o a harsher
labour, but the heart would at least have had its rest from anxiety, and
the mind its relaxation from thought."

The wife's tears fell upon the hand she clasped. The student turned, and
his heart smote him for the selfishness of his complaint. He drew her
closer and closer to his bosom; and gazing fondly upon those eyes which
years of indigence and care might have robbed of their young lustre, but
not of their undying tenderness, he kissed away her tears, and addressed
her in a voice which never failed to charm her grief into forgetfulness.

"Dearest and kindest," he said, "was I not to blame for accusing those
privations or regrets which have only made us love each other the more?
Trust me, mine own treasure, that it is only in the peevishness of an
inconstant and fretful humour that I have murmured against my fortune.
For, in the midst of all, I look upon you, my angel, my comforter,
my young dream of love, which God, in His mercy, breathed into waking
life--I look upon you, and am blessed and grateful. Nor in my juster
moments do I accuse even the nature of these studies, though they
bring us so scanty a reward. Have I not hours of secret and overflowing
delight, the triumphs of gratified research--flashes of sudden light,
which reward the darkness of thought, and light up my solitude as a
revel?--These feelings of rapture, which nought but Science can afford,
amply repay her disciples for worse evils and severer handships than
it has been my destiny to endure. Look along the sky, how the vapours
struggle with the still yet feeble stars: even so have the mists of
error been pierced, though not scattered, by the dim but holy lights of
past wisdom, and now the morning is at hand, and in that hope we journey
on, doubtful, but not utterly in darkness. Nor is this all my hope;
there is a loftier and more steady comfort than that which mere
philosophy can bestow. If the certainty of future fame bore Milton
rejoicing through his blindness, or cheered Galileo in his dungeon,
what stronger and holier support shall not be given to him who has loved
mankind as his brothers, and devoted his labours to their cause?--who
has not sought, but relinquished, his own renown?---who has braved the
present censures of men for their future benefit, and trampled upon
glory in the energy of benevolence? Will there not be for him something
more powerful than fame to comfort his sufferings and to sustain his
hopes? If the wish of