"
"Assuredly. But if we brought her up just as our own, would that, the facts
being as they are, be to do as well for her as for our own?"
"I doubt it; for other people would not choose to receive her as we have
done."
"That is true. She would be continually reminded of her origin. Not that
that in itself would be any evil; but as they would do it by excluding or
neglecting her, or, still worse, by taking liberties with her, it would be
a great pain. But keeping that out of view, would it be good for herself,
knowing what she will know, to be thus brought up? Would it not be kinder
to bring her up in a way that would make it easier for her to relieve the
gratitude which I trust she will feel, not for our sakes--I hope we are
above doing anything for the sake of the gratitude which will be given for
it, and which is so often far beyond the worth of the thing done--"
"Alas! the gratitude of men
Hath oftener left me mourning,"
said Ethel.
"Ah! you understand that now, my Ethel!"
"Yes, thank you, I do."
"But we must wish for gratitude for others' sake, though we may be willing
to go without it for our own. Indeed, gratitude is often just as painful as
Wordsworth there represents it.
Pages:
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110