62 THE WORLD'S WORKERS. 



to science, while Mary Carpenter gave her life and 

 strength to trying to rescue the poor and degraded. 



Mary Carpenter was born at Exeter on the 3rd of 

 April, 1807. Her father was Dr. Lant Carpenter, a 

 Unitarian minister, well known in his day for his 

 ability, his enthusiastic philanthropy, and his simple, 

 earnest piety. Mary had the greatest reverence for 

 her father, and in many respects she was like him ; 

 she inherited from him her industry, her warm sym 

 pathy with the miserable and suffering, and her deeo 

 religious feeling. 



Mary's home was a very happy one, cheerful, 

 frugal, and well ordered. The various members of 

 the family loved each other very much ; they were all 

 busy, and all in earnest. As the children grew up 

 they were accustomed to find their father and mother 

 interested in books and public questions ; they were 

 well acquainted with the best poetry too, and the 

 children quite early became familiar with it 



As a baby, Mary must have been rather precocious, 

 and unlike other small children of her age. When 

 about two years old she insisted on being called " Dr. 

 Carpenter" in the nursery. Unlike Mrs. Somerville, she 

 was very fond of dolls, and though much interested in 

 lessons, was always content to turn away from them 

 to look after the " grand affairs " of her waxen play- 

 things. 



When Mary was ten years old the family removed 

 to Bristol, and Dr. Carpenter opened a school for about 



