“It does seem to me, from books,” said Virginia, “that people are less mean, selfish and jealous than they were a hundred years ago.”
Marian smiled over to her. “You have been reading Thackeray,” she said.
“But,” said Virginia, “all people are not progressing together, for though we should find the truth now, many others will not find it for a long time. The world is like a bunch of roses, in which some are full-blown, and others are small buds.”
“Yes,” I answered her; “and for the whole to evolve, each bud must be unfolded in beauty.”
Now we said many things beside these, but these were the chief trend and conclusions of our thought. I also told them how every moment was a promise and a fulfillment, a state of the endless whole.
Next Sunday each is to tell me what he or she does mean by the word “God.”
The children were enthusiastic, uplifted, whole-hearted in their interest.
Virginia and Alfred, who stayed some time after the others, had a long discussion on good and bad, in which I refused to join.
Virginia said she thought all bad things had good results, and could be used for good.
Alfred answered he was not sure of that, but he believed bad to be a necessary part of good. He said: “If I never felt ill, I could not know I felt well.”