Page:De Amicis - Heart, translation Hapgood, 1922.djvu/270

238 I mean to convey by the words, One must conquer sorrow—conquer the least sacred, the least purifying part of sorrow, that which, instead of rendering the soul better, weakens and debases it? But the other part of sorrow,—the noble part—that which enlarges and elevates the soul—that must remain and never leave you more. Nothing here below can take the place of a good mother. In griefs, in the consolations which life may still bring you, you will never forget her. But you must recall her, love her, mourn her death, in a manner which is worthy of her.

“ ‘O my friend, hearken to me! Death exists not; it is nothing. It cannot even be understood. Life is life, and it follows the law of life—progress. Yesterday you had a mother on earth; to-day you have an angel elsewhere. All that is good will survive the life of the earth with increased power. Hence, also, the love of your mother. She loves you now more than ever. And you are responsible for your actions to her more, even, than before. It depends upon you, upon your actions, to meet her once more, to see her in another existence. You must, therefore, out of love and reverence for your mother, grow better and cause her to joy for you. Henceforth you must say at every act, “Would my mother approve this?” Her transformation has placed a guardian angel in the world for you, to whom you must refer in all your affairs, in everything that pertains to you. Be strong and brave; fight against desperate and vulgar grief; have the tranquillity of great suffering in great souls; and that is what she would have.’ ”

“Garrone,” added the teacher, “be strong and