Instead of the Thorn: A NovelBurnham, Clara Louise
General
Instead of the Thorn: A Novel
Burnham, Clara Louise
Children of the rich -- Fiction; Love stories; Maine -- Fiction; Young women -- Fiction
We hear people say, "Shan't I believe the evidence of my own senses?"
I once heard a lecturer enlarge upon that theme, showing that our
whole education is largely for the purpose of instructing us away
from the evidence of our senses, from learning that the sun does not
rise or set,--through the whole list of deceitful appearances. If I
believed what I see now, I should say that the sun had left the world
to storm and darkness, but we know that the glorious sun and cloudless
firmament are there to-day as truly as on the brilliant yesterday, and
we have no fear that we shall not see it again.
The deceitful appearance which you have now to recognize is that your
father has died and left you. Life never dies, and Love is immortal.
Life is progress, too, and he knows more and greater and happier
things than he knew here. Every right motive and act of his life
is receiving its logical reward, and opening out new channels for
progress. Let us not think of him in the flesh, but in the spirit. Let
us not dwell sadly on his mortal harassment or disappointments. How do
we know but such thoughts are a drag upon his spirit? Let us speed him
on with our own love and courage, and let us try every day to harbor
no thought that will hamper our souls and make us less fit to join him.
It is easier to sink down under a blow than to rise and go on; and yet
rising and going on is what will make you keep step with your loved
one and not be left behind. Your sister has an advantage over you,
because she _must_ rise and go on. If you are finding that the strong
leading-spirit, Linda Barry, is faltering and weak now, you are making
a blessed discovery; finding that the strength of the human will is
not the true strength, and that like a little child you can turn to
your Heavenly Father, and receive from Him strength which no mortal
blow can destroy. Keep the fire of Love glowing in your heart, and you
will find that it is the fuel that will make strong and bright every
faculty. Unselfishness follows where that fire burns; but withdraw the
fuel and the heart is cold, and those about you feel the chill.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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