Page:Memoirs of Margaret Fuller Ossoli (IA memoirsofmargare02fullrich).pdf/71

Rh fulfilments, from each form of beauty, and to regard them merely as Angels of The Beauty.’

‘June, 1842. — Why must children be with perfect people, any more than people wait to be perfect to be friends? The secret is, — is it not? — for parents to feel and be willing their children should know that they are but little older than themselves; only a class above, and able to give them some help in learning their lesson. Then parent and child keep growing together, in the same house. Let them blunder as we blundered. God is patient for us; why should not we be for them? Aspiration teaches always, and God leads, by inches. A perfect being would hurt a child no less than an imperfect.’

‘It always makes my annoyances seem light, to be riding about to visit these fine houses. Not that I am intolerant towards the rich, but I cannot help feeling at such times how much characters require the discipline of difficult circumstances. To say nothing of the need the soul has of a peace and courage that cannot be disturbed, even as to the intellect, how can one be sure of not sitting down in the midst of indulgence to pamper tastes alone, and how easy to cheat one’s self with the fancy that a little easy reading or writing is quite work. I am safer; I do not sleep on roses. I smile to myself, when with these friends, at their care of me. I let them do as they will, for I know it will not last long enough to spoil me.’

‘I take great pleasure in talking with Aunt Mary.