Page:Dream Life - Mitchell - 1899? Altemus.djvu/38

 of true goodness, and a heart sympathy with every shade of human kindness.

But in all this, I am not making out a case for my own correct teaching, or insinuating the propriety of my tone. I shall leave the book in this regard, to speak for itself; and whoever feels himself growing—worse for the reading, I advise to lay it down. It will be very harmless on the shelf, however it may be in the hand.

I shall lay no claim to the title of moralist, teacher, or romancist:—my thoughts start pleasant pictures to my mind; and in a garrulous humor, I put my finger in the button-hole of my indulgent friend, and tell him some of them,—giving him leave to quit me whenever he chooses.

Or, if a lady is my listener, let her fancy me only an honest, simple-hearted fellow, whose familiarities are so innocent that she can pardon them;—taking her hand in his, and talking on;—sometimes looking in her eyes, and then looking into the sunshine for relief;—sometimes prosy with narrative, and then sharpening up my matter with a few touches of honest pathos; —let her imagine this, I say, and we ma become the most excellent friends in the world.