FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150  
151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   >>   >|  
a full stop; having something yet to say, but not knowing how to express myself with the necessary delicacy. "'Why do you wish me to read the letter?' she asked, quietly. "I think there is something in it which might--.' "There, like a fool, I came to another full stop. She was as patient as ever; she only made a little sign to me to go on. "'I think Father Patrizio's letter might put you in a better frame of mind,' I said; 'it might keep you from despising yourself.' "She went back to her chair, and read the letter. You have permitted me to keep the comforting words of the good Father, among my other treasures. I copy his letter for you in this place--so that you may read it again, and see what I had in my mind, and understand how it affected poor Miss Minerva. "'Teresa, my well-beloved friend,--I have considered the anxieties that trouble you, with this result: that I can do my best, conscientiously, to quiet your mind. I have had the experience of forty years in the duties of the priesthood. In that long time, the innermost secrets of thousands of men and women have been confided to me. From such means of observation, I have drawn many useful conclusions; and some of them may be also useful to you. I will put what I have to say, in the plainest and fewest words: consider them carefully, on your side. The growth of the better nature, in women, is perfected by one influence--and that influence is Love. Are you surprised that a priest should write in this way? Did you expect me to say, Religion? Love, my sister, _is_ Religion, in women. It opens their hearts to all that is good for them; and it acts independently of the conditions of human happiness. A miserable woman, tormented by hopeless love, is still the better and the nobler for that love; and a time will surely come when she will show it. You have fears for Carmina--cast away, poor soul, among strangers with hard hearts! I tell you to have no fears. She may suffer under trials; she may sink under trials. But the strength to rise again is in her--and that strength is Love.' "Having read our old friend's letter, Miss Minerva turned back, and read it again--and waited a little, repeating some part of it to herself. "'Does it encourage you?' I asked. "She handed the letter back to me. 'I have got one sentence in it by heart,' she said. "You will know what that sentence is, without my telling you. I felt so relieved, when I saw the change in her f
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150  
151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
letter
 

friend

 

hearts

 
Religion
 

sentence

 

trials

 

influence

 

Minerva

 

strength

 

Father


conditions

 
independently
 

surely

 
nobler
 
happiness
 

miserable

 

tormented

 

hopeless

 

sister

 

surprised


priest

 

express

 

delicacy

 

expect

 

knowing

 
encourage
 

handed

 

waited

 

repeating

 

change


relieved

 

telling

 
turned
 

strangers

 

perfected

 

Carmina

 

Having

 

suffer

 

understand

 

affected


considered
 
anxieties
 

trouble

 

beloved

 

Teresa

 
patient
 

Patrizio

 
permitted
 
comforting
 

despising