an autobiography-第14节
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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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
