Struggles for Fame Author:Eliza Meteyard General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1845 Subjects: History / General Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select ... more »from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: CHAPTER IV. The love of learning -- Lost faith in an old friendship -- The bashfulness that awaits upon first Authorship. June came. Roderic Random was put by, and Quarles laid upon the shelf; and on the appointed afternoon, Mr. Sumner's ancient servant knocked at Adam Leafdale's door, and Barbara went forth to take her first lesson. She found the mild and kind curate in his study ; he welcomed his little pupil, and theywere soon great friends. The study was small and quaint, but rich in quartos and folios; (that furniture of the mind) its single casement, looking upon the green that was bounded by the old school-house. The table was drawn towards the window; after the lesson was over, Mr. Sumner said : -- " A. nd so Barbara Leafdale, this day has been counted upon, has it ?" " Yes, sir." " The schoolmaster told me so. Well! we must be studious. In this old room you shall learn the wisdom of other ages. Within its walls many a heart has sought for wisdom and found it; we will see what virtue lies in books." " I shall be happy, sir." "You are fond of poetry, I think, Barbara." The child looked up and saw the student's smile; the truth flashed across her mind, and she coloured violently. " Blushes, Barbara ! What ! have I guessed a secret ?" " No ! no o-o, indeed no, sir. But is this the lesson for to-morrow ?" Sumner smiled to himself to see how true nature was to the child; Barbara already possessed a woman's tact; and not liking to press the subject further, he set the lessons -- praised his pupil's attention, and Barbara was about to withdraw, when the door op...« less