CHAPTER XII. REGINALD HEBER : THE MISSIONARY BISHOP. A.D. 1823-1826. "Not for ambition nor for gain, Books, leisure, privacy; There spent his precious life, There left his holy dust." Southey. ONE of the sweetest and holiest men that ever trod the shores of India was Reginald Heber, Bishop of Calcutta. The greater part of his short life was spent in hard, but pleasant, work in England, and his fame as a minister, as a poet, and as a literary man was won in his own country; but, although he was scarcely three years in India, the influence of his noble character was so great and the memory of his brief sojourn there is so fragrant, that he is one of those whom India should hold in reverence, and his life ought to be recorded in the roll of Anglo-Indian heroes. Reginald Heber was born at Malpas in Cheshire on April 21, 1783. His father was the Rector and squire of that parish, and of the adjoining parish of Hodnet in Shropshire. From his earliest infancy Reginald was thoughtful, pious, and studious. When quite a little child, he was impressed by the sense of the presence of God. One day, when he was sitting on his mother's knee as they were being driven through a thunderstorm, observing that she was frightened, he said, “Do not be afraid, God will take care of us." This quiet piety increased with his advancing years. He grew in faith and trust. Everything he did was done in prayer and in dependence on the divine help. When, as a young man, he gained one of the highest honours at the University of Oxford, his mother afterwards found him. in his own room on his knees, thanking God for having permitted him to gain this great distinction. The cause of this was, that he had been taught by his parents to love and venerate the word of God. He constantly read and studied it; and, from his earliest years, learned from its pages lessons of piety and wisdom. He was sent at the early age of eight to the Grammar School of Whitchurch in Shropshire; and a few years later, when thirteen, he was placed under the care of a clergyman named Bristow, living at Neasdon in the neighbourhood of London, who took private pupils. One of his companions here was John Thornton, nephew of Henry Thornton, the distinguished philanthropist, with whom he formed a life-long friendship. At this EARLY LIFE AND COLLEGE CAREER. 85 time he was not only engaged in the ordinary subjects of school study, but he also read several books which are not usually liked by boys, especially works of poetry; and the foundation of literary excellence and eminence was securely laid. He was fond of taking long walks by himself with a book in his pocket as companion; but his temper was so placid and happy that this tendency to seclusion did not make him morose. In November, 1800, Reginald Heber entered Brasenose College, Oxford, of which his father had been a Fellow. His half-brother, Richard Heber, was, at that time, a Fellow of the same College; and, as he had been very helpful in assisting Reginald in his studies, a little delay in entering was made in order that he might be present on the occasion. This brother was one of the most notable collectors of books. He had an overflowing library, especially of choice and rare books. Reginald Heber was a diligent and careful student; and, when he left Oxford, he was the most distinguished man of his year. The event of his University career by which he is best known was his gaining the prize for English verse in 1803. The subject was Palestine," and it admirably suited the poetic genius and the tender piety of his mind. It is one of the very few prize-poems that have lived, and it has become a cherished portion of English literature. Before this poem was finished, Sir Walter Scott was one morning in Heber's room at a breakfast-party before starting on an excursion in the neighbourhood, when the conversation turned to the subject of the poem, which was then read aloud. Sir Walter Scott, while heartily praising it, remarked that |