E. B. BROWNING.
The sickness of the last week was fine medicine; pain disintegrated the spirit, or became spiritual. I rose,—I felt that I had given to God more perhaps than an angel could,—had promised Him in youth that to be a blot on this fair world, at His command, would be acceptable. Constantly offer myself to continue the obscurest 'and loneliest thing ever heard of, with one proviso,—His agency. Yes, love Thee, and all Thou dost, while Thou sheddest frost and darkness on every path of mine.
MARY MOODY EMERSON.
May 11
Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?—JOB ii. 10.
Thou hast dealt well with Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word.—PS. cxix. 65.
Whatsoe'er our lot may be,
Calmly in this thought we'll rest,—
Could we see as Thou dost see,
We should choose it as the best.
WM. GASKELL.
It is a proverbial saying, that every one makes his own destiny; and this is usually interpreted, that every one, by his wise or unwise conduct, prepares good or evil for himself: but we may also understand it, that whatever it be that he receives from the hand of Providence, he may so accommodate himself to it, that he will find his lot good for him, however much may seem to others to be wanting.