Meanwhile we must live by sacrifice.  Without it there would be no merit in the religious life.  As someone told us in a conference:  “The reason why the forest oak raises its head so high is because, hemmed in on all sides, it wastes no sap in putting forth branches underneath, but towers aloft.  Thus in the religious life the soul, hedged in all around by the rule and by the practice of community life, of necessity finds there a means of lifting a high head towards Heaven.”

Dearest sister, pray for your little Therese that she may draw profit from her exile on earth and from the plentiful means granted her of meriting Heaven.

II

January, 1895.

DEAR LITTLE SISTER,—­How fruitful for Heaven has been the year that is gone! . . .  Our dear Father has seen that which the eye of man cannot see, he has heard the minstrelsy of the angels . . . now his heart understands, and his soul enjoys “the things which God hath prepared for those who love Him."[2] . . .  Our turn will come, and it is full sweet to think our sails are set towards the Eternal Shore.

Do you not find, as I do, that our beloved Father’s death has drawn us nearer to Heaven?  More than half of our loved ones already enjoy the Vision of God, and the five who remain in exile will follow soon.  This thought of the shortness of life gives me courage, and helps me to put up with the weariness of the journey.  What matters a little toil upon earth?  We pass . . .  “We have not here a lasting city."[3]

Think of your Therese during this month consecrated to the Infant Jesus, and beg of Him that she may always remain a very little child.  I will offer the same prayer for you, because I know your desires, and that humility is your favourite virtue.

Which Therese will be the more fervent? . . .  She who will be the more humble, the more closely united to Jesus, and the more faithful in making love the mainspring of every action.  We must not let slip one single occasion of sacrifice, everything has such value in the religious life . . .  Pick up a pin from a motive of love, and you may thereby convert a soul.  Jesus alone can make our deeds of such worth, so let us love Him with every fibre of our heart.

III

July 12, 1896.

MY DEAR LITTLE LEONIE,—­I should have answered your letter last Sunday if it had been given to me, but you know that, being the youngest, I run the risk of not seeing letters for some considerable time after my sisters, and occasionally not at all.  I only read yours on Friday, so forgive my delay.