Excerpt from Poems of Thomas Hood
This great humorist was born in London in 1799, and was the son of a bookseller of the ‘firm of Vernor and Hood. The best incident of Hood’s boyhood, says Lord Houghton, was his in struction by a schoolmaster who appreciated his talents, and, as he says, made him feel it impossible not to take an interest in learning while he seemed so interested in teaching.’ Under the care of this decayed dominie, ’ whom he has so affectionately re corded, he earned a few guineas - his first literary fee - by revising for the press a new edition of Paul and Virginia.’ His mother was a Miss Sands, the daughter of Mr. Sands, the engraver. She was much beloved by her gifted son, who grieved sadly for her when death removed her from his love and care.
Hood’s father was a man of cultivated literary tastes, and was the author of two novels which attained some popularity. He died suddenly, leaving his family not very well provided for and Thomas (the second son), to relieve his mother of his support, accepted an Offer of his uncle, Mr. Sands, and was articled to an engraver. Subsequently he was employed by one of the Le Keux. Of the filial piety of Hood, his accomplished daughter speaks most highly in her charming Memorials. In the occupation to which his family affection guided him, Hood acquired a skill which afters wards largely aided in the expression of his humour: his pencil became as ready as his pen.
In consequence of his delicate health, he was transferred to the care of a relation at Dundee, where he remained for two years, and made his first appearance in print in the Dundee papers. He became, while there, an earnest reader; and we are told by Lord Houghton - who was numbered among the personal friends of the poet, and followed him to the tomb - that as a proof of the seriousness with which he regarded the literary voca tion, it may be mentioned that he used to write out his poems in printed characters, believing that that process best enabled him to understand his own peculiarities and faults, and probably un conscious that Coleridge had recommended some such method of criticism when he said he thought print settles it.’
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