At the age of nineteen my father passed the religious crisis of his life, and his conversion was thorough and complete. He united with the Wesleyan church, and threw himself with all the ardor of his nature into its Christian work. He was very active in the social meetings, and showed such decided talent in that line that he was soon appointed a class-leader. He was also a teacher in the Sunday School, where he showed such aptitude for the work as to incline him to the profession of teaching as a vocation. He became Superintendent of the Sunday School, and was soon licensed to preach, receiving an appointment as local preacher on a circuit. By untiring diligence he had qualified himself for the position of teacher and obtained a situation in one of the Lancastrian schools, so popular at that day, located in Camborne. He filled this position for some years with much acceptance, continuing at the same time his own studies, until he acquired, almost wholly by his own exertions, a solid and excellent education. He was a good English scholar, a fine reader, carefully exact in spelling and pronunciation, well read in history, a good mathematician, fairly proficient in algebra and geometry, with considerable knowledge of Latin, Greek, and French. He demonstrated clearly what can be accomplished by any boy with a good mind, by energy and perseverance, in the face of the most serious obstacles. [Illustration: BENJAMIN OSLER] About this time he formed the acquaintance of Miss Jane Osler, a young lady of refinement and culture, who was at that time proprietor of a millinery establishment in Camborne; and he married her in 1833. My mother was the daughter of Benjamin and Jane Osler of Falmouth, and was born August 1, 1802. The family was a very excellent one. Benjamin Osler was the son of Edward Osler and Joan Drew, sister of the famous Cornish metaphysician. He was a man of very decided character, a "gentleman of the old school." His discipline in his family was very strict, though kind, the rod always occupying a conspicuous place over the mantel for the admonition of any child inclined to disobedience. A fine miniature of my Grandfather Osler is in my possession, and it is our most cherished heirloom. It is in the form of a locket. The picture shows a fine oval face, with delicate features, powdered hair, and the heavy eyebrows we have learned to call "the Osler eyebrows." On the reverse side it has the hair of my grandfather and grandmother, smoothly crossed, and upon it the monogram, "B. J. O.," in exquisite letters formed of tiny pearls. This locket was given to my mother by her father when the family went out to the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, in the year 1819. It was painted in London some time previous to that.