58 HIS DEATH. 



the air so as to renew its vital properties and replenish the 

 oxygen gas, which they consume like other animals. In 

 short, so profound were his observations, and so just his con- 

 clusions, that since his death nothing material has been added 

 to their history, and naturalists blessed with the power of 

 vision have had no important observations to join to those of 

 their blind but persevering colleague. 



HENRIETTA. 



When did Huber die? 



In December, 1831, at the age of eighty-one, in the pos- 

 session of all his faculties, cheerful and resigned to the last. 

 On the 20th of that month he wrote to a friend " Resigna- 

 tion and serenity are blessings which have not been refused 

 to me." Two days afterwards, he expired without pain in 

 the arms of his daughter. Such was Huber: religious, wise, 

 and good ; amiable and animated in conversation ; delighting 

 in the society of young persons; firmly attached to his friends, 

 whose kindness and affection offered him a compensation to 

 his misfortune which he had the good sense to enjoy and to 

 appreciate. He never was the first to speak of his calamity; 

 he never complained, for he considered resignation and cheer- 

 fulness as his first duties. The sagacity of his researches 

 places him in the highest rank among naturalists; and though 

 he confined himself to the special observation of one insect, 

 yet his brilliant imagination would often indulge itself in 

 general ideas, and he loved to admire the Great Author of 

 Nature in the harmony of His works. In short, in whatever 

 point of view we consider the character of this amiable man, 

 he is highly deserving our admiration. His example may 

 teach us to turn every dispensation of Providence to our good, 

 and shows us how, by perseverance and patience in well 

 doing, we may attain the most brilliant results, under obsta- 

 cles the most discouraging, and calamities the most depress- 

 ing.* It shows us how, even though deprived of the most 



* The discovery by Captain Hall of the stingless bees at Tampico 

 excited his interest, and nothing could exceed his joy at a friend 



