2 THE LIFE OF PHILIP HENRY GOSSE. 



"tions during my pleasant sojourn in your friendly 

 " family, you are still caring for my welfare, and devising 

 " schemes for my benefit, now I am far away. It is 

 "pleasing to know that though out of sight, I am not 

 " out of mind. Do not think me ungrateful if I cannot 

 "avail myself of your very obliging proposal. I am 

 " pained that your goodness should be thrown away ; 

 "but I am really not qualified for the situation of 

 " curator. I do not know the art of stuffing birds and 

 " beasts ; and, ^though I have some acquaintance with 

 " natural history, I am totally ignorant of mineralogy, 

 "which, I observe by the advertisement, is required. 

 " Attendance, too, is required from 8 a.m. till 9 p.m. — 

 " thirteen hours a day ; and the whole time to be devoted 

 " to the duties. 



" There are other reasons why I should hesitate to 

 " fill such an office as that. I should fear that I should 

 " be thrown into situations in which I might find it diffi- 

 " cult to keep that purity of intention which I value 

 " more than life ; and likewise, that my opportunities of 

 " being useful to my fellow-men, especially to their 

 "souls, would be much curtailed. I view this transient 

 " state as a dressing-room to a theatre ; a brief, almost 

 "momentary visit, during which preparation is to be 

 " made for the real business and end of existence. 

 " Eternity is our theatre : time our dressing-room. So 

 "that I must make every arrangement with a view to 

 " its bearing on this one point. 



" Again I repeat my gratitude for your kindness ; and 

 "pray God to reward you a thousand-fold, for I am 

 "utterly unable. Should it ever be my lot to revisit 

 " Liverpool, I shall gratefully renew my acquaintance 

 " with you and your dear family. I have heard nothing 

 " from Mr. Jaques since I have been here — have you ? 



