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Smiles, Samuel, 1812-1904

"Character"

"
The life of George Wilson--so admirably and affectionately
related by his sister--is probably one of the most marvellous
records of pain and longsuffering, and yet of persistent, noble,
and useful work, that is to be found in the whole history of
literature. His entire career was indeed but a prolonged
illustration of the lines which he himself addressed to his
deceased friend, Dr. John Reid, a likeminded man, whose memoir he
wrote:-
"Thou wert a daily lesson
Of courage, hope, and faith;
We wondered at thee living,
We envy thee thy death.
Thou wert so meek and reverent,
So resolute of will,
So bold to bear the uttermost,
And yet so calm and still."

NOTES
(1) From Lovelace's lines to Lucusta (Lucy Sacheverell), 'Going
to the Wars.'
(2) Amongst other great men of genius, Ariosto and Michael Angelo
devoted to her their service and their muse.
(3) See the Rev. F. W. Farrar's admirable book, entitled 'Seekers
after God' (Sunday Library). The author there says: "Epictetus
was not a Christian. He has only once alluded to the Christians
in his works, and then it is under the opprobrious title of
'Galileans,' who practised a kind of insensibility in painful
circumstances, and an indifference to worldly interests, which
Epictetus unjustly sets down to 'mere habit.


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