Non-Fiction > Books > London, 1887 - Virginibus Puerisque, and other papers

112 An Apology for Idlers
learning. Nor is the truant always in the
streets, for if he prefers, he may go out by
the gardened suburbs into the country. He
may pitch on some tuft of lilacs over a burn,
and smoke innumerable pipes to the tune of
the water on the stones. A bird will sing
in the thicket. And there he may fall into
a vein of kindly thought, and see things in
a new perspective. Why, if this be not
education, what is? We may conceive Mr.
Worldly Wiseman accosting such an one,
and the conversation that should thereupon
ensue : —
" How now, young fellow, what dost thou
here ? "
" Truly, sir, I take mine ease."
" Is not this the hour of the class ? and
should'st thou not be plying thy Book with
diligence, to the end thou mayest obtain
knowledge ? "
" Nay, but thus also I follow after Learn-
ing, by your leave."
" Learning, quotha ! After what fashion,
I pray thee? Is it mathematics?"