expectation of complete restoration indefinitely prolonged, I have
never lost faith in the final triumph of a patient and persistent
resolution. Many men seem to know little of the wonderful power which
simple endurance has, in determining every conflict between good and
evil. The triumph which is achieved in a single day is a triumph
hardly worth the having; but when all impatience, unreasonableness,
weaknesses and vanities have been burned out of our natures by the
heat of suffering; when the resolution never falters to endure
patiently whatever may come in the endeavor to measure one's own case
justly, and exactly as it is; and when time has been allowed to exert
its legitimate influence in calming whatever has been disturbed and
correcting whatever has been prejudiced, a conscious strength is
developed far beyond what is natural to men possessed only of ordinary
powers of endurance. It is chiefly through patient waiting that the
confirmed victim of opium can look for relief. All who have made
heroic efforts to this end, and yet have failed in their attempt, have
done so through the absence of adequate confidence in the efficacy of
time to bring them relief. The _one_ lesson, however, which the
reforming opium-eater must learn is, never to relinquish any gain,
however slight, which he may make upon his bad habit. Patience will
bring him relief at last, and though he may and will find his progress
continually thwarted and himself often tempted to give over the
contest in despair, he may be sure that year by year he is steadily
advancing to the perfect recovery of all that he has lost.

The opium-eater will not regard as amiss some few suggestions as to
the mode in which his habit may most easily be abandoned. The best
advice that can be given--the _only_ advice that will ever be
given by an opium-eater--is, never to begin the habit. The objection
at once occurs, both to the medical man and to the patient suffering