AGASSIZ AT PENIKESE. 725 



lecture while we sat at the table, frequently about some fish or 

 other creature, the remains of which still lay beside our plates. 



Our second day upon the island was memorable above all 

 others. Its striking incident has passed into literature in the 

 poem of Whittier, " The Prayer of Agassiz." 



AVhen the morning meal was over, Agassiz arose in his place 

 and spoke, as only he could speak, of his purpose in calling us 

 too-ether. The swallows flew in and out of the buildmg m the 

 soft June air, for they did not know that it was no longer a barn 

 but a temple. Some of them almost grazed his shoulder as he 

 spoke to us of the needs of the people for better education- He 

 told us how these needs could be met, and of the results which 

 might come to America from the training and consecration of 



fifty teachers- , 



This was to him no ordinary school, still less an idle summer s 

 outing, but a mission work of the greatest importance. He spoke 

 with intense earnestness, and all his words were filled with that 

 deep religious feeling so characteristic of all his thoughts. For 

 to Agassiz each natural object was a thought of God, and trifling 

 with God's truth as expressed in Nature was the basest of sac- 



rile^'e. 



What Agassiz said that morning can never be said again. No 

 reporter took his language, and no one could call back the charm 

 of his manner or the impressiveness of his zeal and faith. 



At the end he said, " I would not have any man to pray for me 

 now," and that he and each of us would utter his own prayer in 

 silence. What he meant by this was that no one could pray in 

 his stead. No public prayer could take the place of the prayer 

 which each of us would frame for himself. Whittier says : 



" Even the careless heart was moved, 

 And the doubting gave assent 

 "With a gesture reverent 

 To the Master well beloved. 

 As thin mists are glorified 

 By the light they can not hide, 

 All who gazed upon him saw, 

 Through its veil of tender awe, 

 How his face was still uplit 

 By the old sweet look of it ; 

 Hopeful, trustful, full of cheer 

 And the love that casts out fear." 



And the summer went on with its succession of joyous morn- 

 ings, beautiful days, and calm nights, with every charm of sea 

 and sky, the master with us all day long, ever ready to speak 

 words of help and encouragement, ever ready to give us from his 

 own stock of learning. The boundless enthusiasm which sur- 



