Life is a privilege, even to the unhappy. It allows them the opportunity to display the great qualities which God implanted in every soul, and to give the world higher examples of character.
He who leaves such an example to the world earns happiness for eternity.
To Miss Jessie Harcourt
Regarding Her Marriage with a Poor Young Man
And so there is trouble in the house of Harcourt, my dear Jessie. You want to marry your intellectual young lover, who has only his pen between him and poverty, and your cruel father, who owns the town, says it is an act of madness on your part, and of presumption on his.
And you are thinking of going to the nearest clergyman and defying parental authority.
You have even looked at rooms where you believe you and Ernest could be ideally happy. And you want me to act as matron-of-honour at that very informal little wedding.
Now, my dear girl, before you take this important step, give the matter careful study.