1842] Hope a Cardinal Virtue 79 



Elizabeth Wedgwood to her sister Emma Darwin. 



Sept. 23, 1842. 



, . My father took me for you just now and smiled and 

 said, "Why how did you get leave to come down ?' 

 don't think I have seen him smile twice this two months. 

 If he can but regain a small portion of strength and be free 

 from that terrible shaking and restlessness, what happiness 

 it will be to see him. Hensleigh came down last night by 

 the 9 o'clock train. Jos is here and I have no doubt will 

 stay. He could not keep from tears at one time seeing my 

 father. I feel very anxious to hear that the Dr [Dr Darwin] 

 has not suffered. Nothing could possibly be kinder than 

 he was, and said he would come again at any time, but I 

 hope and trust there will be no need. He was quite affected 

 more than once. I feel very grateful to him for such an 

 exertion. Good-bye my dear Emma. We all feel almost 

 joyous to-day. 



Madame Sismondi to her niece Elizabeth Wedgwood. 



CRESSELLY, Nov. 19 [1842]. 



. . . There is such hopefulness in your letter, my own 

 Elizabeth, that even when in sorrow yourself, they cheer 

 the soul. Do not let go this virtue for it is a great one. 

 I do not wonder it is placed among the cardinal ones 

 though it might well be thought more a gift than virtue. 

 It has been granted you to be such a comfort, support, nurse, 

 help, to him you love. In the busy part of serving so much 

 of thought and suffering is saved, there is something so 

 delightful to give a cup of cold water in time, or even turn 

 a pillow if wanted, that I cannot but think you blessed of 

 heaven, in the long serving time that has been granted you, 

 and you continue still the object of my envy. You cannot 

 imagine how proud I feel that your dear father thought of 

 me in his extreme weakness, and pronounced my name. 



I believe he was the man Sismondi loved best in the 



