We And the World, Part I

It was a great saying of my poor mother's, especially if my father hadbeen out of spirits about the crops, or the rise in wages, or ourprospects, and had thought better of it again, and showed her the brightside of things, "Well, my dear, I'm sure we've much to be thankful for."Which they had, and especially, I often think, for the fact that I wasnot the eldest son. I gave them more trouble than I can think of with acomfortable conscience as it was; but they had Jem to tread in myfather's shoes,