SIR WM. AND CAROLINE HERSCHEL. 89 



that the practical mother wished her daughter to 

 learn something whereby she could earn a living. 

 She thereupon sent her two or three months to a 

 seamstress to be taught to make household linen. 

 After a time a delightful proposition came from the 

 organist at Bath. He would take her to England, 

 and see if she "could not become a useful singer 

 for his winter concerts and oratorios." If she did 

 not succeed, after two years, he would carry her 

 back to Germany. 



In 1772, William came to Hanover and took his 

 sister to Bath, at 7 New Kings Street. She was 

 now twenty-two ; an untutored girl, with a bright, 

 eager mind, and a heart that went out to her 

 brother in the most rapt devotion. History does 

 not show a more complete, single-hearted, subser- 

 vient affection, nor a sadder picture of a woman's 

 sorrow in later years, in consequence of it. 



At once Caroline began her work of voice cul- 

 ture, lessons in arithmetic, English, and in keep- 

 ing accounts, from her brother, and in managing 

 the house. Alexander, now in England, boarded 

 with William, and he and Caroline occupied the 

 attic. The first three winter months were lonely, 

 as she saw little of William. 



"The time," she says, "when I could hope to re- 

 ceive a little more of my brother's instruction and 

 attention was now drawing near ; for after Easter, 

 Bath becomes very empty, only a few of his 

 scholars, whose families were residents in the 

 neighborhood, remaining. But I was greatly dis- 



