f
her. He writes, "Only a single unconquerable sorrow has smitten me in
all my life, the death of the still soul with whom life, for the
first time, was to me a life. Nor have I had any other troubles.
People who make trouble for themselves, and in an unappeased spirit
find an everlasting misery, may properly call me still a fortunate
man. But, though outwardly as much grass should grow over her grave
as ever can grow in long desolated days and nights, inwardly no grass
grows over a real life annihilating grief. One gets re adjusted with
the world; but, after all, he goes at last with an open wound into
the grave. Believe me in this."

An example yet more recent has obtained such a monumental
recognition, that mention of it is not here to be avoided. John
Stuart Mill dedicates his imperishable "Essay on Liberty" to his
deceased wife in these terms:

"To the beloved and deplored memory of her who was the inspirer, and
in part the author, of all that is best in my writings, the friend
and wife whose exalted sense of truth and right was my strongest
incitement, and whose approbation was my chief reward, I dedicate
this volume. Like all that I have written for many years, it belongs
as much to her as to me; but the work, as it stands, has had, in a
very insufficient degree, the inestimable advantage of her revision;
some of the most important portions having been reserved for a more
careful re examination, which they are now never destined to receive.
Were I but capable of interpreting to the world one half the great
thoughts and noble feelings which are buried in her grave, I should
be the medium of a greater benefit to it than is ever likely to arise
from any thing that I can write unprompted and unassisted by her all
but unrivalled wisdom."

The conditions favoring the formation of a consummate friendship
between husband and wife meet in fortunate combination in two classes
of instances.

In the first, the sovereignty is the bond of a common nobleness; in
the second, the bond of a common ambition. The united worship of
truth, beauty, goodness, make, it is to be hoped, the most absolute
friends of unnumbered wedded pairs. One adoring pursuit of
excellence, one devout trust in God, one happy aiming at perfection,
draws their noblest activities into unison, free from the impediments
of selfishness and suspicion. Under the over arching sanctions of
Divinity, knowing each other to be worthy and true, they confide in
ea