The Life of Florence Nightingale, vol. 2 of 2Cook, Edward Tyas, Sir
History
The Life of Florence Nightingale, vol. 2 of 2
Cook, Edward Tyas, Sir
Nightingale, Florence, 1820-1910
says, there are more opportunities to humble oneself, to mortify
oneself, to throw oneself entirely on God, in them than in anything
else. I return the life of S. Catherine of Genoa. I like it so
much. It is a very singular and suggestive life. I am so glad she
accepted the being Directress of the Hospital. For I think it was
much better for her to make the Hospital servants go right than to
receive their "injures"--however submissively--much better for the
poor Patients, I mean.
I am quite ashamed to keep Ste. Thérése so long. But there is a
good deal of reading in her. And I am only able to read at
night--and then not always a large, close-printed book. Pray say if
I shall send her back. And I will borrow her again from you perhaps
some day. I am so sorry about poor S. Gonzaga's troubles. I know
what those Committees are. I have had to deal with them almost all
my life.
My strength has failed more than usually of late. And I don't think
I have much more work in me--not, at least, if it is to continue of
this harassing sort. God called me to Hospital work (as I fondly
thought, for life)--but since then to Army work--but with a promise
that I should go back to Hospital--as I thought as a Nurse, but as
I now think, as a Patient. But St. Catherine of Siena says: "Et
toutesfois je permets cela luy advenir, afin qu'il soit plus
soigneux de fuyr soi mesme, & de venir & recourir à moy ... et
qu'il considère que par amour je luy donne le moyen de tirer hors
le chef de la vraye humilité, se reputant indigne de la paix &
repos de pensée, comme mes autres serviteurs--& au contraire se
reputant digne des peines qu'il souffre," etc.
My sister and her family come to spend here two or three nights
occasionally to see friends. But I was only able to see her for ten
minutes, and my good brother-in-law, who is one of the best and
kindest of men, not at all--nor his children.... I sent you back
St. Francis de Sales, with many thanks. I liked him in his old
dress. I like that story where the man loses his crown of
martyrdom, because he will not be reconciled with his enemy. It is
a sound lesson. I am going to send you back S. Francis Xavier. His
is a life I always like to study as well as those of all the early
Jesuit fathers. But how much they did--and how little I do.... Ever
my dearest Revd. Mother's loving and grateful, F. N.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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