“Dear father,” said Eunice, as soon as both had grown calm, for her tears mingled with those of her parent, “from heaven we receive every thing; and all that comes from heaven is good. Even reverses and afflictions are good, for they come as correctives of something in us that is evil, and whatever is evil causes unhappiness. Is it not good to have the causes of unhappiness removed, even if we suffer pain in the removal? We have spiritual diseases as well as natural diseases, and pain attends the one as well as the other, and both would produce death if not expelled. How beautifully has Mr. Carlton, over and over again, set this forth! Is it not better, far better, to lose our worldly goods, and to suffer in our natural feelings, if thereby we attain to spiritual riches, and are blessed with that deep peace, which the world gives not, neither can take away?”
“May that deep peace be your reward, Eunice,” returned Mr. Townsend, in a softened tone; “and it will be. Heaven would be unjust if you were wretched. You are the spirit of good in our family; the righteous in our city; and for your sake all will not be destroyed. I feel it. I will hope for a morning dawn upon this thick darkness.”
“It will dawn, father! Trust that it will; though not for my sake,” returned Eunice. “But we must be faithful in a wise disposition of what we have. We must be patient, industrious, prudent, and hopeful, and after the trial hour passes, the light will come.”
But little that Eunice said had been in her mind to say. She had not conned over a form of address to her father, but had come, with a loving heart, in the hope of saying something that would lift his mind above the trouble by which it was oppressed. She had spoke, as the Spirit gave her utterance—the spirit of yearning filial affection; and her words were true and eloquent, because they came from an over-full heart. And coming from the heart, they reached the heart, and their effect was good.
“Say nothing of all this, Eunice,” Mr. Townsend said, after his mind had grown calm, and his thoughts began to move in a healthier circle. “You have inspired me to a new trial. To-morrow, instead of abandoning all, hopelessly, I will make an effort to sustain myself.”
“And you will not conceal from me the result, even if it prove unsuccessful?”
“No, Eunice; you deserve my full confidence, and you shall have it.”
“Even if you continue in business, it will be reduced very much,” the daughter said, “after this entire loss of all your capital; and the profits will not meet our present expenses.”
“I fear not, Eunice;” and Mr. Townsend looked troubled.
“Therefore, we must live at a less expense.”