A few days after, Mr. Brown took Lewis with him to a neighbouring town, where they called upon a Sculptor, a very clever man. When Lewis and his father entered the workshop, he was very busily employed upon a block of marble.
_F._ Do not disturb yourself, Sir. I called to ask you to let us see you at work, will you allow us to look on for a short time?
_The Sculptor._ Certainly, Sir; only just stand at a little distance for a few minutes, while I knock off this corner of the stone.
Lewis and his father went to the other end of the shop, and the sculptor took a great chisel and a heavy mallet, with which he knocked off several large pieces from one side of the block.
_The S._ You see, Sir, I do not stand upon trifles, but get on as fast as I can.
_The S._ No; you must not think statues are altogether made in this manner.
_L._ Are you going to make a statue out of that great clumsy piece of stone?
_L._ How can you contrive to make it, Sir?
_The S._ You see me just beginning, if you will call sometimes, you will see how I get on, and if God is pleased to allow me to complete my work, you may see it finished.
Lewis thanked the kind artist, and when they had seen him knock off another corner of the stone, they wished him good morning, and said they would call again.
_L._ Father, it is very strange that the sculptor should be able to make a statue out of that clumsy shapeless mass of stone.
_F._ Do you think he did wrong to knock off those large pieces?
_L._ I dare say he knows what is proper to be done, and that it is right to begin in this manner.
_F._ What should you think of a person, ignorant of sculpture, who should go to him and say, “I am afraid you know nothing about what you have undertaken to do, because what you are doing does not shew the shape you say it is to represent.”
_L._ He would shew his ignorance and folly; for my part, I hope I should not speak so foolishly.
_F._ Well, then, if you ought not to speak so hastily in this respect, remember not to speak so rashly as you did to your brother the other day.
They then pursued their walk and returned home.
Lewis told Stephen about their visit to the sculptor; Stephen was sorry he had not gone, and he asked his father to take him the next time.