an autobiography-第14部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

s　of　that　order　which　you　were　so　good　as　send　me　on　my　account。〃　　It　turned　out　that　the　order　had　dropt　out　of　the　letter　enclosing　it；　and　was　not　recovered。　　In　fact；　Patrick　was　very　careless　about　all　money　transactions。

In　1814　he　made　the　acquaintance　of　Mr。　Barnes；　and　accompanied　him　to　Bure　Cottage；　Ringwood；　near　Southampton；　where　he　remained　for　some　time。　　He　went　into　the　New　Forest；　and　brought　home　〃lots　of　sketches。〃　In　1815　he　exhibited　his　works　at　the　Royal　Academy。　He　writes　to　his　father　that　〃the　prices　of　my　pictures　in　the　Gallery　are　two　at　fourteen　guineas　each　（small　views　in　Hampshire）；　one　at　twelve　guineas；　and　two　at　fourteen　guineas。　　They　are　all　sold　but　one。　　These　pictures　would　now　fetch　in　the　open　market　from　two　to　three　hundred　guineas　each。　　But　in　those　days　good　work　was　little　known；　and　landscapes　especially　were　very　little　sought　after。

Patrick　Nasmyth's　admirable　rendering　of　the　finer　portions　of　landscape　nature　attracted　the　attention　of　collectors；　and　he　received　many　commissions　from　them　at　very　low　prices。　　There　was　at　that　time　a　wretched　system　of　delaying　the　payment　for　pictures　painted　on　commission；　as　well　as　considerable　loss　of　time　by　the　constant　applications　made　for　the　settlement　of　the　balance。　　My　brother　was　accordingly　under　the　necessity　of　painting　his　pictures　for　the　Dealers；　who　gave　him　at　once　the　price　which　he　required　for　his　works。　　The　influence　of　this　system　was　not　always　satisfactory。　The　Middlemen　or　Dealers；　who　stood　between　the　artist　and　the　final　possessor　of　the　works；　were　not　generous。　　They　higgled　about　prices；　and　the　sums　which　they　gave　were　almost　infinitesimal　compared　with　the　value　of　Patrick　Nasmyth's　pictures　at　the　present　time。

The　Dealers　were　frequent　visitors　at　his　little　painting…room　in　his　lodgings。　　They　took　undue　advantage　of　my　brother's　simplicity　and　innate　modesty　in　regard　to　the　commercial　value　of　his　works。　　When　he　had　sketched　in　a　beautiful　subject；　and　when　it　was　clear　that　in　its　highest　state　of　development　it　must　prove　a　fine　work；　the　Dealer　would　pile　up　before　him　a　row　of　guineas；　or　sovereigns；　and　say；　〃Now；　Peter；　that　picture's　to　be　mine！〃；　The　real　presence　of　cash　proved　too　much　for　him。　　He　never　was　a　practical　man。　　He　agreed　to　the　proposal；　and　thus　he　parted　with　his　pictures　for　much　less　than　they　were　worth。　　He　was　often　remonstrated　with　by　his　brother　artists　for　letting　them　slip　out　of　his　hands　in　that　wayworks　that　he　would　not　surrender　until　he　had　completed　them；　and　brought　them　up　to　the　highest　point　of　his　fastidious　taste　and　standard　of　excellence。　Among　his　dearest　friends　were　David　Roberts　and　Clarkson　Stanfield。　He　usually　replied　to　their　friendly　remonstrances　by　laughingly　pointing　to　his　bursting　portfolios　of　sketches；　and　saying；　〃There's　lots　of　money　in　these　banks　to　draw　from。〃　　He　thus　warded　off　their　earnest　and　often…repeated　remonstrances。　　Being　a　single　man；　and　his　habits　and　style　of　living　of　the　most　simple　kind；　he　had　very　little　regard　for　money　except　as　it　ministered　to　his　immediate　necessities。　　His　evenings　were　generally　spent　at　a　club　of　brother　artists　〃over　the　water；〃　and　in　their　company　he　enjoyed　many　a　pleasant　hour。　　His　days　were　spent　at　his　easel。　　They　were　occasionally　varied　by　long　walks　into　the　country　near　London；　for　the　purpose　of　refilling　his　sketch…book。

It　was　on　one　of　such　occasionswhen　he　was　sketching　the　details　of　some　picturesque　pollard　old　willows　up　the　Thames；　and　standing　all　the　time　in　wet　groundthat　he　caught　a　severe　cold　which　confined　him　to　the　house。　　He　rapidly　became　worse。　　Two　of　his　sisters；　who　happened　to　be　in　London　at　the　time；　nursed　him　with　devoted　attention。　　But　it　was　too　late。　　The　disease　had　taken　fatal　hold　of　him。　　On　the　evening　of　the　l7th　August　1831　there　was　a　violent　thunderstorm。　　At　length　the　peals　of　thunder　ceased；　the　rain　passed　away；　and　the　clouds　dispersed。　　The　setting　sun　burst　forth　in　a　golden　glow。　　The　patient　turned　round　on　his　couch　and　asked　that　the　curtains　might　be　drawn。　　It　was　done。　　A　blaze　of　sunset　lit　up　his　weary　and　worn…out　face。　　〃How　glorious　it　is！〃　he　said。　　Then；　as　the　glow　vanished　he　fell　into　a　deep　and　tranquil　sleep；　from　which　he　never　awoke。　　Such　was　the　peaceful　end　of　my　brother　Patrick；　at　the　comparatively　early　age　of　forty…four　years。


