boys, his perfect purity of mind and power of
creating innocent amusement destroyed the habit, without estranging the
other lads from him. He took many of his stories from books not read by
them, for he was an omnivorous reader, taking special delight in poetry,
loving nothing better than a solitary walk with Spenser's "Faerie Queen"
in his hand, and often himself composing verses above the average for so
young a boy.

He was always thoughtful, and there is a letter of his to his friend
Thornton, written when only seventeen, which shows that he had begun to
think over Church questions, was deeply sensible of the sacredness of the
apostolical commission to the ministry, and of the evils of State
interference. That same year, 1800, began his University education, at
Brasenose College, Oxford. His course there was alike blameless in life
and brilliant in scholarship; his talents and industry could not fail to
secure him honours in the schools.

Another young man was at the very same time at Oxford, whose course had
been steered thither with more difficulties than Reginald Heber's. Daniel
Wilson's father was a wealthy silk manufacturer, at Spitalfields, where
he was born in the year 1778. He was educated at a private school at
Hackney, kept by a clergyman named Eyre, who must have had a good deal of
discernment of character, for he said, "There is no milk and water in
that boy. He will be either something very bad or very good." One day,
when he was in an obstinate and impracticable state of idleness, Mr. Eyre
said, "Daniel, you are not worth flogging, or I would flog you," which so
stung him that he never fell into similar disgrace again; nay, one
morning when he had failed in his appointed task, he refused food saying,
"No! If my head will not work, my body shall not eat." He had
considerable powers, and when his own theme on a given subject was
finished, would find "sense" for all the dull boys--varying the matter
but keeping to the point in all: but his education ceased at fourteen,
when he was bound apprentice to his uncle, who followed the same trade as
his father, and lived in Cheapside. He was a widower with seven
children, one of whom in after years became Daniel's wife. It was a
strictly religious household, and whereas Daniel's parents had been wont
to attend church or meeting as suited them best, his uncle was a regular
churchman, and took his whole family constantly with him, as decidedly as
he kept