Was he happy V Did content smilo upon
and bless him ? Was his spirit in harmony
w ith the place? It was clouded with bad
and bitter thoughts; his lien.it was oppress
ed; he hnd been disappointed; where he
hnd hoped for good, he limnd evil. And as
ms ntue daughter raji up to bun to tell about
tl-cIitUa charity children, full of sympathy
hcr.'tlf, and sure of finding it in him, she
heard him say lo a neighbor:
"No, I have no hope of human nature
now ; it is a poor, miserable thing, that is not
worth working for. My best endeavors
hove been spent in its service; my youth
and my manhood's strength my very life
and this is my reward 1 I will no longer
strive to do good. I will w ork for money's
sake as others do and not for the good of
mankind !"
The poet's words were bitter, and tears
came in Ihe eyes of his best friend. Never
had the ehild heard such words from her
father before ; he had been to her hitherto
as a great nnd good angc I.
"I will work," said he, "lor money's
sake, as others do, and nut lor the good ol
mankind !"
"My father, if you do," said tlie child, in
a voice ot mournful iudignnlion, "I wili
trample all your writings under my feet !"
Large tears rolled down her cheeks, and her
eyes were fixed upon her father's fate.
The poet took the ehild in his arms and
kissed her; nn angel had touched his heart,
and he could forgive his bitter enemies.
