“Justly, then, has your merit been rewarded,” said the father. “Have you not read of the skilful Roman, who could blow peas through a quill, and deposit them with such nicety on the point of a pin, placed at some distance, as rarely to miss his aim?”
“And what was his reward?” asked Tom.
“A bushel of peas, my boy, which the emperor commanded to be presented to him. But do not misunderstand me, far be it from my wish to disparage your skill; whatever we undertake, we should endeavour to accomplish; I am, therefore, well pleased to find that you can play at marbles with so much success.”
“I wonder who invented marbles?” said Tom.
“That question, my dear, must be addressed to Mr. Twaddleton, who, I have no doubt, will immediately answer it.”
Scarcely had these words been spoken, when the vicar appeared on the lawn. Mr. Seymour informed him of the subject of their conversation, and added, that he had just told the children he was sure he would readily answer their question.
“Not so readily as you may imagine,” replied the vicar; “but I will tell you all I know upon the subject. It appears to be a very ancient game; for it is stated by Suetonius, that Augustus, when a youth, spent many hours in the day in playing with little Moorish boys ‘cum nucibus,’ that is, with nuts, which appear to have been then used in the very way in which you now play with your marbles. In later times, round stones, picked out of gravel, were introduced for this purpose. The marbles which you now hold in your hand are substitutes of still more modern invention. The best of them are imported from Holland, where, as I have been informed, they are manufactured by grinding fragments of alabaster and of other stones, in an iron mill of a peculiar construction, in which there are several partitions furnished with rasps, which turn with great velocity, by means of a stream of water; and thus, having rounded the stones, project them out of different holes for which their size may adapt them. Thus manufactured, they are brought down the Rhine, and from thence dispersed throughout Europe; immense quantities are also exported to India and China. There are, however, as you well know, inferior kinds, which are of home manufacture, and consist of potter’s clay covered with a glaze, and burnt in a furnace.”
“I have often wondered what is the meaning of the words taw and ally,” observed Tom.
“Why, your taw is a brown marble, and your ally, if I remember rightly, a very white one; is it not so?” asked the vicar.
“To be sure,” said Tom.