30 Idle Days in Patagonia. 



and materials wood, ivory, steel, and gutta-percha. 

 These painful moments over, with no result except 

 the re-opening of a wound that wished to heal, 

 there would be nothing more for me to do but to 

 lie watching the flies, as I have said, and dreaming. 

 To conclude this vari-coloured chapter, I may here 

 remark that some of the happiest moments of rny life 

 have been occasioned by those very circumstances 

 which one would imagine would have made me most 

 unhappy by grave accidents, and sickness, which 

 have disabled and cast me a burden upon strangers ; 

 and by adversity, 



Which, like a toad, ugly and venomous, 

 Yet wears a precious jewel in its head. 



Familiar words, but here newly interpreted ; for 

 this jewel which I have found man's love for man, 

 and the law of helpful kindness written in the heart 

 is worthy to be prized above all our possessions, 

 and is most beautiful, outshining the lapidary's 

 gems, and of so sovereign a virtue that cynicism 

 itself grows mute and ashamed in its light. 



