vi Introduction. 



unwavering faith in the individual or in the cause. 

 Seeking nothing for themselves, thinking nothing of 

 themselves, they have all an intense power of sym- 

 pathy, a noble love of giving themselves for the ser- 

 vice of others, which enables them to transfuse the 

 force of their own personality into the object to which 

 they dedicate their powers. 



Of this noble company of unknown helpers Caroline 

 Herschel was one. 



She stood beside her brother, William Herschel, 

 sharing his labours, helping his life. In the days when 

 he gave up a lucrative career that he might devote 

 himself to astronomy, it was owing to her thrift and 

 care that he Avas not harassed by the rankling vexa- 

 tions of money matters. She had been his helper and 

 assistant in the days when he was a leading musician ; 

 she became his helper and assistant when he gave him- 

 self up to astronomy. By sheer force of will and devoted 

 affection, she learned enough of mathematics and of 

 methods of calculation, which to those unlearned seem 

 mysteries, to be able to commit to writing the results of 

 his researches. She became his assistant in the work- 

 shop ; she helped him to grind and polish his mirrors ; 

 she stood beside his telescope in the nights of mid- 

 winter, to write down his observations, when the very 

 ink was frozen in the bottle. She kept him alive by her 

 care ; thinking nothing of herself, she lived for him. 

 She loved him, and believed in him, and helped him, 



