Friends in Council a Series of Readings And Discourse Thereon First Series

Upon my word, you people who live in the country have a pleasant time of it. As Milver- ton was driving me from the station through Durley Wood, there was such a rich smell of pines, such a twittering of birds, so much joy, sunshine, and beauty, that I began to think, if there were no such place as London, it really would be very desirable to live in the country. Milverton'. What a climax! But I am always very suspicious, when Ellesmere appears to be carried away by any enthusiasm, that it will break off suddenly, like the gallop of a post-horse. Dunsford. Well, what are we to have for our essay ? Milverton. Despair. Ellesmere. I feel equal to any thing just now, and Milverton. You need not be afraid. I want to take away, not to add, gloom. Shall I read ? We assented, and he began. DESPAIR. Despair may be serviceable when it arises from a temporary prostration of spirits; during which the mind is insensibly healing, and her scattered power silently returning. This is better than to be the sport of a teasing hope without reason. But to indulge in despair as a habit, is slothful, cowardly, short-sighted; and manifestly tends against nature. Despair is then the paralysis of the soul. These are the principal causes of despair: remorse, the sorrows of the affections, worldly trouble, morbid views of religion, native melan nholy. Remorse. Remorse does but add to the evil which bred it, when it promotes, not penitence, but despair. To hav... --This text refers to the Paperback edition.