A memoir of James Jackson, Jr., M.D., with extracts from his letters to his father; and medical cases, collected by him / By James Jackson.

  • James Jackson
Date:
1835
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A memoir of James Jackson, Jr., M.D., with extracts from his letters to his father; and medical cases, collected by him / By James Jackson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    true description of the subject of his discourse; a fond father must certainly be subject to this suspicion. Those who know the truth in this case must decide whether this suspicion is jus- tified by what follows. I may however premise that I shall not attempt to write coldly, while I shall endeavor to keep in mind that my business is not to display my own feelings to- ward the beloved subject of my discourse, but to draw a picture of one whose features are more perfectly engraved on my mind than on that of any one else. Irom his earliest age my son always manifested great cheer- fulness of temper and gaiety of heart,so that he was never long depressed by trouble of any kind. He was always ready to sympathize with those about him, and he loved to engage their sympathy in return. He was not contented without constant action, except when engaged in study or other occupation. These characteristics are common enough in boyhood, and did not distinguish him among his fellows at that stage of life. It was by myself only perhaps that his indomitable gaiety of heart was then noticed; though I also remarked, very early, that his mind was capable of being engaged in the most solemn subjects. Irom these characteristics he was often boisterous and annoying to those about him, but he was so good-humored they could not long be angry with him. He ‘had very little ambition to gain distinction, or to be a leader among his com- rades, but delighted to join in their sports on terms of equality, as anxious that they should be pleased as to have his share of the sport. He wasagreeable to his young friends without be- ing distinguished among them. His schoolmaster loved him ; but had to punish him continually for the sin of laughing, of which he. could not break him however. He would strive at times to get a high rank in his class to please me, for he always loved me most ardently; but he seemed not otherwise to value
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