He had not breathed a word of love$$$ or dropped one hint of tenderness or affection$$$ and yet I had been supremely happy. To be near him$$$ to hear him talk as he did talk$$$ and to feel that he thought me worthy to be so spoken to - capable of understanding and duly appreciating such discourse - was enough.

We often pity the poor$$$ because they have no leisure to mourn their departed relatives$$$ and necessity obliges them to labor through their severest afflictions: but is not active employment the best remedy for overwhelming sorrow--the surest antidote for despair? It may be a rough comforter: it may seem hard to be harassed with the cares of life when we have no relish for its enjoyments; to be goaded to labor when the heart is ready to break$$$ and the vexed spirit implores for rest only to weep in silence: but is not labor better than the rest we covet?

But our wishes are like tinder: the flint and steel of circumstances are continually striking out sparks$$$ which vanish immediately$$$ unless they chance to fall upon the tinder of our wishes; then$$$ they instantly ignite$$$ and the flame of hope is kindled in a moment.

What business had I to think of one that never thought of me?

That wish - that prayer - both men and women would have scorned me for - "But$$$ Father$$$ Thou wilt not despise!" I said$$$ and felt that it was true.

But$$$ God knows best$$$ I concluded.

All true histories contain instruction; though$$$ in some$$$ the treasure may be hard to find$$$ and when found$$$ so trivial in quantity$$$ that the dry$$$ shriveled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut.

The newspaper journalists like to believe the worst; they can sell more papers that way$$$ as one of them told me himself; for even upstanding and respectable people dearly love to read ill of others.

He is talking to people in Toronto$$$ trying to find out if I am guilty; but he won't find it out that way. He doesn't understand yet that guilt comes to you not from the things you've done$$$ but from the things that other have done for you.

I am certain that a Sewing Machine would relieve as much human suffering as a hundred Lunatic Asylums$$$ and possibly a good deal more.