When I lived alone I knew that if anything
should happen to me it would be of no particular consequence, but now
whenever I felt sick I was anxious on account of Ellen. What would
become of her--this was the thought which kept me awake night after
night when the terrors of depression were upon me, as they often
were. But still, terrors with growing years had lost their ancient
strength. My brain and nerves were quiet compared with what they
were in times gone by, and I had gradually learned the blessed lesson
which is taught by familiarity with sorrow, that the greater part of
what is dreadful in it lies in the imagination. The true Gorgon head
is seldom seen in reality. That it exists I do not doubt, but it is
not so commonly visible as we think. Again, as we get older we find
that all life is given us on conditions of uncertainty, and yet we
walk courageously on. The labourer marries and has children, when
there is nothing but his own strength between him and ruin. A
million chances are encountered every day, and any one of the million
accidents which might happen would cripple him or kill him, and put
into the workhouse those who depend upon him. Yet he treads his path
undisturbed. Life to all of us is a narrow plank placed across a
gulf, which yawns on either side, and if we were perpetually looking
down into it we should fall.
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