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Untitled Article
nature by the degradation of self-indulgence ; he came with a heart filled with lav * , pure as an alabaster urn filled with the moft precious flowers—no , not flowers ; they have no immortality . Amongst the few whom his adopted father called friends was one who had been an early college acquaintance . A similarity of principle soon ripened their casual interchange into enduring intimacy . They had both left their ' alma mater' branded as disobedient children , and both from the same motive—obedience to the laws
that have been graven on the hearts of all who follow the dictates of their consciences , before alma mater , to use a homely phrase , ' was born or thought of . ' They were alike principally dependent on their own exertions , and alike sought out for the means by which they could most efficiently employ their individual talents .
While the one sought employment in the bestowment of classical and mathematical knowledge , the other , with equal earnestness , and with an utter contempt for a prejudice which then existed in much greater strength than it does now , devoted himself to the dramatic art . Not fitted to attain first-rate excellence ,
he had not the conceit to tempt him into a position beyond his power * . He placed himself in the ranks , a devoted follower , and , in a worldly point of view , a martyr to his belief in the high purpose * and beneficial influences to which his vocation might be made to minister . The friends continued steadilv in their different
courses : at iutervals they met , but it was too often , amongst other things , to compare the different struggles and difficulties which their opposition to the despotism of Mammon had entailed upon them . The actor married , while the tutor remained a bachelor . Many years had elapsed since Walter ' s adopted fether had seen his early friend , and in the intermediate time the one had become
a widower with one only girl , and the other returned to London with the youth of his adoption . Fate could not do otherwise than point them out for each other , and the hearts of the friends rejoiced , though with trembling , at witnessing- their children in the possession of the most exquisite bliss this earth holds—pure and
perfect sympathy . The girl had originally been dedicated to the stage , but delicacy of health had entirely unfitted her to endure the trials and fatigues of various kinds dependent upon it . It iras a sad disappointment to her . She worshipped her lather * and to hare run a course by his side would have been what she would hare
chosen . All she could do she did . She turned her attention to illustrative drawing , and many of the best theatrical portraits of her time were the result of her sketches . In Walter she found all the high-hearted generous self-devx > tion which was the divinity she worshipped . In Walter she found that purity of whieh the world knows nothing-, and too often ignorantly blasphemes : from Walter she learnt to controul a somewhat too impatient spirit , which would often break out in (? usts of indignation that were abftOftt iftore than her delicti * frame could bear ; and to SM 2
Untitled Article
ThkAeirm . 471
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 1, 1835, page 471, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2647/page/35/
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