, without drug
or other external assistance, an anodyne always within himself which he
can use at pleasure. He positively experiences that "underneath are the
everlasting arms," and the power to experience this gives him much
respite from pain.

Pain is so often prolonged and accentuated _by dwelling in its memory,_
living in a self-pity of the time when it shall come again! The
patient who comes to his test with the bodily and mental repose already
acquired, cuts off each day from the last, each hour from the last, one
might almost say each breath from the last, so strong is his confidence
in the renewal of forces possible to those who give themselves quite
trustfully into Nature's hands.

It is not that they refuse external aid or precaution. No; indeed the
very quiet within makes them feel most keenly when it is orderly to
rest and seek the advice of others. Also it makes them faithful in
following every direction which will take them back into the rhythm of
a healthful life.

But while they do this they do not centre upon it. They take the
precautions as a means and not as an end. They centre upon that which
they have within themselves, and they know that that possible power
being in a state of disorder and chaos no one or all of the outside
measures are of any value.

As patients prepared by the work return into normal life, the false
exhilaration, which is a sure sign of another stumble, is seen and
avoided. They have learned a serious lesson in economy, and they profit
by it. Where they were free before, they become more so; and where they
were not, they quietly set themselves toward constant gain. They work
at lower pressure, steadily gaining in spreading the freedom and quiet
deeper into their systems, thus lessening the danger of future falls.

Let us state some of the causes for "breaking down," even while trying
well to learn Nature's ways.

First, a trust in one's own capacity for freedom and quiet. "I can do
this, now that I know how to relax." When truly considered, the thing
is out of reason, and we should say, "Because I know how to relax, I
see that I must not do this."

The case is the same with the gymnast who greatly overtaxes his muscle,
having foolishly concluded that because he has had some training he can
successfully meet the test. There is nothing so truly stupid as
self-satisfaction; and these errors, with all others of the same
nature, re fruits of our stupidity, and unless shunned