1840-42. PERFECTED THROUGH SUFFERING. 287 



worthy character, even for worldly work, who has not been 

 ' perfected through suffering/ Affliction has not developed the 

 vices of iny disposition ; it has pruned some and banished 

 others. My intellect is purified and ennobled, and many mists 

 which vanity spread before me are blown away. Take comfort, 

 my dear brother, we shall yet do well." 



From Seafield, letters to his matronly friend Miss Abernethy 

 give peeps at his invalid life, and show how every ray of sun- 

 shine was turned to account : 



To Miss ABERNETHY. 



" SEAFIELD, 16th July 1842. 



"MY DEARLY BELOVED, UNFORGOTTEN, AND UNFORGETABLE JANET, 

 I have now been a fortnight in this region of invalids, and 

 think it due time to send you a bulletin of my well-doing. I 

 am happy to say I mend, though still unable to cross the thres- 

 hold, and hope soon to be able to flourish my crutches with as 

 much grace as such untoward weapons admit of. I count some 

 five cripples from my window, and propose, as soon as I can 

 join, to suggest our having a race upon the sands. The prize to 

 be a handsome pair of crutches, and each candidate to be at 

 liberty to knock the stilts from his neighbour if he can. You 

 may expect a visit from an official asking your subscription, and 

 for my sake I trust it will be liberal. 



" In the meanwhile, by way of preparation, I snuff the sea- 

 air at the open window, and am complimented by visitors on 

 the improvement of my looks. I cannot say that, on consulting 

 the looking-glass, I see therein a very pretty countenance, but I 

 incline to think that my modesty and well-known humility 

 stand in the way of my discernment, and that but for these I 

 should observe that my former knobbed and twisted nose was 

 now moulded by the sea-breeze into a proboscis of Grecian 

 form, and marble polish and whiteness. If the sea-breeze alone 

 has produced so great a change, what may I expect when I am 

 able to tumble into the water, and enjoy the benefit of wind and 

 wave at the same time ? Meanwhile, till an end so desirable is 



