492 THE FUTURE. 



ungratefully regarded as "too good to be true," turns out on 

 the contrary to be the necessary consequence of natural 

 laws, and once more we find that the simple truth exceeds 

 the most brilliant flights of the imagination. 



Even in our own time we may hope to see some improve- 

 ment, but the unselfish mind will find its highest gratifica- 

 tion in the belief that, whatever may be the case with 

 ourselves, our descendants will understand many things 

 which are hidden from us now, will better appreciate the 

 beautiful world in which we live, avoid much of that suffer- 

 ing to which we are subject, enjoy many blessings of which 

 we are not yet worthy, and escape many of those temptations 

 which we deplore, but cannot wholly resist. 



