The faculties which would enable us to
obtain a deeper and truer view of all the manifestations of cosmic
energy would at the same time reveal to us new forms of beauty, new
possibilities of pleasure on every side: and--to take a single
instance--the emotions to which the sight of Niagara now appeals might
then be gratified by a contemplation of the fierce grandeur of some
sun's chromosphere or the calmer glories of its corona.' That
satisfies, does it not?" she added, with a sigh. "It suggests such
infinite possibilities."
* * * * *
One day, when she was making herself miserable for want of a religion,
I tried to comfort her by talking of the different people whose lives
had been good and pure and noble, although they had had no faith.
"I suppose my principles are right," she said; "but if they are, they
have come right by accident. The children of the people are sent to
Sunday-schools, and taught the difference between right and wrong;
_we_ seem to be expected to know it instinctively. I think if I had
learnt I might have profited, because I cling so fondly to the one
principle I ever heard clearly enunciated.
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