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  ...for commonly he has some intrusive upper-boy fastened upon him at such times; some cadet of a great family; some neglected lump of nobility, or gentry; that he must drag after him to the play, to the Panorama, to Mr. Bartley's Orrery, to the Panopticon, or into the country, to a friend's house, or to his favourite watering-place. Wherever he goes, this uneasy shadow attends him. A boy is at his board, and in his path, and in all his movements. He is boy-rid, sick of perpetual boy. Boys are capital fellows in their own way, among their mates; but they are unwholesome companions for grown people.   The restraint is felt no less on the one side, than on the other.--Even a child, that "plaything for an hour," tires _always_. The noises of children, playing their own fancies--as I now hearken to them by fits, sporting on the green before my window, while I am engaged in these grave speculations at my neat suburban retreat at Shacklewell--by distance made more sweet--inexpressibly take from the labour of my task. It is like writing to music. They seem to modulate my periods. They ought...   Lamb, Charles

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Excerpt from The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 2 Elia and The Last Essays of Elia · This quote is tagged Boys · Search on Google Books to find all references and sources for this quotation · Help your friends discover QB

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