scendant, who has dared “for conscience’ sake” to avow in the face of a shocked Christianity her disbelief of an unproven revelation, her honest doubts of the so-called proofs of a creative, designing, and constantly interfering power called God.
At the time of Harriet’s birth the Martineaus, though not wealthy, were in comfortable and easy circumstances. The education given to the children was solid rather than showy, though the accomplishments fitted to their station in life were not overlooked or neglected; and Harriet, in spite of her increasing deafness, was sent to singing-schools, and was an accomplished performer upon the piano until her growing infirmity caused her to lose all relish for the amusement. Her parents seem to have always encouraged a taste for all useful and scientific knowledge in their children, and to have cultivated in them a love for the beautiful in Nature, judging from fragmentary instances given incidentally by Miss
