How dwell upon a period when I saw my only earthly treasure pine
away gradually day by day, and knew that nothing could save her!
She saw my agony, and did all she could to console me, saying that
she was herself quite resigned. A little time before her death she
expressed a wish that we should be united. I was too happy to
comply with her request. We were united, I brought her to this
house, where, in less than a week, she expired in my arms."
CHAPTER XXXIV
The Old Man's Story continued--Misery in the Head--The Strange
Marks--Tea-dealer from London--Difficulties of the Chinese
Language.
After another pause the old man once more resumed his narration:-
"If ever there was a man perfectly miserable it was myself, after
the loss of that cherished woman. I sat solitary in the house, in
which I had hoped in her company to realize the choicest earthly
happiness, a prey to the bitterest reflections; many people
visited, and endeavoured to console me--amongst them was the
clergyman of the parish, who begged me to be resigned, and told me
that it was good to be afflicted. I bowed my head, but I could not
help thinking how easy it must be for those who feel no affliction,
to bid others to be resigned, and to talk of the benefit resulting
from sorrow; perhaps I should have paid more attention to his
discourse than I did, provided he had been a person for whom it was
possible to entertain much respect, but his own heart was known to
be set on the things of this world.
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