364 ' MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. IX. 



my lady friends hold that the uglier a terrier in ladies' eyes, the 

 more beautiful he is in gentlemen's. I am sure, however, that 

 you would admire my dog, with his long, silver-grey, soft hair, 

 steel-grey drooping ears, finely feathered tail, and mild brown 

 eyes. He has a long body, short legs, and great broad feet like 

 a mole's. He is good temper itself, and as full of fun and saga- 

 city as a clever child. Indeed, I call him my son, and my little 

 nieces always salute him as their cousin." 



It will be seen from these quotations that the love for animals 

 shown in boyhood continued undiminished, and while it afforded 

 pleasant relief from the serious cares of life, it contributed to the 

 buoyancy and freshness so characteristic of him. 



Evidence has already been afforded of the new principle by 

 which George Wilson's life became actuated after his illness of 

 1843. How strongly it influenced him we learn chiefly from 

 his letters, as nothing was more distasteful to him than the ob- 

 trusive profession of religion common in our day. By no act or 

 word did he ever say, " I am holier than thou ;" a clear percep- 

 tion of the high standard set before him, led rather to his 

 esteeming himself, like Paul, " less than the least of all saints." 



In May 1845, he writes to his much loved friend, John 

 Cairns : " When I contrast your profession with mine, with 

 which in much of the machinery made use of in other points, 

 it has many affinities, I could envy you your glorious calling. 

 ... I had been thinking, as I should have no evening work in 

 the way of lectures, and far less every way to do, of teaching a 

 Sabbath-class, but Mary remonstrates so strongly on the score of 

 health, and I feel the argument so reasonable, that I am shaken 

 in my intention, though it is not abandoned. I must find some 

 way of serving Christ better and fuller than I have employed 

 hitherto, or I shall truly be an unprofitable servant." 



" December 1847. 



" I have found out a means of doing good, that I hope God 

 will bless. I discovered recently that sick people, who will not 

 stand a word of religious advice from their neighbours in health, 

 are more ready to listen to another sick man like me. You will 

 think I have been very late in making so notable a discovery. 



