an autobiography-第43部分

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had　followed　my　settlement　in　this　great　manufacturing　centre。　　He　could　still　see　his　own　lathe；　driven　by　steam　power；　in　full　operation　for　the　benefit　of　his　son。　　His　fame　as　an　artist　was　well　known　in　Manchester；　for　many　of　his　works　were　possessed　by　the　best　men　of　the　town。　　I　had　the　pleasure　of　introducing　him　to　the　Brothers　Grant；　John　Kennedy；　Edward　Lloyd；　George　Murray；　James　Frazer；　William　Fairbairn；　and　Hugh　and　Joseph　Birley；　all　of　whom　gave　him　a　most　cordial　welcome；　and　invited　him　to　enjoy　their　hospitality。

＇Image＇　　Alexander　Nasmyth。　　After　a　cameo　by　Samuel　Joseph

In　1838　he　visited　me　again。　　I　had　removed　to　Patricroft；　and　the　Bridgewater　Foundry　was　in　full　operation。　　My　father　was　then　in　his　eightieth　year。　　He　was　still　full　of　life　and　intellect。　He　was　vastly　delighted　in　witnessing　the　rapid　progress　which　I　had　made　since　his　first　visit。　　He　took　his　daily　walk　through　the　workshops；　where　many　processes　were　going　on　which　greatly　interested　him。　　He　was　sufficiently　acquainted　with　the　technical　details　of　mechanical　work　to　enjoy　the　sight；　especially　when　self…acting　tools　were　employed。　　It　was　a　great　source　of　pleasure　to　him　to　have　〃a　crack〃　with　the　most　intelligent　foremen　and　mechanics。　　These；　on　their　part；　treated　him　with　the　most　kind　and　respectful　attention。　The　Scotch　workmen　regarded　him　with　special　veneration。　　They　knew　that　he　had　been　an　intimate　friend　of　Robert　Burns；　their　own　best…beloved　poet；　whose　verses　shed　a　charm　upon　their　homes；　and　were　recited　by　the　fireside；　in　the　fields；　or　at　the　workman's　bench。

They　also　knew　that　he　had　painted　the　only　authentic　portrait　of　their　national　bard。　　This　fact　invested　my　father　with　additional　interest　in　their　eyes。　　Their　respect　for　him　culminated　in　a　rather　extraordinary　demonstration。　　On　the　last　day　of　his　visit　the　leading　Scotch　workmen　procured　〃on　the　sly〃　an　arm…chair；　which　they　fastened　to　two　strong　bearing　poles。　　When　my　father　left　the　works　at　the　bell…ringing　at　mid…day；　he　was　approached　by　the　workmen；　and　respectfully　requested　to　〃take　the　chair。〃　　He　refused；　but　it　was　of　no　use。　　He　was　led　to　the　chair；　and　took　it。　　He　was　then　raised　and　carried　in　triumph　to　my　house。　　He　was　carefully　set　down　at　the　little　garden…gate；　where　the　men　affectionately　took　leave　of　him；　and　ended　their　cordial　good　wishes　for　his　safe　return　home　with　three　hearty　cheers。　　I　need　scarcely　say　that　my　father　was　greatly　affected　by　this　kind　demonstration　on　the　part　of　the　workmen。

