48 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. III. 



after hour read the drollest stories, laughing over them with 

 a heartiness peculiarly his own. Wishing to give some slight 

 token of her gratitude for all this love and care, the child 

 said to him one night before going to sleep, " Kiss me, 

 Dosie." 1 Immediately was the kiss given, to her great 

 satisfaction ; and not till weeks after, when the first glance 

 at a mirror was permitted, did it flash upon her what she 

 had asked, what the repulsive state of the lips had been, 

 and the danger even to his life. Trifling though the inci- 

 dent is, it was a true expression of the generous nature, 

 ready at any moment with unconscious grace to sacrifice 

 life itself for the objects of his love. 



The closing entry in the journal treats of lectures given 

 at home : though written at a later date, its contents make 

 it suitable for our notice at present. 



" May, 1839. Following out my proposal to amend the 

 subjects of ladies' conversation and study, I assembled 

 some of them in my father's house, and delivered a course 

 of lectures on chemistry, especially the chemistry of nature. 

 It was in the winter of 1837-38, so that I was then cet. 19; 

 the majority of my audience were older by a year or two. 

 I was greatly praised and encouraged, most kindly listened 

 to and assisted in many ways, especially by John Macgil- 

 livray, a generous, unselfish, happy fellow, without whose 

 aid I should have come on very poorly. This course, 

 which began in October, was first interrupted by the illness 

 of my sister, and afterwards, in February, by the mournful 

 indisposition of my cousin Catherine, so that only ten or 

 twelve lectures were given. 



" I place here the names of those who smiled on a 

 juvenile attempt, both because I would keep on record 

 the titles of those persons who gave rise to many a happy 



1 A pet name, used through life in writing to his younger sisters. 



