Page:The founding of South Australia.djvu/23

 was in reading the works of the great poets, and in his many and long rambles a favourite book would serve as his guide, philosopher, and friend. As the days went on ambition dawned, and he became a frequent contributor of poems to the magazines—Blackwood's in particular—where they were gladly received and published.

By the time Robert Gouger had arrived at the age of manhood the foundations of his character were not only laid, but were placed in position ready for the building upon them the work of his life.

In matters of religion he had accepted without reservation the Christian faith in which he had been brought up. He had laid hold, too, of the grand simple landmarks of morality—that it is better to be true than false, better to be generous than selfish, better to be chaste than licentious, better to be brave than to be a coward, and, in proportion as he held to these virtues, he hated, with a good and hearty hatred, those who wantonly disregarded them.

In politics he was an out-and-out Radical—at first, from his home-training and home associations, but later from his own convictions, the result of careful inquiry and observation. Even before he had reached manhood he had developed a strong, passionate interest in the poor. He could not reconcile the idea of so much luxury and extravagance and so much terrible poverty existing side by side in London and the other great centres of population in the country. He knew not how, but he felt sure that there must