His　life　was　fast　drawing　to　a　close。　　He　had　borne　the　heat　and　burden　of　the　day；　and　was　about　to　be　taken　home　like　a　shock　of　corn　in　full　season。　　After　a　long　and　happy　life；　blessed　and　cheered　by　a　most　affectionate　wife；　he　laid　down　his　brushes　and　went　to　rest。　In　his　later　years　he　rejoiced　in　the　prosperity　of　his　children；　which　was　all　the　more　agreeable　as　it　was　the　result　of　the　example　of　industry　and　perseverance　which　he　had　ever　set　before　them。　My　father　untiringly　continued　his　professional　occupations　until　1840；　when　he　had　attained　the　age　of　eighty…two。　　His　later　works　may　be　found　wanting　in　that　degree　of　minute　finish　which　characterised　his　earlier　productions；　but　in　regard　to　their　quality　there　was　no　falling　off；　even　to　the　last　picture　which　he　painted。　The　delicate　finish　was　amply　compensated　by　the　increase　in　general　breadth　and　effectiveness；　so　that　his　later　works　were　even　more　esteemed　by　his　brother…artists。　　　The　last　picture　he　painted　was　finished　eight　days　before　his　death。　　It　was　a　small　work。　　The　subject　was　a　landscape　with　an　autumnal　evening　effect。　　There　was　a　picturesque　cottage　in　the　middle　distance；　a　rustic　bridge　over　a　brook　in　the　foreground；　and　an　old　labouring　man；　followed　by　his　dog；　wearily　passing　over　it　on　his　way　towards　his　home。　　From　the　chimney　of　his　cottage　a　thin　streak　of　blue　smoke　passed　upward　through　the　tranquil　evening　air。　All　these　incidents　suggested　the　idea；　which　no　doubt　he　desired　to　convey；　of　the　tranquil　conclusion　of　his　own　long　and　active　life；　which　was　then；　too　evidently；　drawing　to　a　close。　The　shades　of　evening　had　come　on　when　he　could　no　longer　see　to　work；　and　he　was　obliged　to　lay　down　his　pencil。　　My　mother　was　at　work　with　her　needle　close　by　him；　and　when　he　had　finished　he　asked　her　what　he　should　call　the　picture。　　Not　being　ready　with　an　answer；　he　leant　back　in　his　chair；　feeling　rather　faint；　and　said；　〃Well；　I　think　I　had　better　call　it　Going　Home。〃　　And　so　it　was　called。

Next　morning　his　strength　had　so　failed　him　that　he　could　not　get　up。　He　remained　there　for　eight　days；　and　then　he　painlessly　and　tranquilly　passed　away。　　While　on　his　deathbed　he　expressed　the　desire　that　his　remains　should　be　placed　beside　those　of　a　favourite　son　who　had　died　in　early　youth。　　〃Let　me　lie；〃　he　said；　〃beside　my　dear　Alick。〃　His　desire　was　gratified。　　He　was　buried　beside　his　son　in　St。　Cuthbert's　churchyard；　under　the　grandest　portion　of　the　great　basaltic　rock　on　which　Edinburgh　Castle　stands。　　His　grave　is　marked　by　a　fine　Runic　Cross；　admirably　sculptured　by　Rhind　of　Edinburgh。

＇Image＇　　Monument　to　Alexander　Nasmyth

One　of　the　kindest　letters　my　mother　received　after　her　great　loss　was　one　from　Sir　David　Wilkie。　　It　was　dated　18th　April　1840。　　〃I　hasten；〃　he　said；　〃to　assure　you　of　my　most　sincere　condolence　on　your　severe　affliction；　feeling　that　I　can　sympathise　in　the　privation　you　suffer　from　losing　one　who　was　my　earliest　professional　friend；　whose　art　I　at　all　times　admired；　and　whose　society　and　conversation　was　perhaps　the　most　agreeable　that　I　ever　met　with。　　〃　He　was　the　founder　of　the　Landscape　Painting　School　of　Scotland；　and　by　his　taste　and　talent　has　for　many　years　taken　a　lead　in　the　patriotic　aim　of　enriching　his　native　land　with　the　representations　of　her　romantic　scenery；　and；　as　the　friend　and　contemporary　of　Ramsay；　of　Gavin　Hamilton；　and　the　Runcimans；　may　be　said　to　have　been　the　last　remaining　link　that　unites　the　present　with　the　early　dawn　of　the　Scottish　School　of　Art。〃　I　may　add　that　my　mother　died　six　years　later；　in　1846；　at　the　same　age　as　my　father；　namely　eighty…two。


CHAPTER　13。　My　MarriageThe　Steam　Hammer

Before　I　proceed　to　narrate　the　later　events　of　my　industrial　life；　it　is　necessary　to　mention；　incidentally；　an　important　subject。　As　it　has　been　the　source　of　my　greatest　happiness　in　life；　I　cannot　avoid　referring　to　it。

