260 NINETEENTH EVENING.

way of proverb, of a blockhead, “ He can neither read
nor swim.” You may remember how Cesar was saved
at Alexandria, by throwing himself into the sea, and
swimming with one hand, while he held up his Com-
mentaries with the other. |

R. I should like very well to swim, and I have often
tricd, but I always pop under water, and that daunts
me.

#, And it is that fear which prevents you from suc-
eceding.

#. But is it as natural for man to swim as for
other creatures? I have heard that the young of aL
other animals swim the first time they are thrown into
the water.

H, They do—they are without fear. In our climate,
the water is generally cold, and is early made an object
of terror. But in hot countries, where bathing is
one of the greatest of pleasures, young children swim
so early and well, that I should suppose they take to
it almost naturally.

ft. J am resolved to learn, and I will ask Johnson
to take me with him to the river.

f. Do; but let him find you a safe place to begin at.
I don’t want you, however, to proceed so cautiously as
Sir Nicholas Gimerack did.

fi. How was thst ?

ff. He spread simsae!f out on a large table, and,
placing before him a basin of water with a frog in it,
he struck with his arms and legs, as he observed the
arv‘mal do. :

#. And did that teach him ?

#, Yes—to swim on dry land; but he never ven-
tured himself in the water.

#. Shall I get corks or bladders ?

Ff, No; learn to depend on your own powers. It is
a good lesson in other things, as well as in swimming.
But corks or bladders, if accidentally allowed to get
cut of their proper position, are very dangerous, and
have occasioned the loss of many lives.