r pale cheek with care and much privation,
array her faded form in coarsely patched attire, let there be nothing
but his love to set her forth or deck her out, and you shall put it to
the proof indeed. So change his station in the world that he shall see,
in those young things who climb about his knee, not records of his
wealth and name, but little wrestlers with him for his daily bread; so
many poachers on his scanty meal; so many units to divide his every sum
of comfort, and farther to reduce its small amount. In lieu of the
endearments of childhood in its sweetest aspect, heap upon him all its
pains and wants, its sicknesses and ills, its fretfulness, caprice, and
querulous endurance: let its prattle be, not of engaging infant fancies,
but of cold, and thirst, and hunger: and if his fatherly affection
outlive all this, and he be patient, watchful, tender; careful of his
children's lives, and mindful always of their joys and sorrows; then
send him back to parliament, and pulpit, and to quarter sessions, and
when he hears fine talk of the depravity of those who live from hand to
mouth, and labour hard to do it, let him speak up, as one who knows, and
tell those holders-forth that they, by parallel with such a class,
should be high angels in their daily lives, and lay but humble siege to
heaven at last. . . . Which of us shall say what he would be, if such
realities, with small relief or change all through his days, were his!
Looking round upon these people: far from home, houseless, indigent,
wandering, weary with travel and hard living: and seeing how patiently
they nursed and tended their young children: how they consulted ever
their wants first, then half supplied their own; what gentle ministers
of hope and faith the women were; how the men profited by their example;
and how very, very seldom even a moment's petulance or harsh complaint
broke out among them: I felt a stronger love and honour of my kind come
glowing on my heart, and wished to God there had been many atheists in
the better part of human nature there, to read this simple lesson in the
book of life."

CHAPTER II.

FIRST YEAR OF MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT.

1843.

A Sunset at Land's-end--Description of the
Cornish Tour--Letter from Maclise--Maclise to
J. F.--Names first given to _Chuzzlewit_--First
Number of _Chuzzlewit_--Prologue to a Play--A
Tragedy by Browning--Accompaniments of
Work--Miss Georgina H