"Haven't you pretty nearly come to your candle's end'!" said Mr.
Wilkinson.

"Nearly. I only want to tell uncle, that the burning of a candle is
almost exactly like our breathing. Breathing is consuming oxygen,
only not so fast as burning. In breathing we throw out water in vapor
and carbonic acid from our lungs, and take oxygen in. Oxygen is as
necessary to support the life of the body, as it is to keep up the
flame of a candle."

"So," said Mr. Bagges, "man is a candle, eh? and Shakspeare knew that,
I suppose, (as he did most things,) when he wrote

'Out, out, brief candle!'

"Well, well; we old ones are moulds, and you young squires are dips
and rushlights, eh? Any more to tell us about the candle?"

"I could tell you a great deal more about oxygen, and hydrogen, and
carbon, and water, and breathing, that Professor Faraday said, if I
had time; but you should go and hear him yourself, uncle."

"Eh? well! I think I will. Some of us seniors may learn something from
a juvenile lecture, at any rate, if given by a Faraday. And now, my
boy. I will tell you what," added Mr. Bagges, "I am very glad to find
you so fond of study and science; and you deserve to be encouraged:
and so I'll give you a what-d'ye-call-it'?--a Galvanic Battery, on
your next birth-day; and so much for your teaching your old uncle the
chemistry of a candle."