pour forth, as it were, its song of praise to the great Creator and 
Preserver of all things ! ’ 
Breakfast was often prolonged and animated by his unwearied powers 
of conversation, and when congenial friends were gathered round him, 
their discussions lasted sometimes till noon. From the breakfast-room 
he went till post-time to his study, where he was commonly employed 
long about his letters. If they were finished he turned to some other 
business, never enduring to he idle all the day. 
About three o’clock, when the post was gone, he sallied forth into 
the garden, humming often to himself, in the gladness of his heart, 
some favourite tune, alone, or in the company of some few friends, or 
with his reader. Here he would pace up and down some sheltered, 
sunny walk, rejoicing especially in one which had been formed for him 
hy a son, and was called ever after, with some hint of affection, hy his 
name. He loved flowers with all the simple delight of childhood. He 
would hover from bed to bed over his favourites; and when he came 
in, even from his shortest walk, deposited a few that he had gathered,, 
safely in his own room before‘he joined the family. Often would he 
say, as he enjoyed their fragrance, £ How good is God to us! Surely 
flowers are the smiles of His goodness. 
He would stay out till near dinner, which was never after five, and 
early in the evening lay down for an hour and a half. He would then 
rise for a new term of existence, and sparkle through a long evening, 
to the astonishment of those who expected, at his time of life, to see 
his mind and spirits flag, even if his strength was not exhausted. 
The whole evening was seldom spent in conversation, for he had com¬ 
monly some book in ‘family reading’ which was a text for multiplied 
digressions full of incident and illustrations. 
In such occupations as these he would go on till very late, for, from 
long use in Parliament, ‘the midnight hour was his zenith, and, like 
the beautiful Cereus, with all her petals expanded, he was then in full 
bloom.’ This was especially the case when old and valued friends had 
gathered round him. Old age had scarcely lessened his relish for 
society, but it had drawn still closer the bonds of his affection for his 
early friends.’ 
Life of W. Wilberforce. 
