My dear children, if you have grieved (I will not say your parents, but if you have grieved) the heart of any human being who has a claim upon your love, then think of Samuel Johnson&rsquo;s penance. Will it not be better to redeem the error now than to endure the agony of remorse for fifty years? Would you not rather say to a brother, &ldquo;I have erred; forgive me!&rdquo; than perhaps to go hereafter and shed bitter tears upon his grave? </p> <p> Hardly was the story concluded when George hastily arose, and Edward likewise, stretching forth his hands into the darkness that surrounded him to find his brother. Both accused themselves of unkindness: each besought the other&rsquo;s forgiveness; and having done so, the trouble of their hearts vanished away like a dream. </p> <p> &ldquo;I am glad! I am so glad!&rdquo; said Emily, in a low, earnest voice. &ldquo;Now I shall sleep quietly to-night.&rdquo; </p> <p> &ldquo;My sweet child,&rdquo; thought Mrs. Temple as she kissed her, &ldquo;mayest thou never know how much strife there is on earth! It would cost thee many a night&rsquo;s rest.&rdquo; </p> <p> <br /><br /><br /> <a name="chap06"></a> </p> <h4> CHAPTER VI. </h4> <p> About this period Mr. Temple found it necessary to take a journey, which interrupted the series of Biographical Stories for several evenings. In the interval, Edward practised various methods of employing and amusing his mind. </p> <p> Sometimes he meditated upon beautiful objects which he had formerly seen, until the intensity of his recollection seemed to restore him the gift of sight and place everything anew before his eyes. Sometimes he repeated verses of poetry which he did not know to be in his memory until he found them there just at the time of need. Sometimes he attempted to solve arithmetical questions which had perplexed him while at school. </p> <p> Then, with his mother&rsquo;s assistance, he learned the letters of the string alphabet, which is used in some of the institutions for the blind in Europe. When one of his friends gave him a leaf of St. Mark&rsquo;s Gospel, printed in embossed characters, he endeavored to read it by passing his fingers over the letters as blind children do. </p> <p> His brother George was now very kind, and spent so much time in the darkened chamber that Edward often insisted upon his going out to play. George told him all about the affairs at school, and related many amusing incidents that happened among his comrades, and informed him what sports were now in fashion, and whose kite soared the highest, and whose little ship sailed fleetest on the Frog Pond. As for Emily, she repeated stories