Your attempts at singing, and ignorance of art generally, also impressed
me unfavorably, and gave me some concern when I thought about the
future--that is, _your_ future; for it seemed to me that you had
but slender foundations whereon to build a happy life. These doubts,
however, no longer trouble me; for on several occasions you have shown
us that you possess abundantly that richest of all gifts and safest
guide to happiness--the capacity for deep affection. To this spirit of
love in you--this summer of the heart which causes it to blossom with
beautiful thoughts and deeds--I attribute your success just now, when
the contact of your hand produced the long-desired, refreshing slumber
so necessary to the mother at this stage of her malady. I know that this
is a mysterious thing; and it is commonly said that in such cases relief
is caused by an emanation from the brain through the fingers. Doubtless
this is so; and I also choose to believe that only a powerful spirit of
love in the heart can rightly direct this subtle energy, that where such
a spirit is absent the desired effect cannot be produced.
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