Lifes Progress Through the Passions | Page 9

but when these were over, and they went together into the fields, or any
other place to divert themselves, frequent quarrels among them ensued;
but above all between those who boarded in the same house; little
jealousies concerning some imaginary preference given to the one more
than the other, occasioned many bitter taunts and fleers, which
sometimes rose to blows and bloody noses; so that the good people
with whom they were, had enough to do, to keep them in any tolerable
decorum.
There is also another branch of pride which is visible in all youth,
before consideration takes place, and that is, treating with contempt
whoever seems our inferior.--A boy who was allowed less money, or
wore plainer cloaths, was sure to be the jest of all the rest. Natura was
equally guilty of this fault with his companions; but when the sarcasms
became too severe, and the object of them appeared any way dejected,
his generosity often got the better of his arrogance, and he would take
part with the weakest side, even till he drew on himself part of those
reflections he averted from the other; but this never happened without
his resenting it with the utmost violence; for patience and forbearance
were virtues not to be expected in this stage of life.
He was a great lover of gaming, whether of chucking, tossing up for
money, or cards, and extremely ill-humoured and quarrelsome
whenever luck was not on his side; which shews, that whatever people
may pretend, avarice is at the bottom, and occasions all the fondness so
many testify for play.
As for the other ordinary diversions of youth, none could pursue them
with more eagerness, nor was less deterred by any ill accident which
befel either himself, or any of his companions; one of whom having
been near drowning before his face, as they were swimming together,
the sight did not hinder him from plunging into the same stream every
day; nor could he be prevailed upon from ringing, as often as he had an
opportunity, though he had been thrown one day by the breaking of the
bell-rope, a great height from the ground, and in the fall dislocated his
shoulder, and bruised his body all over.--But it is not to be wondered at,

that boys should remember the misfortunes their pleasures have
brought on them no longer than the smart continues, when men of the
ripest, and sometimes most advanced years, are not to be warned from
the gratification of their passions, by the worst, and most frequently
repeated ills.
He, notwithstanding, made a very good progress in those things in
which he was instructed, which as yet were only Latin and Greek; and
when the time of breaking up arrived, and he returned to his father's
house, none who examined him concerning his learning, could suspect
there was either any want of application in himself, or care in his
master.
His three months of absence having rendered him a kind of stranger at
home, his mother-in-law used him with somewhat more civility, and
his father seemed highly satisfied with him; all his kindred and friends
caressed him, and made him many little presents of such things as
befitted his years; but that which crowned his felicity, was the company
of a young girl, a near relation of his stepmother's, who was come to
pass some time with her, and see London, which she had never been in
before.

CHAP. III.
The early influence which the difference of sex excites, is here
exemplified in the fond but innocent affection of Natura and Delia.
Natura being much of the same age with Delia (for so I shall call her)
and both equally playful, spirituous, and good-natured, it is hard to say
which of them took the greatest delight in the society of the other.
Natura was never well out of the presence of Delia, nor Delia contented
but when Natura was with her.
In walking, dancing, playing at cards, these amiable children were
always partners; and it was remarkable, that in the latter of these
diversions, Natura was never uneasy at losing his money to Delia, nor

resented any little railleries she treated him with on account of his ill
luck, or want of skill in the game, as he had been accustomed to do
whenever he received the like from any of his companions.--So forcibly
does the difference of sex operate, even before that difference is
considered.
Natura was yet too young by much, to know wherefore he found in
himself this complaisance, or how it came to pass, that he so much
preferred a beautiful and good-humoured girl, to a boy possessed of the
same qualifications; but he was not ignorant that he did so, and has
often wondered (as he afterwards