I'd go away . . . only
where would I go?"
"Sorrow," said Mr. Jeminy, "is a good friend, Mrs. Wicket. Sorrow and
poverty are close to our hearts. They teach the spirit to be resolute
and indulgent.
"One must also learn," he added, "to bear sorrow without being vexed by
it."
"I've never had sorrow without being vexed by it," said Mrs. Wicket.
"To my way of thinking, sorrow comes so full of troubles, it's hard to
tell what's one, and what's the other."
"Sorrow," said Mr. Jeminy, "comes only to the humble and the wise. It
is the emotion of a gentle and courageous spirit. But wherever trouble
is found, there is also to be found envy, pride, and vanity. It is
good to be humble, Mrs. Wicket; in humility lie the forces of peace.
The humble heart is an impregnable fortress."
And he tapped his breast, as though to say, "Here is a whole army."
"Yes," she mused, "yes . . . but the heart's liable to break, too,
after a while."
"Not the humble heart," said Mr. Jeminy firmly. "No . . . you cannot
break the humble heart.
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