astronomer's descendants:--


"LINA,--There is a great comet. I want you to assist me. Come
to dine, and spend the day here. If you can come soon after one
o'clock, we shall have time to prepare maps and telescopes. I
saw its situation last night,--it has a long tail.

"_July 4, 1819_."

Then follows:--


"I keep this as a relic! Every line _now_ traced by the hand of
my dear brother becomes a treasure to me.

"C. HERSCHEL."

We know of nothing more touching in literary history than this noble,
self-sacrificing, generous affection of the sister towards her eminent
brother. Such instances of absolute self-denial and all-absorbing love
elevate our opinion of human nature generally, and prove that something
of the Divine image lingers in it still.

Herschel was now bordering upon the ripe old age of eighty, and it is no
wonder that, after a life of incessant study, his strength should daily
diminish. In 1822 it became painfully evident to his attached relatives
and friends that the end was not far off; and on the 25th of August he
passed away to his rest. We owe an account of his last days to his
sister, but for whose pious care, indeed, very little of his private