Tuesday, Februair^y 13th, 1894. 23 



am the cause of all my worries and mortification ? 

 Why should I, an ordinary mortal, aspire to out- 

 shine all my compeers in the hunting field, and to 

 gain undivided dominion over Eve's fair daughters ? 

 They have ever given me more consideration than I 

 deserve. Even those from whom I lately parted were 

 not really unkind and inconsiderate. They knew not 

 of my disappointments, or of the gnawing hunger that 

 is consuming me. Their high spirits and cheerful 

 voices offended me, because I myself was so morose 

 and ill-tempered. Shall I deny the sweetness of the 

 flowers because I am incapableofsippingtheir honey ? 

 Dear creatures 1 your rippling laughter and happy 

 voices now come back to me as sweet music. Your 

 merry glances and bright bewitching smiles are as 

 gleams of sunshine across my path.. And from 

 behind each bush your fair faces seem to peep forth 

 at me as I pass along. And thine that saddened at 

 my distress and at thy fair sisters' jesting, now 

 shines on me radiant and bright as the evening star. 

 Love and sympathy, kindness and truth, illumine 

 that countenance. And when I think of my own 

 mean, paltry ambition, that aims only at self-glory, 

 I despise the man that rode forth from my home 

 this morning. I will try to be more worthy of her, 

 and to take pleasure in the achievements of my 

 comrades, as well as in my own, that when old age 

 withdraws me from the fore, I may be able to live 



