with judicious instruction and wise counsel. But dark clouds came over the cheerful path that Wirt was treading with a joyous heart. His father-in-law, Dr. Gilmer, -that invaluable instructor, guide, and friend,-was removed by death. In the fifth year of his married life a still heavier blow was inflicted in the loss of his wife.

This, if not the first, was "the most painful lesson of his life upon the uncertainty of human happiness, and the duty of establishing hopes upon a surer foundation than the treasures of earth."

Adversity is not unfrequently the most healthful ingredient in the cup of human experience, and the best tonic to brace the mind for those encounters in which virtue is proved and renown achieved.

In the early letters of Wirt there are occasional indications of that reverence for religious subjects which formed so prominent a characteristic of his later life. No occasion of hilarity, no youthful indiscretion, seems ever to have betrayed him into the profanation of subjects esteemed sacred, or to the practice of the scoffs and jests which sometimes disgrace thoughtless youth, or unthinking age.

The death of his wife deepened the religious sentiment, and led him to desire more earnestly the solace of Christian faith, and of that hope which is as "an anchor to the soul, sure and steadfast."

The delightful residence of Pen Park had become full

of sad associations to the sensitive heart of Wirt; he left the beloved spot, and established his residence in Richmond. So intense was his melancholy, that for a time he suspended his legal practice. His friends, however, persuaded him to resume some occupation of mind, and through their influence he was appointed Clerk of the House of Delegates. This office was one of sufficient consideration to be regarded by a young man as an advancement in the career of life. It was, besides, not so engrossing but that he might pursue his profession whilst he held it.

This appointment was so far serviceable to him that it brought him into personal acquaintance with some of the most distinguished men of the day. He met with full approbation in his new office, and was re-elected in the two succeeding years. The young clerk became a great favorite with all.

This portion of his life, Wirt was accustomed to consider, on a review of it, one of great temptation. He was, however, frequently led to reflect upon the necessity of a steady aim, if he would arrive at eminence in his profession.

It has already been remarked that the elocution of Wirt in the early period of his professional career was indistinct, and his manner embarrassed. There was hesitation at one moment, the too rapid flow of utterance at another, and frequent stammering.

Wirt, in speaking of these difficulties to a friend, said, "My pronunciation and gesture at this time were terribly vehement. I used, sometimes, to find myself literally stopped by too great rapidity of utterance; and if any poor mortal was ever forced to struggle against a difficulty in that matter, it was I; but my stammering became at last a martyr to perseverance, and except when I get some of my youthful fires lighted, I can manage to be pretty intelligible now."

It will be very encouraging to those who may be troubled with similar difficulties of enunciation to know, that Wirt entirely overcame them by careful attention and judicious practice.

CHAPTER THIRTEENTH.

MODESTY AND EMULATION.

"There are great men enough to excite us to aim at true greatness."

Ar the close of the third session of the Legislature, for which Mr. Wirt had officiated as clerk, he was chosen, unanimously, one of the Chancellors of the State of Virginia. This was a high honor for a man only twentynine years of age, and shows the estimation in which he was already held by his adopted State.

"It had not entered into his imaginings to expect such a mark of favor from the Legislature. The same diffidence in himself, which forbade him to solicit such a distinction, now wrought in him some perturbation of spirit in the accepting of it. It is not always the quality of true genius to distrust itself, for there are instances of men of the brightest parts protruding themselves upon the public, with that eager self-commendation which we are accustomed to call vanity in weaker minds; but this attribute of diffidence is so generally the accompaniment of youthful merit, that we scarcely err when we reckon

upon it as one of the signs by which we may prophesy future success."

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This modesty is, most assuredly, quite pleasing in a young man, and gains the good-will and the assistance of his elders, who have already won their way to eminence.

The historian, Prescott, says, "If we are to point out a moral as the key of the fiction of Don Quixote, we may pronounce it to be, the necessity of proportioning our undertakings to our capacities." Aye, there's the rub! How is a young man to know his own capacities? "Thrust out the invisible fruit-buds of your soul, and as a man, you will profit by the ripened fruit," says Jean Paul.

When Mr. Wirt went to consult Mr. Monroe about accepting his appointment, and expressed doubts and fears as to his suitableness, either in age or acquirements, for the post, Mr. Monroe replied, "that the Legislature, he doubted not, knew very well what it was doing, and that it was not probable Mr. Wirt would disappoint either it or the suitors of the court."

The duties of his new station required that Mr. Wirt should reside in Williamsburg, and it seems he was quite willing to remove to that place. He writes on the occasion to a friend, as follows:—

"I wished to leave Richmond, on many accounts. I dropped into a circle, dear to me for the amiable and brilliant traits which belonged to it, but in which I had