"My grandmother sent me to school, but I looked master, and saw that smooth, round ferule--or an improper noun--or vulgar fraction, and refused to obey him Or piece of string, rag, willow-wand, and I had contemptuous pity But one was well of cool, deep water, and looking suddenly in, one day, the stars He all my schooling I used to walk sea, and, strolled waves plunged in long legions , I looked at him spectacles, and as his eye dilated boundless view, chest heaved with an impossible desire, Xerxes army tossing and glittering, rank upon rank, multitude upon multitude, out of sight, but ever regularly advancing and confused roar of ceaseless music, prostrating themselves in abject homage Or, as with arms outstretched and hair streaming wind, he chanted full lines resounding Iliad, Homer pacing the AEgean sands Greek sunsets of forgotten times

"My grandmother died, and thrown world without resources, and with no capital but my spectacles I tried employment, but men were shy of me vague suspicion that either little crazed, or in league Prince of Darkness My companions persist in calling piece of painted muslin fair and fragrant flower had no difficulty; success waited around every corner, and arrived in every ship I tried to teach, for I loved children But if anything excited my suspicion, and, putting on my spectacles, that fondling snake, or smelling at bud with worm , I sprang up in horror and ran away; or, seemed glasses that cherub smiled upon me, or rose was blooming in my buttonhole, then myself imperfect and impure, not fit leading and training so essentially superior in quality to myself, and I kissed the children and left them weeping and wondering

"In despair I went to great merchant island, and asked him to employ me

"'My young friend,' said he, 'I understand that some singular secret, some charm, or spell, or gift, or something, I don't know what, people are afraid Now, , my dear,' said the merchant, swelling up, and apparently prouder great stomach than large fortune, ' not kind not easily frightened spare yourself the pain of trying to impose upon me People who propose before I arrive, are accustomed to arise very early morning,' said he, thrusting his thumbs armholes waistcoat, and spreading the fingers, like two fans, upon his bosom ' heard something of your secret pair of spectacles, I believe, that you value , because your grandmother brought them as marriage portion to your grandfather Now, fit me those spectacles, pay you the largest market price for glasses What say ? '

" him that I the slightest idea of selling my spectacles

"'My young friend means to eat them, I suppose,' said he with contemptuous smile

" no reply, but was turning to leave the office, merchant called after me--

"'My young friend, poor people should never suffer themselves into pets Anger is an expensive luxury, only men of certain income can indulge pair of spectacles and hot temper the most promising capital for success in life, Master Titbottom '

" nothing, but put my hand door out, merchant said more respectfully,--

"'Well, you foolish boy, if sell your spectacles, perhaps agree the use , you shall only put them on when I direct you, and purposes Hallo ! you little fool ! ' cried he impatiently, as that I intended no reply

"But I had pulled out my spectacles, and put them on own purpose, and against his direction and desire I looked at him, and saw huge bald-headed wild boar, with gross chops and leering eye--only the more ridiculous high-arched, gold-bowed spectacles, that straddled his nose One fore hoofs was thrust safe, where his bills payable were hived, other into his pocket, loose change and bills there His ears were pricked forward with brisk, sensitive smartness In world where prize pork best excellence, carried off all the premiums

"I stepped next office street, and mild-faced, genial man, also large and opulent merchant, asked me my business tone, that I instantly looked through my spectacles, and saw land flowing with milk and honey There I pitched my tent, and stayed till the good man died, business was discontinued

"But while there," said Titbottom, voice trembled away into sigh, "I first saw Preciosa Spite spectacles, Preciosa For days, for weeks, for months, take my spectacles with me I ran away , I threw them up on high shelves, I tried up my mind to throw them sea, or down the well , , I dared not look at Preciosa spectacles not possible deliberately to destroy them; but I awoke night, and could almost have cursed my dear old grandfather gift I escaped office, and sat for whole days with Preciosa her the strange things I had seen with my mystic glasses The hours enough wild romances which I raved in her ear She listened, astonished and appalled Her blue eyes turned upon me with sweet deprecation She clung , and then withdrew, and fled fearfully room But stay away resist my voice, in whose tones burned all the love that filled my heart and brain The very effort to resist the desire of seeing her as everybody else, gave frenzy and an unnatural tension to my feeling and my manner I sat by her side, looking into her eyes, smoothing her hair, folding her to my heart, sunken and deep-- forever ? -- dream of peace I ran from her presence, and shouted, and leaped with joy, and sat the whole night through, thrilled into happiness thought of her love and loveliness, like wind-harp, tightly strung, and answering the airiest sigh breeze with music Then came calmer days--the conviction of deep love settled upon our lives--as hurrying, heaving days of spring, comes the bland and benignant summer

"' no dream, then, after all, and happy,' to her, one day; and there came no answer, for happiness is speechless

" happy then," to myself, " no excitement now How glad that now look at her through my spectacles "

"I feared lest some instinct should warn me to beware I escaped from her arms, and ran home and seized the glasses and bounded back again to Preciosa As I entered the room heated, my head was swimming with confused apprehension, my eyes glared Preciosa was frightened, and rising from her seat, stood with an inquiring glance of surprise in her eyes But bent with frenzy upon my purpose merely aware that she was room nothing else I heard nothing I cared for nothing, but her magic glass, and feel at once, all the fulness of blissful perfection which reveal Preciosa stood mirror, but alarmed at my wild and eager movements, unable to distinguish what I had in my hands, and seeing me raise them suddenly to my face, she shrieked with terror, and fell fainting floor, very moment that I placed the glasses before my eyes, and beheld--myself, reflected mirror, before which she standing

"Dear madam," cried Titbottom, to my wife, springing up and falling back again chair, pale and trembling, while Prue ran to him and took his hand, and I poured out glass of water--" myself "

silence for many minutes Prue laid her hand gently head guest, whose eyes were closed, and who breathed softly, like an infant in sleeping Perhaps, in all the long years of anguish since that hour, no tender hand had touched his brow, nor wiped away the damps of bitter sorrow Perhaps the tender, maternal fingers wife soothed his weary head conviction that the hand mother playing long hair of her boy soft West Indian morning Perhaps only the natural relief of expressing pent-up sorrow When he spoke again, old, subdued tone, air of quaint solemnity