have lost incalculable improvement in our good feelings and our happiness thro’ their destruction.  I am not like one of these; they influenced millions:  but if I can influence but a hundred, but ten, but one solitary individual, so as in any way to lead him from ill to good, that will be a joy to repay me for all my sufferings, though they were a million times multiplied; and that hope will support me to bear them[.]

“And those who do not work for posterity; or working, as may be my case, will not be known by it; yet they, believe me, have also their duties.  You grieve because you are unhappy[;] it is happiness you seek but you despair of obtaining it.  But if you can bestow happiness on another; if you can give one other person only one hour of joy ought you not to live to do it?  And every one has it in their power to do that.  The inhabitants of this world suffer so much pain.  In crowded cities, among cultivated plains, or on the desart mountains, pain is thickly sown, and if we can tear up but one of these noxious weeds, or more, if in its stead we can sow one seed of corn, or plant one fair flower, let that be motive sufficient against suicide.  Let us not desert our task while there is the slightest hope that we may in a future day do this.

“Indeed I dare not die.  I have a mother whose support and hope I am.  I have a friend who loves me as his life, and in whose breast I should infix a mortal sting if I ungratefully left him.  So I will not die.  Nor shall you, my friend; cheer up; cease to weep, I entreat you.  Are you not young, and fair, and good?  Why should you despair?  Or if you must for yourself, why for others?  If you can never be happy, can you never bestow happiness[?] Oh! believe me, if you beheld on lips pale with grief one smile of joy and gratitude, and knew that you were parent of that smile, and that without you it had never been, you would feel so pure and warm a happiness that you would wish to live for ever again and again to enjoy the same pleasure[.]

“Come, I see that you have already cast aside the sad thoughts you before franticly indulged.  Look in that mirror; when I came your brow was contracted, your eyes deep sunk in your head, your lips quivering; your hands trembled violently when I took them; but now all is tranquil and soft.  You are grieved and there is grief in the expression of your countenance but it is gentle and sweet.  You allow me to throw away this cursed drink; you smile; oh, Congratulate me, hope is triumphant, and I have done some good.”

These words are shadowy as I repeat them but they were indeed words of fire and produced a warm hope in me (I, miserable wretch, to hope!) that tingled like pleasure in my veins.  He did not leave me for many hours; not until he had improved the spark that he had kindled, and with an angelic hand fostered the return of somthing that seemed like joy.  He left me but I still was calm, and after I had saluted the starry sky and dewy earth with eyes of love and a contented good night, I slept sweetly, visited by dreams, the first of pleasure I had had for many long months.