sent sooner； and at the age of ten years his mind was disturbed by scruples of infidelity； which preyed upon his spirits and made him very uneasy； the more so as he revealed his uneasiness to no one； being naturally； as he said； 〃of a sullen temper and reserved disposition。〃 He searched； however； diligently but fruitlessly； for evidences of the truth of revelation； and at length； recollecting a book he had once seen in his father's shop； entitled 〃De Veritate Religionis；〃 etc。； he began to think himself highly culpable for neglecting such a means of information； and took himself severely to task for this sin； adding many acts of voluntary； and to others unknown； penance。 The first opportunity which offered； of course； he seized the book with avidity； but on examination； not finding himself scholar enough to peruse its contents； set his heart at rest； and； not thinking to inquire whether there were any English books written on the subject； followed his usual amusements； and considered his conscience as lightened of a crime。 He redoubled his diligence to learn the language that contained the information he most wished for； but from the pain which guilt had given him he now began to deduce the soul's immortality； which was the point that belief first stopped at； and from that moment； resolving to be a Christian； became one of the most zealous and pious ones our nation ever produced。 When he had told me this odd anecdote of his childhood； 〃I cannot imagine；〃 said he； 〃what makes me talk of myself to you so； for I really never mentioned this foolish story to anybody except Dr。 Taylor； not even to my DEAR； DEAR Bathurst； whom I loved better than ever I loved any human creature； but poor Bathurst is dead！〃 Here a long pause and a few tears ensued。 〃Why； sir；〃 said I； 〃how like is all this to Jean Jacques Rousseauas like； I mean； as the sensations of frost and fire； when my child complained yesterday that the ice she was eating BURNED her mouth。〃 Mr。 Johnson laughed at the incongruous ideas； but the first thing which presented itself to the mind of an ingenious and learned friend whom I had the pleasure to pass some time with here at Florence was the same resemblance； though I think the two characters had little in common； further than an early attention to things beyond the capacity of other babies； a keen sensibility of right and wrong； and a warmth of imagination little consistent with sound and perfect health。 I have heard him relate another odd thing of himself too； but it is one which everybody has heard as well as me： how； when he was about nine years old； having got the play of Hamlet in his hand； and reading it quietly in his father's kitchen； he kept on steadily enough till； coming to the Ghost scene； he suddenly hurried upstairs to the street door that he might see people about him。 Such an incident； as he was not unwilling to relate it； is probably in every one's possession now； he told it as a testimony to the merits of Shakespeare。 But one day； when my son was going to school； and dear Dr。 Johnson followed as far as the garden gate； praying for his salvation in a voice which those who listened attentively could hear plain enough； he said to me suddenly； 〃Make your boy tell you his dreams： the first corruption that entered into my heart was communicated in a dream。〃 〃What was it； sir？〃 said I。 〃Do not ask me；〃 replied he； with much violence； and walked away in apparent agitation。 I never durst make any further inquiries。 He retained a strong aversion for the memory of Hunter； one of his schoolmasters； who； he said； once was a brutal fellow； 〃so brutal；〃 added he； 〃that no man who had been educated by him ever sent his son to the same school。〃 I have； however； heard him acknowledge his scholarship to be very great。 His next master he despised； as knowing less than himself； I found； but the name of that gentleman has slipped my memory。 Mr。 Johnson was himself exceedingly disposed to the general indulgence of children； and was even scrupulously and ceremoniously attentive not to offend them； he had strongly persuaded himself of the difficulty people always find to erase early impressions either of kindness or resentment； and said 〃he should never have so loved his mother when a man had she not given him coffee she could ill afford； to gratify his appetite when a boy。〃 〃If you had had children； sir；〃 said I； 〃would you have taught them anything？〃 〃I hope；〃 replied he； 〃that I should have willingly lived on bread and water to obtain instruction for them； but I would not have set their future friendship to hazard for the sake of thrusting into their heads knowledge of things for which they might not perhaps have either taste or necessity。 You teach your daughters the diameters of the planets； and wonder when you have done that they do not delight in your company。 No science can be communicated by mortal creatures without attention from the scholar； no attention can be obtained from children without the infliction of pain； and pain is never remembered without resentment。〃 That something should be learned was； however； so certainly his opinion that I have heard him say how education had been often compared to agriculture； yet that it resembled it chiefly in this： 〃That if nothing is sown； no crop；〃 says he； 〃can be obtained。〃 His contempt of the lady who fancied her son could be eminent without study； because Shakespeare was found wanting in scholastic learning； was expressed in terms so gross and so well known； I will not repeat them here。
To recollect； however； and to repeat the sayings of Dr。 Johnson； is almost all that can be done by the writers of his life； as his life； at least since my acquaintance with him； consisted in little else than talking； when he was not absolutely employed in some serious piece of work； and whatever work he did seemed so much below his powers of performance that he appeared the idlest of all human beings； ever musing till he was called out to converse； and conversing till the fatigue of his friends； or the promptitude of his own temper to take offence； consigned him back again to silent meditation。
The remembrance of what had passed in his own childhood made Mr。 Johnson very solicitous to preserve the felicity of children： and when he had persuaded Dr。 Sumner to remit the tasks usually given to fill up boys' time during the holidays； he rejoiced exceedingly in the success of his negotiation； and told me that he had never ceased representing to all the eminent schoolmasters in England the absurd tyranny of poisoning the hour of permitted pleasure by keeping future misery before the children's eyes； and tempting them by bribery or falsehood to evade it。 〃Bob Sumner；〃 said he； 〃however； I have at length prevailed upon。 I know not； indeed； whether his tenderness was persuaded； or his reason convinced； but the effect will always be the same。 Poor Dr。 Sumner died； however； before the next vacation。〃
Mr。 Johnson was of opinion； too； that young people should have POSITIVE； not GENERAL； rules given for their direction。 〃My mother；〃 said he； 〃was always telling me that I did not BEHAVE myself properly； that I should endeavour to learn BEHAVIOUR； and such cant； but when I replied that she ought to tell me what to do； and what to avoid； her admonitions were commonly； for that time at least； at an end。〃
This I fear was； however； at best a momentary refuge found out by perverseness。 No man knew better than Johnson in how many nameless and numberless actions BEHAVIOUR consistsactions which can scarcely be reduced to rule； and which come under no description。 Of these he retained so many very strange ones； that I suppose no one who saw his odd manner of gesticulating much blamed or wondered at the good lady's solicitude concerning her son's BEHAVIOUR。
Though he was attentive to the peace of children in general