444 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. X. 



imperative on him, we find mention in a letter to his brother of 

 March 26, 1857, "Little more than a fortnight will bring my 

 lectures to a close. I begin dyeing on Monday, and we shall 

 dye away till the middle of April ' finishes our course.' I shall 

 be thankful. I like work ; it is a family weakness, though I 

 don't pretend to lift your elephant load. But one may have too 

 much : we grieve when we read of your labours. Even the 

 Pagan Hindus put only one world on the elephant's back, and 

 gave him, moreover, a tortoise to stand upon. The tortoise will 

 rebel if you try to carry another world, and infinite space will 

 engulf you. 



" I don't preach to you. People do to me, and the very next 

 moment ask me to do what they preached against. I am looked 

 upon as good as mad, because on hasty notice I took a default- 

 ing lecturer's place at the Philosophical Institution, and dis- 

 coursed on polarization of light. You will understand why I 

 did. I was wearying of mere teaching, and wanted to grapple 

 again with a difficult subject, which in 1842 I had studied with 

 some fulness, and at intervals had worked at since, but never so 

 fully as for the sake of my new lectures I wished to do. So I 

 had a wrestle with it, and we finally tried strength against each 

 other in the Music Hall, and though I was not unbruised, nor 

 in all things victor, they gave me by acclamation the crown ; 

 mentally I was much the robuster of this struggle, but not 

 physically. To be well enough to work is enough, but to cough 

 half through the wakeful night, and awake to find your hand- 

 kerchief spotted with blood, is not encouraging. Yet I have 

 got through the winter better than usual, and am still wonder- 

 fully well. I have resolutely declined all fresh demands, and 

 am hoping for a little rest." Three weeks later he writes from 

 Bridge of Allan : " I fled hither a week ago, driven by east 

 wind, cough, and other ailments, and have been leading a dog's 

 life for the last two or three days, i.e., eating, sleeping, and 

 drinking, much to my betterment." 



" MY DEAR MOTHER, " M v l > 185 ?- 



' How doth the little busy bee 

 Improve each shining hour, 

 And gather honey all the day, 

 From every opening flower. 



