seen in his sermon: "People, be dood. If you are dood, Dod will love
you; if you are not dood, Dod will not love you. People, be dood."

At the age of four he had begun to read and write, refusing to be taught
in the orthodox way--this is so accurately characteristic--by syllabic
spelling and copy-book pothooks. He preferred to find a method out for
himself, and he found out how to read whole words at a time by the look
of them, and to write in vertical characters like book-print, just as
the latest improved theories of education suggest. His first letter may
be quoted as illustrating his own account of his childhood, and as
proving how entirely Scotch was the atmosphere in which he was brought
up. The postmark gives the date March 15, 1823. Mrs. Ruskin premises
that John was scribbling on a paper from which he proceeded to read what
she writes down (I omit certain details about the whip):


"MY DEAR PAPA,

"I love you. I have got new things. Waterloo Bridge--Aunt Bridget
brought me it. John and Aunt helped to put it up, but the pillars
they did not put right, upside down. Instead of a book bring me a
whip, coloured red and black.... To-morrow is Sabbath. Tuesday I go
to Croydon. I am going to take my boats and my ship to Croydon.
I'll sail them on the pond near the burn which the bridge is over.
I will be very glad to see my cousins. I was very happy when I saw
Aunt come from Croydon. I love Mrs. Gray and I love Mr. Gray. I
would like you to come home, and my kiss and my love."

[First autograph in straggling capitals]