Edith and he go out in the morning,--he to his field, she to
her school, and meet again at eventide, to talk, and plan and,
I hope, to read also.

'The first use Edith made of her accession of property
through her wedded estate, was to give away all she thought
superfluous to a poor family she had long pitied, and
to invite a poor sick woman to her "spare chamber."
Notwithstanding a course like this, her husband has grown
rich, and proves that the pattern of the widow's cruse was not
lost in Jewry.

'Edith has become the Natalia of the village, as is Melissa
its "Schoene Seele."'

* * * * *

'_Dec., 22, 1840._--"Community" seems dwindling to a point,
and I fancy the best use of the plan, as projected thus far,
will prove the good talks it has caused here, upon principles.
I feel and find great want of wisdom in myself and the others.
We are not ripe to reconstruct society yet. O Christopher
Columbus! how art thou to be admired, when we see how other
men go to work with their lesser enterprises! ---- knows
deepest what he wants, but not well how to get it. ---- has a
better perception of means, and less insight as to principles;
but this movement has done him a world of good. All should
say, however, that they consider this plan as a mere
experiment, and are willing to fail. I tell them that they are
not ready till they can say that. ---- says he can bear to be
treated unjustly by all concerned,--which is much. He is too
sanguine, as it appears to me, but his aim is worthy, and,
with his courage and clear intellect, his experiment will not,
at least to him, be a failure.'

* * * * *

'_Feb. 19, 1841._--Have I never yet seen so much as _one_ of
my spiritual family? The other night they sat round me, so
many who have thought they loved, or who begin to love me.
I felt myself kindling the same fire in all their souls.
I looked on each, and no eye repelled me. Yet there was no
warmth for me on all those altars. Their natures seemed deep,
yet there was 'not one from which I could draw the living
fountain. I could only cheat the hour with them, prize,
admire, and pity. It was sad; yet who would have seen sadness
in me? * *

'Once I was almost all intellect; now I am almost all feeling.
Nature v