Page:Hans Christian Ørsted - The Soul in Nature - Horner - 1852.djvu/11

viii by mutual instruction and communication. At a later period they acquired Latin from the lessons of a private tutor, but Hans Christian, in his twelfth year, was taken into the shop as an assistant to his father, where he soon took the greatest pleasure in the chemical part of his employment; at the same time, however, eagerly devouring all the warlike and historical books which fell into his hands in this retired spot.

The brothers soon discovered that, supported by the happy talents with which nature had endowed them, and by the constant exchange of the knowledge they had separately acquired, they might, with a little additional assistance, pass the examination in such a manner as to enable them to enter the University of Copenhagen; and in this they were successful. In 1794 they went to Copenhagen, where they were at first, indeed, obliged to live very sparingly; but they desired nothing better than to bury themselves in their studies, and they passed the two first examinations with the happiest results. They received some assistance from the Government, and supplied what was deficient by private lessons; but at this point their mental paths divided. Almost forgetful of the surrounding world, and following inclinations which had manifested themselves at an early period of life, the younger brother immersed himself in philosophy and law; the elder in astronomy, physics, and medicine. They still continued, however, to live together, and to impart to each other the results of their different studies, but they entered very little into general society. Rarely had the University beheld two students who, scarcely recognizing or appreciating the pleasures of the exciting days of youth, resigned themselves with such eagerness and delight to an earnest life of study.

Oehlenschläger, whose sister at a later period became the wife of the younger Oersted, was almost the only friend of