Myhome,thelastfindahome,—isacottage;alittleroomwithwhitewashedwallsandasandedfloor,tainingfourpaintedchairsandatable,aclock,acupboard,withtwoorthreeplatesanddishes,aea-thingsindelf.Above,achamberofthesamedimensionsasthekit,withadealbedsteadaofdrawers;small,yettetobefilledwithmystywardrobe:thoughthekindnessofmygentleandgenerousfriendshasincreasedthat,byamodeststockofsuchthingsasarenecessary.

    Itisevening.Ihavedismissed,withthefeeofane,thelittleorphanwhoservesmeasahandmaid.Iamsittingalohehearth.Thism,thevillageschoolopened.Ihadtwentyscholars.Butthreeofthenumberread:eorcipher.Severalknit,andafewsewalittle.Theyspeakwiththebroadestatofthedistrict.Atpresent,theyandIhaveadifficultyiandingeachother’slanguage.Someofthemareunmannered,rough,intractable,aswellasignorant;butothersaredocile,haveawishtolearn,andevinceadispositionthatpleasesme.Imustnetthatthesecoarsely-cladlittlepeasantsareoffleshandbloodasgoodasthessofgegenealogy;andthatthegermsofnativeexcellence,refi,intelligence,kindfeeling,areaslikelytoexistintheirheartsasinthoseofthebest-born.Mydutywillbetodevelopthesegerms:surelyIshallfindsomehappinessindischargingthatoffice.MujoymentIdonotexpethelifeopeningbeforeme:yetitwill,doubtless,ifIregulatemymind,amypowersasIought,yieldmeenoughtoliveonfromdaytoday.

    WasIverygleeful,settled,tent,duringthehoursIpassedinyonderbare,humbleschoolroomthismandafternoon?Nottodeceivemyself,Imustreply—No:Ifeltdesolatetoadegree.Ifelt—yes,idiotthatIam—Ifeltdegraded.IdoubtedIhadtakenastepwhiki