第24部分(第4/7 頁)

re　is　little　scope　or　hope　for　anything　of　that　kind　in　a　state　of　material　hardship。　To…day　I　have　sent　S…　a　cheque　for　fifty　pounds；　it　will　e　as　a　very　boon　of　heaven；　and　assuredly　blesseth　him　that　gives　as　much　as　him　that　takes。　A　poor　fifty　pounds；　which　the　wealthy　fool　throws　away　upon　some　idle　or　base　fantasy；　and　never　thinks　of　it；　yet　to　S…　it　will　mean　life　and　light。　And　I；　to　whom　this　power　of　benefaction　is　such　a　nebling；　so　glad　and　proud　I　am。　In　the　days　gone　by；　I　have　sometimes　given　money；　but　with　trembling　of　another　kind；　it　was　as　likely　as　not　that　I　myself；　some　black　foggy　morning；　might　have　to　go　begging　for　my　own　dire　needs。　That　is　one　of　the　bitter　curses　of　poverty；　it　leaves　no　right　to　be　generous。　Of　my　abundance……abundance　to　me；　though　starveling　pittance　in　the　view　of　everyday　prosperity……I　can　give　with　happiest　freedom；　I　feel　myself　a　man；　and　no　crouching　slave　with　his　back　ever　ready　for　the　lash　of　circumstance。　There　are　those；　I　know；　who　thank　the　gods　amiss；　and　most　easily　does　this　happen　in　the　matter　of　wealth。　But　oh；　how　good　it　is　to　desire　little；　and　to　have　a　little　more　than　enough！

IV

After　two　or　three　days　of　unseasonable　and　depressing　warmth；　with　lowering　but　not　rainy　sky；　I　woke　this　morning　to　find　the　land　covered　with　a　dense　mist。　There　was　no　daybreak；　and；　till　long　after　the　due　hour；　no　light　save　a　pale；　sad　glimmer　at　the　window；　now；　at　mid…day；　I　begin　dimly　to　descry　gaunt　shapes　of　trees；　whilst　a　haunting　drip；　drip　on　the　garden　soil　tells　me　that　the　vapour　has　begun　to　condense；　and　will　pass　in　rain。　But　for　my　fire；　I　should　be　in　indifferent　spirits　on　such　a　day　as　this；　the　flame　sings　and　leaps；　and　its　red　beauty　is　reflected　in　the　window…glass。　I　cannot