106 MEMOIR OF JOHN WILSON. 



forth his life had a deeper purpose, and his home was a place of 

 pure sunshine, whatever clouds darkened the sky without. Of her 

 who made it so, it may be said, she was 



"A blooming lady — a conspicuous flower ; 

 Admired for beauty, for her sweetness praised ; 

 Whom he had sensibility to love, 

 Ambition to attempt, and skill to win;" 



one in whose gentleness and goodness he found long years of 

 happiness. 



His energies were not called forth by the mere humor of the 

 hour to prove what they were, but by the solemn realization of 

 the high purpose for which they were given. 



He did not make the usual wedding tour, but took his bride 

 directly to his cottage home. The fascination of his new life did 

 not, however, engross him to the exclusion of work, much 

 temptation as there was to a blissful idleness in his lot. The vari- 

 ous expensive tastes he indulged, as well as his generous habits, 

 could not have been so constantly exercised, had he not been in the 

 enjoyment of a large fortune. No doubt he lived both at Oxford 

 and Elleray with the free munificence of one who understood the 

 charms of hospitality, and the satisfaction of bestowing pleasure 

 upon others, but at neither period was he wasteful or careless of 

 money. At the time of his marriage, therefore, he was in easy 

 circumstances, and his wife's fortune, added to his own, made him 

 a rich man. There was no care for the future ; worldly matters 

 were in a smiling condition ; every thing around the young couple 

 was couleur de rose. Days passed away quickly ; nothing disturbed 

 the life of love and peace spent in that beautiful cottage home. 

 Time brought with it only increase of happiness. Children were 

 born ; and to live at Elleray forever was the design of the poet, 

 who loved to look upon 



" The glorious sun 

 That made Winander one wide wave of gold, 

 When first in transport from the mountain-top 

 He hailed the heavenly vision." 



These halcyon days were ere long interrupted by misfortune. 

 But though that stern schooling was necessary to the full develop- 

 ment of Wilson's character and powers, he had already, as we have 



