became treasurer of the local improvement society, and LITTLE 

 thereby was serenaded once a year by a brass band. JOURNEYS 

 We hear of the village rector once saying, " Mr. Dar- 

 win knows botany better than anybody this side of 

 Kew ; and although I am sorry to say that he seldom 

 goes to church, yet he is a good neighbor and almost a 

 model citizen." Together the clergyman and his neigh- 

 bor discussed the merits of climbing roses, sweet peas 

 and morning-glories. Darwin met all and every one on 

 terms of absolute equality, and never forced his sci- 

 entific hypotheses upon any one. In fact, no one in the 

 village imagined that this quiet country gentleman in 

 the dusty gray clothes that matched his full iron-gray 

 beard, was destined for a place in Westminster Abbey 

 no, not even himself! 



Darwin's father, seeing that the Government had 

 recognized him, and that the scientific societies of 

 London were quite willing to do as much, settled on 

 him an allowance that was ample for his simple wants. 

 QOn the death of Dr. Darwin, Charles came into pos- 

 session of an inheritance that brought him a yearly 

 income of a little over five hundred pounds. 

 Children came to bless this happy household seven 

 in all. With these Darwin was comrade and teacher. 

 Two hours a day were sacred for science, but outside 

 of this time the children made the study their own and 

 littered the place with their collections gathered on 

 heath and dale. The recognition of the "holy time' 

 was strong in the minds of the children, so no prohi- 

 bitions were needed. One daughter has written in 



175 



