Now there is grand good sense in the Apostle's direction, "Forgetting
the things that are behind, press forward." The idealist should charge
himself, as with an oath of God, to let the past alone as an
accomplished fact, solely concerning himself with the inquiry, "Did I
not do the best I _then_ knew how?"

The maxim of the Quietists is, that, when we have acted according to the
best light we have, we have expressed the will of God under those
circumstances,--since, had it been otherwise, more and different light
would have been given us; and with the will of God done by ourselves as
by Himself, it is our duty to be content.

* * * * *

Having written thus far in my article, and finding nothing more at hand
to add to it, I went into the parlor to read it to Jennie and Mrs.
Crowfield. I found the former engaged in the task of binding sixty yards
of quilling, (so I think she called it,) which were absolutely necessary
for perfecting a dress; and the latter was braiding one of seven little
petticoats, stamped with elaborate patterns, which she had taken from
Marianne, because that virtuous matron was ruining her eyes and health
in a blind push to get them done before October.

Both approved and admired my piece, and I thought of Saint Anthony's
preaching to the fishes:--

"The sermon once ended,
The good man descended,
And the pikes went on stealing,
The eels went on eeling,
The crabs were backsliders,
The stockfish thick-siders:
Much delighted were they,
But went on their own way."

A VISIT TO THE EDGEWORTHS.

Journeying in Ireland, with my husband and a young friend, some thirty
years ago, on arriving in Dublin, having a letter of introduction to
Miss Edgeworth, we sent it, with a note from myself proposing to spend a
day with her, if convenient and agreeable, and shortly received the
following very gracious reply:--

"EDGEWORTHTOWN, September 3, 1836.

"DEAR MADAM,--I hasten to assure you and Professor F---- that we feel
highly honored and gratified by your kind intention of paying us a
visit. Mrs. Edgeworth desires me to say, that we shall be at home all
next week, and we shall be most happy to receive you, and your young
friend, Mr. W----, any day after the 5th which may be most convenient
to you. We say after the 5th, because on the 5th my sister, (Harriet,)
Mrs. Butler, and her husband, the Rev.