124 THE ISLAND OF NANTUCKET. 



tronomer.* So genial was Mr. Mitchell in his fam- 

 ily that his presence was always essential to their joy 

 and mirth. Quietly observant of their happiness and a 

 promoter of the same, he was as young as the youngest 

 and zealous as the most earnest. However deeply en- 

 gaged in his calculations, — for his computations were 

 mostly carried on in their midst, as a matter of choice, 

 — he was never known to check them in their amuse- 

 ments, neither to hush the exuberant spirit. On the 

 other hand, the children were careful not to interfere 

 with their father's work by addressing any heedless 

 remark to him which might interrupt his devotion to 

 science, of which they were justly proud. 



Mr. Mitchell continued to reside at Nantucket until 

 the death of his wife in 1861, and lived in his native 

 State until August, 1865, when his daughter, the only 

 member of his household remaining with him (the oth- 

 ers being married and scattered), was called to fill the 

 chair of mathematical astronomy at Vassar College. 

 Her father was invited by the founder of that institu- 

 tion, Matthew Vassar, to become their guest as long 

 as Miss Mitchell remained with the Faculty. Here on 

 the banks of the Hudson, free from all care, he spent 

 the remainder of his life very happily, in thought and 

 study, every one of the sons and daughters, the sons- 

 in-law, and the daughters-in-law visiting him several 

 thhes respectively, during his residence at the Vassar 

 Observatory. His death, which occurred in the spring 



* The reader is respectfully referred to page 118, where will 

 be found a reference to another daughter of Mr. Mitchell, whose 

 modesty is only surpassed by her wonderful talents. 



