Dawn by H. Rider (Henry Rider) Haggard
page 166 of 707 (23%)
page 166 of 707 (23%)
![]() | ![]() |
|
"Well, my dear, I must not keep you any longer--it is quite dark and blowing a gale of wind--except to say one more word. Remember that all this is--indirectly perhaps, but still none the less truly--a means to an end. There are two educations, the education of the mind and the education of the soul; unless you minister to the latter, all the time and toil spent upon the former will prove to little purpose. The learning will, it is true, remain; but it will be as the quartz out of which the gold has been already crushed, or the dry husks of corn. It will be valueless and turn to no good use, will serve only to feed the swine of intellectual voluptuousness and infidelity. It is, believe me, the higher learning of the soul that gilds our earthly lore. The loftier object of all education is so to train the intellect that it may become competent to understand something, however little, of the nature of our God, and to the true Christian the real end of learning is the appreciation of His attributes as exemplified in His mysteries and earthly wonders. But perhaps that is a subject on which you are as well fitted to discourse as I am, so I will not enter into it. 'Finis,' my dear, 'finis.'" Angela's answer to this long oration was a simple one. She rose slowly from her low seat, and, putting her hands upon Mr. Fraser's shoulders, kissed him on the forehead and said-- "How shall I ever learn to be grateful enough for all I owe you? What should I have been now but for you? How good and patient you have been to me!" This embrace affected the clergyman strangely; he put his hand to his heart, and a troubled look came into his eyes. Thrusting her gently |
|