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LETTERS. 219
dark genii of life. Not so now. I have seen that they
can be life’s good genii. They become so to us, if with
deep and energetic confidence, we cling to the power, to
the Father, “who smites and who heals, and who out of
the very wounds creates minds open to receive Him.” I
shall never forget an expression, which I heard more than
fifteen years ago, at a time when, in consequence of my
own state of mind, I sympathized, with a painful feeling,
with every suffering in the world, even with that of the
innocent brute creation. Of the injustice of this latter, I
said something during a conversation which I had with a
man, who used to converse with me on the commonest
every-day topics. I cannot describe the expression of his
calm, blue eye, and the tone of voice in which he an-
swered : “ I should not wish that any created being should be
exempt from the capability of suffermg.” He did not say
any thing more on the subject, for I did not understand
him. Since then I have learnt to comprehend the mean-
ing of these words; comprehended it from my own ex-
perience, and am now inclined to think, that suffering is a
prerogative in life. Without penetrating into the depths
of suffering, into its bitter “ Gethsemane,” we cannot climb
bright and blissful heights. He who cannot suffer, cannot
enjoy. But all depends upon, that we should let suffer-
ing purify and ennoble the soul. This cannot come in
question with respect to the sufferings of animals, but their
suffering is distantly connected with a final atonement,
concerning which I cannot now unfold my ideas. I will
merely add, that according to the spirit of Christianity, it
is through hope, and not through despair, that suffering
works upon man.
If only I could be tranquil in my mind with respect to
our mother and Agatha in Nizza, I could be so happy here
in my solitude. It has always a beneficial, as well as an
exalting effect upon me. When I cannot communicate
with any body, I seem to expand, like a balloon, with
thoughts and feeling, and life appears then so full.
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