My father spent much of his time about the garden; the rest of the day
was devoted to walking and study, a nice adjustment of bodily and mental
exercise.
At the same time, I followed his example in doing little acts of
benevolence among the unfortunate. I began to search for those who were
in need of my assistance, and there were many of them in the valley. I
soon became known among the poor; my message to them was: "When the heart
is good, sorrow is sacred!" For the first time in my life I was happy,
God blessed my tears, and sorrow taught me virtue.
CHAPTER III
ONE evening, as I was walking under a row of linden-trees on the
outskirts of the village, I saw a young woman come from a house some
distance from the road. She was dressed simply and veiled so that I could
not see her face; but her form and her carriage seemed so charming that I
followed her with my eyes for some time. As she was crossing a field, a
white goat, running at liberty through the grass, ran to her side; she
caressed it softly, and looked about as though searching for some
favorite herb to feed it. I saw near me some wild mulberry; I plucked a
branch and stepped up to her holding it in my hand. The goat watched my
approach with apprehension; he was afraid to take the branch from my
hand. His mistress made a sign as though to encourage him, but he looked
at her with an air of anxiety; she then took the branch from my hand and
the goat promptly accepted it from hers.
Pages:
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132