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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1892 Excerpt: ...myself? I do my best to forget about myself. "Tis only to the children that I am still of any use; for them I live and think. If they were not here, I should be dead." In her words there resounded the memory of a dull grief, faded away long ago into a placid resignation. "If you have imagined yourself very happy, happy through and with one, for whose sake you would have sacrificed body and soul, and you observe--But ah! why speak about that?" "Does the thought of that cause you such suffering then?" "Oh no; I have suffered. There was a time when I thought I should have gone mad, and I cursed the name of God; but that bitter sorrow has been transformed into a lethargy that is past. I never think of it, I only think of my four little darlings. And that thought fills my mind sufficiently, so that I need not become a living mummy. You know, until now I have been teaching them myself; but 'tis getting time for Tina and Jo to go to school. Otto says so at least; but I should miss them very much, and mamma, of course, sides with me there. Darlings!" Perhaps she only fancied it, but Jeanne thought that in that dull resignation she could detect a tone of suppressed bitterness, and she could not help taking Mathilde's hand in hers and whispering pityingly--"Poor girl I" "Yes; you--you are richer than I, you have your children and you have your husband," answered Mathilde with a sad smile, whilst her eyes filled with tears; "and though you have your troubles and vexations, you have more--more than I. Let that be your comfort when you have a fit of melancholy. Just think of me, think that I could yet envy you, if--if everything were not dead withiD me, everything except that one thing alone." "M...