ONE day they brought her some ears of corn. She took one so laden with grain that it leaned down upon its stalk, and having looked at it for a long time she said to the Mother Prioress: "Mother, this ear of corn is an image of my soul: the good God has laden me with graces for myself and for many others! . . . Oh! I wish ever to bow down beneath the abundance of Heaven's gifts, recognizing that all comes from above." HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII WHAT do you think of all the graces which have been poured down upon you? "I think that the Spirit of God breatheth where He will." [17] COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES [17] John, iii, 8. A SISTER said that in Heaven she would be a beautiful flower, resplendent with light. "Oh no," she replied, "you know how in pretty bouquets they conceal some moss to make the flowers stand out; well, I shall be a little bit of moss to set off the beauty of the elect." COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES DURING her last agony the Mother Prioress encouraged her with these words: "My child, you are quite ready to appear before God because you have always understood the virtue of humility." Then of herself she gave this beautiful testimony: "Yes, I feel it, my soul has never sought but the truth . . . yes, I have understood humility of heart!" HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII DETACHMENT IF the impossible were possible and that God Himself did not see my good actions, I would not grieve about it. I love Him so much that I should like to be able to give Him pleasure without His knowing that it was I . . . Knowing and seeing it, He is, in a way, bound to repay me . . . I would not give Him the trouble. COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES THE glory of Jesus . . . that is my whole ambition; my own I abandon to Him; and if He seem to forget me, well, He is at liberty to do so since I am mine no more, but His. He will more quickly tire of making me wait, than I, of waiting! VII LETTER TO MÈRE AGNÈS DE JÉSUS THERE is no stay, no support to seek out of Jesus. He alone changeth not. What happiness to think that He can never change! V LETTER TO MÈRE AGNÈS DE JÉSUS THE sole happiness upon earth consists in hiding oneself and remaining in total ignorance of created things. HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VIII FAR from dazzling me all the titles of nobility appear to me but empty vanity. I have understood those words of the _Imitation_: _"Be not solicitous for the shadow of a great name."_ [1] I have understood that true greatness is found not in the name but in the soul.