dge, by the energy concentrated on a single
object which--more than intellect, genius, knowledge, unless they attain
to equal energy equally concentrated--commands what the world calls
honours.

Yes, with her, with her as the bearer of my name, with her to whom I,
whatever I might do of good or of great, could say, "It is thy work,"
I promise that you shall bless the day when you took to your arms a
daughter.

.........

"Thou art in contact with the beloved in all that thou feelest elevated
above thee." So it is written by one of those weird Germans who search
in our bosoms for the seeds of buried truths, and conjure them into
flowers before we ourselves were even aware of the seeds.

Every thought that associates itself with my beloved seems to me born
with wings.

.........

I have just seen her, just parted from her. Since I had been
told--kindly, wisely told--that I had no right to hazard her peace of
mind unless I were privileged to woo and to win her, I promised myself
that I would shun her presence until I had bared my heart to you, as I
am doing now, and received that privilege from yourself; for even had I
never made the promise that binds my honour, your consent and blessing
must hallow my choice. I do not feel as if I could dare to ask one
so innocent and fair to wed an ungrateful, disobedient son. But this
evening I met her, unexpectedly, at the vicar's, an excellent man, from
whom I have learned much; whose precepts, whose example, whose delight
in his home, and his life at once active and serene, are in harmony with
my own dreams when I dream of her.

I will tell you the name of the beloved; hold it as yet a profound
secret between you and me. But oh for the day when I may hear you call
her by that name, and print on her forehead the only kiss by man of
which I should not be jealous.

It is Sunday, and after the evening service it is my friend's custom
to gather his children round him, and, without any formal sermon or
discourse, engage their interests in subjects harmonious to associations
with the sanctity of the day; often not directly bearing upon religion;
more often, indeed, playfully starting from some little incident or some
slight story-book which had amused the children in the course of the
past week, and then gradually winding into reference to some sweet moral
precept or illustration from some divine example. It is a maxim with
him that, while much that children must learn they can