g the head of the young satirist?--"_Ce petit bon homme_," says
he, "_n'a point trop d'esprit_, mais il _ne dira jamais mal de
personne_." Such are the prognostics formed by men of wit and sense, as
these two certainly were, concerning the future character and conduct of
those for whose welfare they were honestly and deeply concerned; and so
late do those features of peculiarity come to their growth, which mark a
character to all succeeding generations.

Dr. Johnson first learned to read of his mother and her old maid
Catharine, in whose lap he well remembered sitting while she explained to
him the story of St. George and the Dragon. I know not whether this is
the proper place to add that such was his tenderness, and such his
gratitude, that he took a journey to Lichfield fifty-seven years
afterwards to support and comfort her in her last illness; he had
inquired for his nurse, and she was dead. The recollection of such
reading as had delighted him in his infancy made him always persist in
fancying that it was the only reading which could please an infant; and
he used to condemn me for putting Newbery's books into their hands as too
trifling to engage their attention. "Babies do not want," said he, "to
hear about babies; they like to be told of giants and castles, and of
somewhat which can stretch and stimulate their little minds." When in
answer I would urge the numerous editions and quick sale of "Tommy
Prudent" or "Goody Two-Shoes." "Remember always," said he, "that the
parents _buy_ the books, and that the children never read them." Mrs.
Barbauld, however, had his best praise, and deserved it; no man was more
struck than Mr. Johnson with voluntary descent from possible splendour to
painful duty.

At eight years old he went to school, for his health would not permit him
to be sent sooner; and at the age of ten years his mind was disturbed by
scruples of infidelity, which preyed upon his spirits and made him very
uneasy, the more so as he revealed his uneasiness to no one, being
naturally, as he said, "of a sullen temper and reserved disposition." He
searched, however, diligently but fruitlessly, for evidences of the truth
of revelation; and at length, recollecting a book he had once seen in his
father's shop, entitled "De Veritate Religionis," etc., he began to think
himself highly culpable for neglecting such a means of information, and
took himself severely to task for this sin, adding many acts of
volunta