32 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. 1832-37. 



CHAPTEE II. 



YOUTH AND STUDENT LIFE. 



" Shades of the prison-house begiii to close 



Upon the growing boy, 

 But he beholds the light, and whence it flows, 



He sees it in his joy ; 

 The youth, who daily farther from the east 



Must travel, still is nature's priest, 



And by the vision splendid 



Is on his way attended ; 

 At length the man perceives it die away, 

 And fade into the light of common day." 



THE holidays after release from scliool were spent at the 

 manse of Cumbernauld, where, with his twin -brother, George 

 enjoyed some happy weeks. George, however, seems to have 

 been a little impatient to enter upon the duties of his profession. 

 Having no fortune to give their children, his parents thought it 

 only fair that the toils before them should be lightened by 

 willing hearts ready to brave any storms, if only the desired 

 haven might at last be reached. The choice of a profession was, 

 therefore, left very much to themselves, and that of a physician 

 had been George's selection. Whether even then he contem- 

 plated engaging in practice is very doubtful, but the curriculum 

 of study it insured seemed attainable in no other way. On 

 September 1st, 1832, he added the following boyish postscript 

 to a letter of John's to the household at home : 



" DEAR DANIEL, . . . When I first came to Mr. Wat- 

 son's the windows were covered with flies, and for several days 

 I caught the largest, and away with them through the house to 

 give them to the white mice, but soon I learned my mistake ; 

 and recollect, the next letter must tell about the health of all at 



