Mental and Moral Excellence and How to Attain It; Memorials of John Hessel (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1861 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IV. AT AIREDALE COLLEGE. Sedbergh--Kirkby Lonsdale--Pre jeets--Letter to Miss --Humiliating discovery--Benefit of a Journal--Means by which his enjoyment of prayer was increased--Amplitude of means of self-improvement--Practices found to be injurious--Solicitude for usefulness--Concentration of energy--Important inquiry--Aphorisms on reading. Shortly after his return from Northallerton, Sedbergh, a small market-town at the north-western extremity of the West-Riding, claimed his services. "This place has many natural attractions," he writes. "It is situated in one of the most romantic dells I ever saw. It is encircled by an amphitheatre of hills about ten miles in circumference, whose towering peaks pierce the clouds. The ground within this circuit is very varied. There are numerous abrupt and fantastic eminences which appear to mimic the gigantic hills. The whole country is beautifully wooded, and a mountain stream runs through it. I have this evening been tracing its meanderings, and I know not when I have enjoyed the scenes of nature more. This beautiful rivulet assumes almost every variety of aspect. Sometimes it glides along in silent and sullen majesty beneath the overhanging foliage which seems to frown upon it, and then it contends in angry surges with the rugged rocks over which it rushes. I was so enamoured of the fair goddess Nature that I could not help taking up the pencil and attempting to sketch her lovely features. But I am no artist; I have forgot myself; I can give you but' a miserable daub.'" These regions not then having been honoured with the visit of the steam-horse, Mr. Hessel had to break his journey at Kirkby-Lonsdale. The inn where he was accommodated bears testimony to his devotedness. Before quitting it next morning he wr...