The Life and Writings of Francis Huber. 285 



causes which threatened at once the loss of health and of sight. 

 His father took him to Paris, to consult Tronchin, on account 

 of his health, and Venzel on the condition of his eyes. 



With a view to his general health, Tronchin sent him to a 

 village (Stain) in the neighbourhood of Paris, in order that he 

 might be free from all disturbing occupations. There he prac- 

 tised the life of a simple peasant, followed the plough, and di- 

 verted himself with all the rural concerns. This regimen was 

 completely successful, and Huber retained, from this country 

 residence, not only confirmed health, but a tender recollection 

 and decided taste for a rural life. He loved to narrate the hos- 

 pitality of these good peasants, their mother-wit, their kindness 

 towards him, and the tears which flowed on his taking leave of 

 them, not only from his own eyes, but from those of his male, 

 and also, as it is said, his female, acquaintance among the vil- 

 lagers. 



The oculist Venzel considered the stale of his eyes as incu- 

 rable, and he did not think it justifiable to hazard an operation 

 for cataract, then less understood than at present, and announced 

 to young Huber the probability of an approaching and entire 

 blindness. His eyes, however, notwithstanding their weakness, 

 had, before his departure, and after his return, met those of 

 Maria Aimee LuUin, a daughter of one of the syndics of the Swiss 

 Republic. They had been companions at the lessons of the dan- 

 cing master, and such a mutual love was cherished as the age of 

 seventeen is apt to produce. It had become almost a part of 

 their existence, and neither of them thought it possible that any 

 thing could separate them. The constantly increasing proba- 

 bility, however, of the blindness of Huber, decided M. Lullin 

 to refuse his consent to the union ; but as the misfortune of her 

 friend and chosen companion became more certain,|the more did 

 Maria regard herself as pledged never to abandon him. She 

 had become attached to him at first through love, then through 

 generosity and a sort of heroism ; and she resolved to wait until 

 she had attained the lawful age to decide for herself (the age of 

 twenty-five), and then to unite herself with Huber. The latter 

 perceiving the risk which his infirmity would probably occasion 

 to his hopes, endeavoured to dissimulate. As long as he could 

 discern some light, he acted and spoke as if he could see, and 



