Page:Free Opinions, Freely Expressed on Certain Phases of Modern Social Life and Conduct.djvu/91



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Could I write as you do, I might find words to express in part some of my feelings of gratitude to you for all your kindness. My little daughter owes to you untold happiness, and I believe the goodness you ever show her will brighten her whole future life. My dear wife you help to bear her many burdens of health and loneliness as no other has ever attempted to do; and my very mediocre self owes to you, a recognition, after many long struggles, I will not say of merit, for no one knows better than myself, my own shortcomings, but of 'effort.' In fact, you come to us as Amenhotep sung of the sun:—

Thou art very beautiful, brilliant and exalted above earth, Thy beams encompass all lands, which thou hast made. Thou art our sun. Thou bindest us with thy love. Thou art on high, but the day passes with thy going!

Even so, your kindly heart has shone upon our life, and made us feel the springs of life within us. May the Great Master of all things for ever bless you and yours!"

After this poetical effusion, it is difficult to believe that this same "Christian" minister, in order to gratify the private jealousy, spite and malice of a few common persons whom he fancied might be useful to him on account of their "local" influence, wrote and published a scurrilous lampoon