I　may　first　mention　that　my　earnest　and　unremitting　pursuit　of　all　subjects　and　occupations；　such　as　I　conceived　were　essential　to　the　acquirement　of　a　sound　practical　knowledge　of　my　profession；　rendered　me　averse　to　mixing　much　in　general　society。　　I　had　accordingly　few　opportunities　of　enjoying　the　society　of　young　ladies。　　Nevertheless；　occasions　now　and　then　occurred　when　bright　beings　passed　before　me　like　meteors。　　They　left　impressions　on　my　memory；　which　in　no　small　degree　increased　the　earnestness　of　my　exertions　to　press　forward　in　my　endeavours　to　establish　myself　in　business；　and　thereby　acquire　the　means　of　forming　a　Home　of　my　own。

Many　circumstances；　however；　conspired　to　delay　the　ardently　longed　for　condition　of　my　means；　such　as　should　induce　me　to　solicit　some　dear　one　to　complete　my　existence　by　her　sweet　companionship；　and　enter　with　me　into　the　most　sacred　of　all　the　partnerships　of　life。　In　course　of　time　I　was　rewarded　with　that　success　which；　for　the　most　part；　ensues　upon　all　honourable　and　unremitting　business　efforts。　This　cheered　me　on；　although　there　were　still　many　causes　for　anxiety；　which　made　me　feel　that　I　must　not　yet　solicit　some　dear　heart　to　forsake　the　comforts　of　an　affluent　home　to　share　with　me　what　I　knew　must　for　some　years　to　come　be　an　anxious　and　trying　struggle　for　comfort　and　comparative　independence。　　I　had　reached　my　thirtieth　year　before　I　could　venture　to　think　that　I　had　securely　entered　upon　such　a　course　of　prosperity　as　would　justify　me　in　taking　this　the　most　important　step　in　life。

It　may　be　a　trite　but　not　the　less　true　remark　that　some　of　the　most　important　events　originate　in　apparently　chance　occurrences　and　circumstances；　which　lead　up　to　results　that　materially　influence　and　even　determine　the　subsequent　course　of　our　lives。　　I　had　occasion　to　make　a　business　journey　to　Sheffield　on　the　2d　of　March　1838；　and　also　to　attend　to　some　affairs　of　a　similar　character　at　York。　　As　soon　as　I　had　completed　my　engagement　at　Sheffield；　I　had　to　wait　for　more　than　two　dreary　hours　in　momentary　expectation　of　the　arrival　of　the　coach　that　was　to　take　me　on　to　York。　　The　coach　had　been　delayed　by　a　deep　fall　of　snow；　and　was　consequently　late。　　When　it　arrived；　I　found　that　there　was　only　one　outside　place　vacant；　so　I　mounted　to　my　seat。　It　was　a　very　dreary　afternoon；　and　the　snow　was　constantly　falling。

As　we　approached　Barnsley　I　observed；　in　the　remaining　murky　light　of　the　evening；　the　blaze　of　some　ironwork　furnaces　near　at　hand。　On　inquiring　whose　works　they　were；　I　was　informed　that　they　belonged　to　Earl　Fitzwilliam；　and　that　they　were　under　the　management　of　a　Mr。　Hartop。　　The　mention　of　this　name；　coupled　with　the　sight　of　the　ironworks；　brought　to　my　recollection　a　kind　invitation　which　Mr。　Hartop　had　given　me　while　visiting　my　workshop　in　Manchester　to　order　some　machine　tools；　that　it　I　ever　happened　to　be　in　his　neighbourhood；　he　would　be　most　happy　to　show　me　anything　that　was　interesting　about　the　ironworks　and　colliery　machinery　under　his　management。

I　at　once　decided　to　terminate　my　dreary　ride　on　the　top　of　the　coach。　I　descended；　and　with　my　small　valise　in　hand　I　trudged　over　some　trackless　snow…covered　fields；　and　made　my　way　by　the　shortest　cut　towards　the　blazing　iron　furnaces。　　On　reaching　them　I　was　informed　that　Mr。　Hartop　had　just　gone　to　his　house；　which　was　about　a　mile　distant。　　I　accordingly　made　my　way　thither　the　best　that　I　could　through　the　deep　snow。　　I　met　with　a　cordial　welcome；　and　with　the　hospitable　request　that　I　should　take　up　my　quarters　there　for　the　night；　and　have　a　round　of　the　ironworks　and　the　machinery　on　the　following　day。　　I　cheerfully　acceded　to　the　kind　invitation。　I　was　then　introduced　to　his　wife　and　daughter