The Argosy — page 287: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

266 Mrs. Henry Wood. But as time went on she grew reconciled to the change, and in the end very much liked her Continental life, and looked back upon it as upon very happy days. She had another great source of pleasure. She always slept well, but she dreamed constantly, and it was ever the greatest delight to her to recall her dreams. ‘The remembrance of them did not pass away, as they do with most people. She would dream whole con- secutive histories; she was ever wandering in the loveliest realms, amongst the sweetest flowers. These dreams never forsook her throughout life. In her very last days when waking out of sleep, she would say to those about her how beautiful her dreams had been. No wonder. Her imagination was continually exercised. Her Spirit was pure and lovely above any we ever knew; her face was the reflection of every beauty and every virtue; her waking thoughts were ever full of compassion and consideration for others. An unkindly thought never entered her heart ; an unkindly or uncharit- able word was never heard upon her lips. Whilst very rarely giving expression to her emotions—she was, indeed, in these matters, singularly reticent and self-contained— love and compassion were the key-notes of her life. It is a fact that she was never known to make an enemy. Every one who knew her agreed in loving and praising her. It could not have been otherwise. Her very sweetness disarmed all antagonism. ‘The weak- nesses of her sex seemed to have passed her by. Faithful friend, charming and intellectual companion, she yet never for a moment indulged in frivolous chatter and gossip; and such was her uncon- scious influence that scandal was never mentioned before her. There was of course one great reason for all this personal influence and beauty of living. She was, in a quiet, unostentatious way, one of the most religious and devout women that ever lived. She had a firm, unwavering faith. Her heart at all times seemed fixed upon the things unseen rather than upon the things of earth. Her whole life was one long, silent sermon, one unbroken example of the strength and truth of religion. Her unspoken text in life was: ‘‘ In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.” She absolutely lived up to it. And in response came the promise ever fulfilled in her case: ‘* Them that honour Me, I will honour.” But it was all done in the most unobtrusive manner; not with the desire of reading a lesson to others, or of being a pattern. Nothing was ever farther from her mind. It was part of her nature; it was herself. She had one model before her ; one Master to serve ; and she ever looked upwards. Only in this manner can such a life as hers be lived. Otherwise, all the disturbing elements of earth would inevitably come in and trouble the harmony of the whole, and constant failure would be the result. Human nature is at best imperfect; but as far as it was possible, hers was a perfect life. COMICOOOKS. EO)