CHAPTER　4。　　My　Early　Years。

I　WAS　born　on　the　morning　of　the　19th　of　August　1808；　at　my　father's　house　No。　47　York　Place；　Edinburgh。　　I　was　named　James　Hall　after　my　father's　dear　friend；　Sir　James　Hall　of　Dunglass。　　My　mother　afterwards　told　me　that　I　must　have　been　〃a　very　noticin'　　bairn；〃　as　she　observed　me；　when　I　was　only　a　few　days　old；　following　with　my　little　eyes　any　one　who　happened　to　be　in　the　room；　as　if　I　had　been　thinking　to　my　little　self；　〃Who　are　you？〃

After　a　suitable　time　I　was　put　under　the　care　of　a　nursemaid。　I　remember　her　wellMary　Peterkina　truly　Scandinavian　name。　She　came　from　Haddingtonshire；　where　most　of　the　people　are　of　Scandinavian　origin。　　Her　hair　was　of　a　bright　yellow　tint。　She　was　a　cheerful　young　woman；　and　sang　to　me　like　a　nightingale。　She　could　not　only　sing　old　Scotch　songs；　but　had　a　wonderful　memory　　for　fairy　tales。　When　under　the　influence　of　a　merry　laugh；　you　could　scarcely　see　her　eyes；　their　twinkle　was　hidden　by　her　　eyelids　and　lashes。　　She　was　a　willing　worker；　and　was　always　ready　to　lend　a　helping　hand　at　everything　about　the　house；　she　took　great　pride　in　me；　calling　me　her　〃laddie。〃

When　I　was　toddling　about　the　house；　another　sister　was　born；　the　last　of　the　family。　　Little　Mary　was　very　delicate；　and　to　improve　her　health　she　was　sent　to　a　small　farm…house　at　Braid　Hills；　about　four　miles　south　of　Edinburgh。　　It　was　one　of　the　most　rural　and　beautiful　surroundings　of　the　city　at　that　time。　　One　of　my　earliest　recollections　is　that　of　being　taken　to　see　poor　little　Mary　at　the　farmer's　house。　　While　my　nursemaid　was　occupied　in　inquiring　after　my　sister；　I　was　attracted　by　the　bright　red　poppies　in　a　neighbouring　field。　　When　they　made　search　for　me　I　could　not　be　found。　　I　was　lost　for　more　than　an　hour。　　At　last；　seeing　a　slight　local　disturbance　among　the　stalks　of　corn；　they　rushed　to　they　spot；　and　brought　me　out　with　an　armful　of　brilliant　red　poppies。　　To　this　day　poppies　continue　to　be　my　greatest　favourites。

When　I　was　about　four　or　five　years　old；　I　was　observed　to　give　a　decided　preference　to　the　use　of　my　left　hand。　　Everything　was　done　to　prevent　my　using　it　in　preference　to　the　right。　　My　mother　thought　that　it　arose　from　my　being　carried　on　the　wrong　arm　by　my　nurse　while　an　infant。　　The　right　hand　was　thus　confined；　and　the　left　hand　was　used。　I　was　constantly　corrected；　but　〃on　the　sly〃　I　always　used　it；　especially　in　drawing　my　first　little　sketches。　　At　last　my　father；　after　viewing　with　pleasure　one　of　my　artistic　efforts；　done　with　the　forbidden　hand；　granted　it　liberty　and　independence　for　all　time　coming。　　〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃you　may　go　on　in　your　own　way　in　the　use　of　your　left　hand；　but　I　fear　you　will　be　an　awkward　fellow　in　everything　that　requires　handiness　in　life。　　I　used　my　right　hand　in　all　that　was　necessary；　and　my　left　in　all　sorts　of　practical　manipulative　affairs。　My　left　hand　has　accordingly　been　my　most　willing　and　obedient　servant　in　transmitting　my　will　through　my　fingers　into　material　or　visible　forms。　　In　this　way　I　became　ambidexter。

When　I　was　about　four　years　old；　I　often　followed　my　father　into　his　workshop　when　he　had　occasion　to　show　to　his　visitors　some　of　his　mechanical　contrivances　or　artistic　models。　　The　persons　present　usually　expressed　their　admiration　in　warm　terms　of　what　was　shown　to　them。　　On　one　occasion　I　gently　pulled　the　coat…tail　of　one　of　the　listeners　and　confidentially　said　to　him；　as　if　I　knew　all　about　it；　〃My　papa's　a　kevie　Fellae！〃　　My　father　was　so　greatly　amused　by　this　remark　that　he　often　referred　to　it　as　〃the　last　good　thing〃　from　that　old…fashioned　creature　little　Jamie。

One　of　my　earliest　recollections　is　the　annual　celebration　of　my　brother　Patrick's　birthday。　　Being　the　eldest　of　the　family；　his　birthday　was　held　in　special　honour。　　My　father　invited　about　twenty　of　his　most　intimate　friends　to　dinner。　　My　mother　brought　her　culinary　powers　into　full　operation。　　The　younger　members　of　the　family　also　took　a　lively　interest　in　all　that　was　going　on；　with　certain　reversionary　views　as　to　〃the　day　after　the　feast。〃　　We　took　a　great　interest　in　the　Trifle；　which　was　no　trifle　in　reality；　in　so　far　as　regarded　the　care　and　anxiety　involved　in　its　preparation。　In　connection　with　this　celebration；　it　was　all　established　institution　that　a　large　hamper　always　arrived　in　good　time　from　the　farm　attached　to　my　mother's　old　home　at　Woodhall；　near　Edinburgh。　　It　contained　many　substantial　elements　for　the　entertainmenta　fine　turkey；　fowls；　duck；　and　suchlike；　with　two　magnums　of　the　richest　cream。　　There　never　was　such　cream！　　It　established　a　standard　of　cream　in　my　memory；　and　since　then　I　have　always　been　hypercritical　about　the　article。

On　one　of　these　occasions；　when　I　was　about　four　years　old；　and　being　t