Error arose from her illness somewhat wiser, and firmly fixed in her
determination to follow Truth and share her fate to their journey's end.
Thus, reader, shall we ever find them together while we dwell on earth,
and perchance in the regions above. Let us trust that they are wisely
related; and, while we love, reverence, and admire the purity of Truth,
let us seek also courteously to endure Error as an opposing force, which,
though it may seem for a time to work our discomfort and hinder us in
our progress, yet gives us strength, as the rower on the stream is made
stronger by the counter currents and eddies with which he has to contend.
X.
THE TREE.
A large shade-tree grew near a house, and under its branches the children
played every summer day. It seemed to take great delight in their voices,
and shook its green boughs over their heads, as though it would join in
their sports and laughter. But, alas! one day it got a foolish idea into
its head--it grew discontented, and felt that its sphere of usefulness
was too limited.
At that moment dark clouds gathered, a fearful tempest arose, and a
strong current of wind, soon set the giant tree swinging with such
violence that it was torn from the earth and lay like a broken column
on the ground.
"Now I shall be something: I've got my roots out of the old earth.
Bah! such a heap of old black loam, to be sure, as I have been in! I'll
soon shake it off, however, and then the world will see that _I_ can soar
as well as other things.
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